My little one is 3 weeks now. We gave him the bottle with breastmilk before and he is getting used to it. Now I want to breastfeed him again. Is it too late to try it? I've tried the nipple shield before, and he bit me. So I didn't use it anymore and tried to push him to latch directly, but he's fussy and crying a lot. What should I do?
thank you so much for the advice.
I did try to breastfeed my baby these two days. He is still fussy but at least he was trying a few sucks. I don't know why, my milk is going fast I think but he always push me out after a few sucks then suck again and out again. I have to hold his hand and push his head to my breast again and again. Every feeding is a fighting to us. Anyway I will try again and might talk to LC.
Thx.
I agree with finding a lactation consultant. It's definitly not too late! Breastfeeding is much easier than pumping in the long term. Try LLL for recommendations or this site has info for contacing an LC directly: http://www.ilca.org/falc.html
I think you should be able to do this. I would talk to a good lactation consultant. If the first one doesn't help you, please seek help from another. it took me a few tries to find someone I could really work with.
E.
KEEP TRYING!!!!
I found that I needed to take control of the breast feeding situation. I stayed totally confident that it was going to work, because at first it was difficult and my son didn't want to comply, but I stuck with it. Breastfeeding my son was one of the MOST rewarding experiences I have ever had in my life.
Breast feeding is VERY painful! It is one of the joys of motherhood! However, your nipples do get used to it about week 3 (of solid feeding) He is so young, I would say, DON'T give up. Get the breast as far in his mouth as you can and try different holds for the baby (front, side, cradle hold)
Good luck!
H. Barr
Mom of 2 boys.
Stop using the bottle. Sounds like he is going through nipple confusion. I'd pick a manner in which to feed him and stick with it!
keep trying, nurse on demand and always offer the breast, my son was in the nicu for the first 9 days of life and given bottles, and I sucessfully breastfeed now and he won't take a bottle at 10 months old. see if you can make an appointment with a lactation consultant for help with latching and support. don't give up , keep offering your nipples
take care
N.,
I would definitely encourage you to work with a lactation consultant. They are great at helping you learn how to do this wonderful act that is much harder to figure out than it looks! The one I worked with helped my daughter and me to have a wonderful experience (she's still nursing at 20 months) after some difficulties.
Good luck!
B.
These people have been so considerate and helpful with all my lactation/breastfeeding needs. They helped me when I was in the hospital and have helped me since (over the phone and at the breastfeeding support groups. Check out their website at:
http://www.parentingandbreastfeeding.com/
Good Luck!
I had a friend who pumped for three months before she could get her baby to nurse, so keep trying! See a lactation consultant. They can be VERY helpful. Good luck!
No it's not too late. Just keep trying. I wouldn't give him the bottle again for awhile until you are both used to breastfeeding and even then I'd wait awhile. Does the hospital you gave birth at have a lactation consultant? If so call her, go see her or maybe she would come and see you, they help alot. Also La Leche can help too. Just keep trying. Congratulations!
You can most certainly teach him to nurse him again. Be patient with him and realize he is learning. Offer him the breast before he is too hungry so that he avoids frustration. Remember that he is used to getting milk right away from the bottle and has to wait for your milk to let down. When you do give him the bottle try to have him suck on it for a minute before you tip it to let the milk come in. I know he'll get more air that way, but it helps him get used to waiting for the milk. He is young enough to re-teach. Nursing is so worth the work. Also many hospitals will continually help with nursing or you can call a midwife or lactation consultant for ideas. Keep up the good work.
The milk is still there. You need to try and feed him before he his ready to eat so he is not hungry and then fussy. Maybe also try when he is sleeping. Get pumping also. This is ensure your milk is there when he wants it. It will boost up your supply.
Then squeeze your nipple so you get a little milk on it and then hold him tummy to tummy. Bring your baby to your breast not breast to baby. Rub your nipple on his lower lip and hopefully when he taste the milk he will open wide and you get them put him on. Once he know where the source of his food comes from it will be easier.
There is also at the health food store something called Fenugreek. You take like 5 tablets a day and you will (and it's normal) start smelling like maple syrup. It is used for lactation and it is safe. This will definately help with milk production. REad up on it... It works. Keep trying to put him on first before any bottle. He is nipple confused and it is less work for him at the bottle. Try it before he is starvation mode. Once you get him back on the rewards are endless and amazing. Keep it up you can do it. If you need lactation help, Please let me know.
Trish
Absolutely! It may be a little tough going at first but my recommendation would be to get a supplimental nursing system, SNS, from a lactaion professional. It is a tiny tube that you place alongside your nipple that augments the amount of milk your baby gets so he won't be as frustrated until you let down. It is fairly easy to use and a twin mom I know who had premie babies got both of her babies on the breast using this system. Good luck, nursing really can be wonderful once you get used to it!
Start nursing again right away. For help, you might want to call the local La Leche League, or contact a lactation consultant. Your hospital might even still provide one for free if you ask. They can help you with latching and biting issues.
The most important thing is that he is getting breast milk. If he gets hungry enough, he will nurse. It is a natural instinct and at 3 weeks old he has not developed a preference for a bottle.
Keep trying and don't give up. By the way, you were smart to give him breast milk in a bottle from the beginning but natural feeding is very good as well.
Hang in there - you can do it.
Blessings,
+B+
Also, try a lactation nurse instead of the La Leche League. The La Leche League will only give you a hard time about using a bottle at all. They are fanatics and even though they may think they have the child's best interest at heart, they DO NOT take the mother's needs into consideration at all.
No it is definitely not too late to try. I highly recommend getting in touch with your local La Leche League or a lactation consultant. They can give you practical solutions to help your baby breastfeed again. Unfortunately, introducing a bottle too early can cause nipple confusion, which is what it sounds like has happened here. But it does not mean it is too late to rectify this at all. Good luck and remain positive. Babies who have never had a bottle can be fussy and have difficulties at the breast too- it just takes some patients and perseverance. I hope this helps.
J. Stevens, L.Ac.
www.yourwholefamilywellness.com
There's a wonderful organization called La Leche League which provides help for people who really want to breast feed and are having issues. I have a friend whose baby was premature and unable to nurse. That friend pumped and the breast milk was given to the baby in a bottle. When the baby came home she had the same problem and La Leche League helped her, and I think it was free. Look them up in the phone book or online. Good luck!
It may not be too late! Go for it! Contact the local La Leche League and work directly with a lactation consultant that they recommend. You can also get good recommendations for lactation consultants from Alta Bates parent education or by looking up recommendations in the Berkeley Parents Network archives. Email me at ____@____.com if you have questions about how to follow up on what I've suggested. Best of luck!
Absolutely! Go for it. Check out www.breastfeeding.com, they have great advices and movies to check out. Also talk to a lactation nurse if you can to get help with the technique and the latching. I know women who didn't pump or breastfeed for 4 months and then started! That worked too! So go for it!
My advice would be to contact La Leche League. There should be a group in your area and you can check online or in your yellow pages. They were such big help to me when I needed it the most. With their help I was able to successfully breastfeed. I had four children and breastfed each one until they were 15 months old.
It is not too late! You might try during a calm time. Or create a calm place for him to concentrate and relax. Your breasts are the fullest around 3am - 5am. So trying in the morning is a good thing. I would lay with him skin to skin and let him 'explore' your breast and nipple. When my little guy would be crying at nursing time I just had him lay on my chest until he was calm enough to try it again. Enjoy. Also, I loved my lactation consultant. I found her through the hospital I gave birth at.
It's definitely not too late to try! I like many other mother's can tell you that BFing is not an easy task at first both for mom or baby. Finding the correct position is key and the more you offer, the more you produce. I introduced the bottle with breastmilk I believe around 1 or 2 months and never experienced nipple confusion as some have mentioned. I pumped in order to produce more and well, relieve engorgement at those unpredicted times. BFing indeed requires patience and dedication, yet well worth it. As others have mentioned, seeking a lactation consultant is indeed beneficial. As a military wife who didn't have her husband around for support during the early days, the consultant was my support and helped me and my baby through this new, wonderful process. Best of luck!
You've gotten some great advice, I just want to encourage you. My twins were 8 weeks when I was able to nurse one of them, the other (smaller one) never took to the breast, so I nurse one, pump for the other. They are 6 months now and have been exclusively breast-milk babies. Both are very healthy & happy, bottle or breast! So whatever works out for you, go with it. (And a side note, someone else mentioned Fenugreek herb which is great for building up your supply, but it has side-effects of gas for you and baby and is a blood-thinner so consider talking to your doctor before taking anything).
Take care & be blessed
D.
Good for you, N.! Be patient and keep trying. Go see a lactation specialist for help because he is still little enough to switch.
Good luck!
Hi N.,
Congrats on your new little one!
I would say get in touch with a Lactation Consultant. We were in the same boat when my son was born. He used bottles exclusively for the first 3-4 weeks. I went to see Linda at the John Muir Women's Health Center in Walnut Creek, and she got my son to latch on that day!!! We have had some challenges since, but he is now almost 10 months and he is still nursing! It is the most amazing experience, so if you really want to do it, go see a lactation consultant and have them help!
Good luck!
S.
best advice would be to go to a lactation consultant and get them to watch and assist you with a feeding. They have seem it all so can get the two of you comfortable and working together in no time. All hospitals have them and private lactation consultants also will come to your home if you want to expense a little more money. Definitely worth it and as long as your still producing then its not too late.
