Getting baby back to the breast after bottle

[Emma]

I am an occasional poster to this group - I always watch the discussion with
interest and post with advice where I can. This newsgroup is such a rich
source of support.

I have a friend whose baby is one week old, and mother and bub are
traumatised by a rocky start to breastfeeding (I am yet to get full
details). The baby has been receiving EBM from a bottle for five days now,
and is not keen to go back to the breast.

I am going to see my friend tomorrow, and I would really appreciate any tips
on relaxing mother and baby, and for getting baby back to the breast.

TIA

[Plissken]

"Emma" > wrote in message
...
> I am an occasional poster to this group - I always watch the discussion
with
> interest and post with advice where I can. This newsgroup is such a rich
> source of support.
>
> I have a friend whose baby is one week old, and mother and bub are
> traumatised by a rocky start to breastfeeding (I am yet to get full
> details). The baby has been receiving EBM from a bottle for five days
now,
> and is not keen to go back to the breast.
>
> I am going to see my friend tomorrow, and I would really appreciate any
tips
> on relaxing mother and baby, and for getting baby back to the breast.
>
> TIA
>

My DD would not latch at first and I got her on the breast at 2 weeks old.
What helped me was using nipple shields. Tell her to start using a nipple
shield immediately as this will get her baby used to her breast. Whenever
she can she should go and relax with her baby skin to skin with her baby's
face near her breasts. A few times a day she should remove the nipple shield
and try to latch the baby on to the breast. This should be done when the
baby is a little sleepy and/or near the end of a feed and isn't as hungry.
It's not a pretty sight trying to get a baby back to the boob when he/she is
very hungry. And last but certainly not least she should fins a good LC
IMMEDIATELY. This is what worked for me but others may have better
suggestions.

Nadene

[Iuil]

"Emma" wrote
> I am an occasional poster to this group - I always watch the discussion
with
> interest and post with advice where I can. This newsgroup is such a rich
> source of support.
>

We try :-).

> I have a friend whose baby is one week old, and mother and bub are
> traumatised by a rocky start to breastfeeding (I am yet to get full
> details). The baby has been receiving EBM from a bottle for five days
now,
> and is not keen to go back to the breast.
>
> I am going to see my friend tomorrow, and I would really appreciate any
tips
> on relaxing mother and baby, and for getting baby back to the breast.

First thing is to dump the bottles - now! If the baby won't take the breast
directly, use a cup (a little 20ml medicine cup is ideal) - the baby will
just lap the milk up like a kitten. If the baby will take the breast, she
could try a supplemental system like the SNS or LactAid.

Then she needs to ensure that the baby is latching on correctly. If she
feels pain, then the latch is incorrect. She should remove the baby,
relatch and try again. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Finally, tell her to find a lactation consultant (if she hasn't already). A
good lactation consultant will have the IBCLC certification. And if that LC
tells her that it's too late or is in any way negative, tell her to keep
looking.

Best of luck to her, it's not going to be easy.

Jean


--
"And he said:
Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of
Life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, and
though they are with you, yet they belong not to you." Khalil Gibran

Return address is unread. Replies to <firstnamelastname> @eircom.net.

[Larry McMahan]

Emma > writes:
: I am an occasional poster to this group - I always watch the discussion with
: interest and post with advice where I can. This newsgroup is such a rich
: source of support.

: I have a friend whose baby is one week old, and mother and bub are
: traumatised by a rocky start to breastfeeding (I am yet to get full
: details). The baby has been receiving EBM from a bottle for five days now,
: and is not keen to go back to the breast.

: I am going to see my friend tomorrow, and I would really appreciate any tips
: on relaxing mother and baby, and for getting baby back to the breast.

: TIA

hmm, there was just another thread on this very subjedt within the last
week or two.

The best I can suggest to help is to state that she needs to get him off
the bottle an onto a feeding method that is more work in order to motivate
him to nurse off the breast. I am thinking of either a Lactaid or SNS,
since these are the two methods that simulate nursing.

Second, once she has taught him to latch, she should pump or express until
she has a let-down, then nurse. This will teach him where the milk comes
from. Once he has the idea then she can make him nurse until he stimulates
a let-down, but he may be to impatient to do it at first.

Good luck,
Larry

[Lisa Besko]

Iuil wrote:
> "Emma" wrote

>>I have a friend whose baby is one week old, and mother and bub are
>>traumatised by a rocky start to breastfeeding (I am yet to get full
>>details). The baby has been receiving EBM from a bottle for five days
>
> now,
>
>>and is not keen to go back to the breast.
>>

> Finally, tell her to find a lactation consultant (if she hasn't already). A
> good lactation consultant will have the IBCLC certification. And if that LC
> tells her that it's too late or is in any way negative, tell her to keep
> looking.
>

I just wanted to endorse what Jean said. Find a good lactation consultant.

LB