Nursing Help

If you can be patient for a little while longer, I think she
will come around. Please remember she is only 5 1/2 weeks
old, she will come around. Even so, even at that age they
are learning what buttons to push to get you to do what they
want you to do. Anyway just be patient and she will come around. I hope I helped you alittle bit.

K.

There's some good advice about that here, at kellymom.com
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/baby/back-to-breast.html

Best of luck to you :)

Hi! You are doing a wonderful thing by breastfeeding your baby - the benefits for everyone are definately worth it! One technique that is great for baby and mom and helps with the latch is skin to skin. About 30 minutes before you think she will be ready to eat, take her down to her diaper and lay her on your bare chest (you can cover up with a blanket if you like). She will be calm and happy with being so close with you, and when she is ready to eat, she will be right there to latch! Babies have an instinct to breastfeed and latch, and she will head toward one of you breasts, and as long as you are there to support her, she will begin to latch herself! She can smell and feel her way to the breast - it is such an amazing process to be a part of! Don't give up - she is at the age where nipple confusion can really be a big issue. Also, if you are using pacifiers, try to hold off on those for a while too - offer her the breast if she is wanting to suckle instead of the paci. She will soon remember how wonderful it is to nurse. The other comments about having a calm baby to feed are correct - an angry baby is very difficult to feed, so getting her at the breast before she is angry is important. Watch for the hunger signs - smacking the lips, rooting (turning her head back and forth to find food) and sucking on her hands are the ways she is letting you know she is hungry. Try not to wait until she is crying and upset, it is harder to latch at that point. Hopefully these techniques will help - hang in there! I've nursed my 4 kids, and I assure you it is all worth it!

Try pumping so your let-down is going when she is ready to latch on, or hand-express a little bit of milk on the end of your nipple so she tastes milk immediately when she gets your nipple into her mouth. Also, try to start feeding her before she is ravenous so she doesn't have to try to concentrate and be patient when she is starving. She can get the hang of the differences, but remember with a bottle nipple, the milk is right there as soon as the nipple gets in her mouth. Good job continuing to pump at work so she will have your breastmilk while you are gone. It can be a lot of work, but best for your daughter in the long run. Good luck to you.

I have used the nipple shielf on one of my twins due to some prematurity issues but I don't think I would recommend it here. It's too much of a pain. I couldn't wait to get him off of it.

Anyway, if you think she doesn't want to work as hard to get the milk, try massaging your breast to help with letdown so she doesn't have to wait as long. I nursed both my twins simultaneously and one hated to wait for the letdown so I always started his brother first, he did all the work and by the tiime the other one latched on the milk was flowing.

The hospital I delivered had lacation consultants that I could call with any questions. We even went down and met with them once. A good resource if it is available to you.

Best of luck!

Try to figure out her feeding schedule and start trying to nurse about 15 minutes before she gets to the frantically hungry state. She will get the hang of it, don't give up. Nursing is such a wonderful thing to do for both you and your baby in so many ways. You get such a natural bond with your child not to mention all of the health benfits of breastfeeding!!

I would suggest that you try a breast shield. I used this with my son the whole time I nursed and it worked well. He could never latch on to me. It is just like putting a bottle nipple on yourself. Hope this helps.

Hi R.,
Are you using the newborn nipples? (the #1) My son would never take a bottle, but I do remember reading that using the slowest flow nipple may help reduce nipple confusion. I know it's frustrating, but have patience! your baby is still so young, and she's still just getting the hang of nursing. it's so much cheaper to breastfeed than formula, so hang in there!

Some children have a hard time latching. Sometimes it's due to the shape of the nipple, firmness of the breast before breastfeeding, how the infant's tongue is formed or perhaps you need assistance in learning other ways to help the infant latch. There are breastshields that are a thin plastic cup that goes over the breast. It helps pull the nipple out. The baby latches to the nipple on the breast shield. Your milk is pulled through the shield just like a bottle nipple. Sometimes infants transition easier between the breast shield and bottle easier than breast to bottle.

You may also consider going to a lactation consultant with Le Leche League, Breast Pumps-To-Go or with any hospital. They will hold private sessions with you and help you work through a breastfeeding session with your infant.

Hi R.,
Bless you! I feel your pain! I went back after only 2 weeks and it was very hard. Unfortunately there is no easy answer here. I tried to nurse whenever I was around, even if just for a little while and only use the bottles when I wasn't home. It definitely took longer to nurse, but it was worth it. It might help to offer her your breast before she is really hungry. That way she won't become desperate and frustrated. Congrats for sticking with it! There were many days that I was in tears because I didn't feel I was doing a good job, but it was worth it. Our little one is now 3 1/'2 months and still on breast milk! I hope this helps. Good luck!

i suggest getting the new bottle out,. it looks and is suppoesd to feel just like a woman's breast. i read a lot of good reviews about it. i'm pretty sure they sell them at babiesrus.com. so i'm thinking if you get her used to that kind of bottle then she'll be fine latching on and everything. make sure you are using a slow flow nipple, then it totally mimicks the breast

I would try nursing when she is sleepy. I have to do that with my 6 mo old because he is too distracted to eat and just wants to play. I rock him a bit and then nurse him when he is tired. You can also try "taking the edge off" with a small amount from a bottle and then switching to the breast when she is not so frantic with hunger. Good Luck!

Yes, it's because of the bottle, but there is hope! Go find the bottles with the lowest flow possible. Usually, they are bottles made to fit pumps like Medela, Elan, Ameda, etc...Make sure you get low-flow nipples for newborns and just keep using them even as she grows and could use a less-low flow nipple. Spent lots of time with her each night and all weekend. Skin-to-skin either in bed or in a bath will help a lot as well - it plays to her primal instinct of nursing.
Give as few bottles as possible until she doesn't show signs of nipple confusion or preference and skip the pacifier, it's just one more thing for her to get confused over.
Don't use a nipple shield, it's a bandaid fix that will cause even more problems when you try to get off (very few women keep up their supply and end up having to supplement with formula). The shield actually slows flow even more, so if she's upset that she has to work harder at the breast, the shield won't fix this.
Good Luck! You can do it:)

I would suggest using the second nature bottles/nipples. They are the MOST like the breast, the baby has to suck to get anything, and the harder they suck, the more they get. I used these bottles for my last one (#4) and the suckling sounds he made while using this bottle are actually comparable to the suckling sounds he made while nursing! You can find them at babys-r-us.
Good luck
~J.

Hello New Mom,

I went back to work when my son was five weeks old too. Although the doctors told me the same thing I really felt he had an attitude towards me for not being with him more in the beginning. He was hungry to so when he was six weeks old I started putting a teaspoon of cereal in his milk and he was good to go. I increased the cereal every month.
If you have any more questions please feel free to email me at ____@____.com. I have a four year old son, and three eyar old daughter and a 20 month old daughter. I have plenty of experience now.

This may feel awkward as a new mom, but have you tried squirting a little breastmilk into her mouth as she's attempting to latch on? I've found that when the babies know what they will be getting, they will latch on more quickly.

Try nursing her more frequently it may have more to do with the fact that she is over hungry then with not being to latch on. Try not to go so long between feedings and that may help. You both will be more relaxed. I know that may mean you need to pump more so she isn't starving when you get home from work. Good luck :)

R.,
I would agree w/a previous poster that you should try a nipple shield, however with one caveat....start out with it, then after baby has latched, you have gotten let down and she has swallowed several times (mabye 2minutes worth?) then unattach, and have her go directly on the nipple. If she won't, then use the nipple shield to finish the feeding. I'll bet that she will do it anyway. It especially works well @ night in the middle of the night in the dark for some reason. With the nipple shield baby is getting the "feel" of a bottle nipple, but having to use the correct mucsles/suck to empty the breast. The skin to skin is another wonderful suggestion.
Blessings to you and do NOT give up!!
D. Easthon CD(DONA) LCCE, ELCS
www.heart2heartbirthmatters.com

The first few weeks of nursing are really tough. Once you get a routine, everything changes! Have you considered seeing a Lactation Consultant? Many communities offer free "nursing moms" groups led by a LC. I know for both the Lakewood and Rocky River groups, you do not need to be a resident or have delivered at their respective hospitals. Or at the very least the hospital should be able to giv you a referral (but a private visit can be costly).
You can do this, and trust me . . . it DOES get easier.

R.,
Because I had PIH with my first child the hospital started her off on the bottle. When I finally could breastfeed she wouldn't latch on either, they said because she had gotten used to the feel of the bottle. I eneded up using plastic nipple covers that were just wide enough for her to feel the plastic on her face and think she was drinking a bottle. After a while I didn't need the covers any more but she did have her moments when she didn't like switching from bottle to breast.

The hospital provided me with my covers but they may sell them at your local Babies R Us.

Switching between breast and bottle can be very difficult, especially at her age. She is developing what is called nipple confusion. Eating from a bottle is much different than nursing at the breast.

Is she only taking a bottle when you are not there? I would try to make sure this is the case. I would try nursing her right before you have to leave so she might go a bit longer into the time that you are gone.

Another thing you can do is try to feed her before she starts to really fuss that she's hungry. That way, she might not scream as much. It's a combination of her being hungry and not realizing that she is not eating from a bottle and needs to work some and her getting frustrated that is causing all the screaming. Babies won't eat well when they are that frustrated. One way to help her along is to compress your breast with your hand when you are trying to get her to latch on. That will make it a bit easier for her to understand that there is milk there. It will also stimulate her to suck more instead of just expecting the milk to come easily like it does from a bottle.

I hope this helps some. You might also want to consider talking to a La Leche League leader. They can be very helpful in situations like this. Keep up the good work. Breastfeeding can be challenging, but is so rewarding in the end. :)

God bless,
A.

My lil one was a preemie and had an AWFUL time latching on. My boob was bigger then his head lol. I got a nipple shield that was WONDERFUL and well worth it. I would try that out and see if it would work. My nurse in the hospital got it for me while in hospital. He caught on to it pretty good once he knew i was his FOOD. lol Quentin never liked the bottle and neither did my daughter but they sure like to nurse. Avery was 2 1/2 I KNOW probley to old but it was just at night before bed. THEN BOOM I was prego for son and had no clue and still was nursing had to tell her it was ALL gone lol. Good Luck.