I have been pumping and bottle feeding my baby Brandon breast milk from day 1 (the lactation consultants brought me the pump in the hospital because I could not get him to latch and when I did he feel asleep).  My husband absolutely loves the time he gets to share with Brandon from when he was a newborn until now (7.5 months).  Not only that but his grandparents have also been able to share in the experience.  I treasure my special bonding times with him early in the morning and just before bed - the quiet times when we stare into each others eyes as he eats, but during the day I love to sit back and watch him bond with the other special people in his life.  It's hard to share those special moments between mom and baby but in my experience he has been able to form wonderful bonds and a real sense of comfort with other family members.

I have a little daughter who is almost 11 months, and I tried to introduce a bottle at 7 weeks for my husband to have that connection, but she would not have anything to do with it, and I was ok with that as well as my husband. You have to go with how you feel, and its normal to have mixed emotions. I battled those, I had a sister-inlaw who told me to keep at the bottle or I would have no life, "that my baby would be tied to me". I love breastfeeding, and it has worked out great for me.  I really feel that we as mothers our too hard on ourselves, we put too much weight on ourselves, if your baby takes a bottle and your husband is supportive than enjoy that time for yourself. I introduced a sippy cup at 5 months, was told that my milk supply would drop as my baby would not take the breast. Well, I went with how I felt, and was able to get some free time so I could go out. My dtr would take 4 oz in a sippy cup. Now she is really good with her cup, very independant. I was worried at 5 months, that she would leave the breast, and I was a little sad at that thought. But it never happened.

Takecare, and enjoy you early weeks, and months, it is so wonderful, and it keeps on getting better.