problems breast feeding

[CrystalBrooke]

i wanted to breast feed my daughter when she was born, but they had to do a c section, and i was in no condition to breast feed after the surgery so they had to go ahead and bottle feed her. ive tried several times now to get her to take to me but she wont, im sure its because of the bottle feeding, is there any chance that if i keep trying that she'll eventually feed from me?

 

[rakkoon]

i wanted to breast feed my daughter when she was born, but they had to do a c section, and i was in no condition to breast feed after the surgery so they had to go ahead and bottle feed her. ive tried several times now to get her to take to me but she wont, im sure its because of the bottle feeding, is there any chance that if i keep trying that she'll eventually feed from me?

I'm sorry that happened. I would strongly suggest you contact your local La Leche League, see if they can give you a number to a Lactation Consultant near you. It is definately possible for you to breastfeed, its just going to take some determination on your part though.
The lactation Consultant will try differant techniques to get your little one started. It will happen just don't get discouraged. Keep pumping so you won't lose your supply.

 

[~Mrs. A2J~]

Yes, it's definitely possible. My daughter was given formula against my wishes at the hospital but we still went on to successfully breast feed. Definitely contact your local LLL by calling 1 800 LALECHE or looking on their website http://www.lalecheleague.org/WebUS.html

Has your milk come in yet? If it has and you're engorged try expressing a little bit first as some babies have a hard time latching on when the breast is too full.

 

[Leanna]

i wanted to breast feed my daughter when she was born, but they had to do a c section, and i was in no condition to breast feed after the surgery so they had to go ahead and bottle feed her. ive tried several times now to get her to take to me but she wont, im sure its because of the bottle feeding, is there any chance that if i keep trying that she'll eventually feed from me?

I agree with contacting the LLL for help... and I know you must feel tired, but don't give up! You can do it! I think that if your breast gets "overfull" let down is a lot harder... I was told to take a hot shower, and when the water runs over your breasts they will let some of the milk out. Engorgement is bad for latching on.... isn't it? Someone who did this longer tell me if I am right here.

But just so you know.... My son was never ONCE bottle fed at the hospital and he wouldn't wake to eat either. In fact he went 4 days with nothing but the tiniest bit of colostrum. Soooo....

 

[TexasSky]

i wanted to breast feed my daughter when she was born, but they had to do a c section, and i was in no condition to breast feed after the surgery so they had to go ahead and bottle feed her. ive tried several times now to get her to take to me but she wont, im sure its because of the bottle feeding, is there any chance that if i keep trying that she'll eventually feed from me?

Contact LLL.
If you aren't already pumping, try pumping and then using the breast milk to feed her even if you use a bottle. Then there is no "taste" adjustment, only "texture".

 

[Neenie1]

i wanted to breast feed my daughter when she was born, but they had to do a c section, and i was in no condition to breast feed after the surgery so they had to go ahead and bottle feed her. ive tried several times now to get her to take to me but she wont, im sure its because of the bottle feeding, is there any chance that if i keep trying that she'll eventually feed from me?

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I had 2 c-sections and breastfed both babies afterwards. It is possible but it just takes a lot more effort and time to get started.

With my first born (a boy now aged 4) it was a lot harder and attachment was difficult. They did a few tube feeds of expressed breast milk and never gave him a bottle.

They also did a few feeds where he was attached to me, but to stimulate the sucking they put a line through with some ebm and put that in his mouth so he would get some reward from sucking straight away instead of waiting for let-down and all that. It's a bit hard to explain and I'm sorry if it's too hard to understand.

Definitely contact a breastfeeding specialist (sorry don't know who you would contact in your area) to help out with this It's possible but it will be hard. I do know of mothers who have stopped breastfeeding their newborn because of mastitis or whatever reason and then taken it up again later.

Thought I'd had that breastfeeding number 2 was much easier, she took to it straight away.

 

[ShannonMcCatholic]

ALso ugre contacting LLL...they'll be able to help! Stick with it...you can do it...I know it is hard now...but you can do it!!!

 

[HeKnowsMyName]

My suggestion would be to pump a little before you try to breastfeed to get the milk flowing. Bottles are easier than breasts so the baby would prefer not to work too hard for her supper! Hang in there and read, read, read. I'd suggest too that you don't offer the bottle to her any more right now, but you might want to get professional advice on that.

We expressed my milk into a cup at the doctor's office (because I was having trouble breastfeeding) and then gave it to DD with a medicine dropper.

 

[~Mrs. A2J~]

I'd suggest too that you don't offer the bottle to her any more right now, but you might want to get professional advice on that.

We expressed my milk into a cup at the doctor's office (because I was having trouble breastfeeding) and then gave it to DD with a medicine dropper.

I would second this suggestion. If possible don't use bootle but an alternative form of feeding if necessary. Here is some info: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/alternative-feeding.html

Look around that website also as it's a very good resource on breastfeeding in general.

 

[HeKnowsMyName]

I noticed in the pictures that your DH was giving her a pacifier. We were told not to do this til our DD was two weeks old I think.

 

[jgonz]

All the suggestions above my post are great ones~ LLL is a Fabulous source of support, information, and hands-on help (and I'm not just saying that 'cause I'm a leader. lol)

Many babies will get confused if you use a bottle nipple or pacifier. (I thought this was a myth until it happened to my youngest. ) Sucking on the breast is a Very different type of sucking than sucking on a bottle or pacifier, and it can really make things hard if you're trying to get the baby to exclusively nurse. Even in the NICU they can use something else besides a bottle (although it's not as convenient so you may have to push it). Pacifiers shouldn't be introduced until 4- 6wks old (because of the nipple confusion thing).

Spoon feeding, cup feeding, syringe feeding, and using a Supplemental Nursing System type thing are all very valid and often used alternatives to the bottle.

I hope you've gotten some personal support since you wrote your post...

 

[CrystalBrooke]

thanks..i've kept trying when im up with her at night...she acts like she knows there's milk there and she almost latched on last night, im hoping if im diligent in my efforts that she'll take to me. thank you all so much for the advice, ive bookmarked all websites and ive been reading them.

 

[Leanna]

thanks..i've kept trying when im up with her at night...she acts like she knows there's milk there and she almost latched on last night, im hoping if im diligent in my efforts that she'll take to me. thank you all so much for the advice, ive bookmarked all websites and ive been reading them.

are you pumping? day 5, you must have milk, and you want to get that supply up for when she takes to it.... my SIL had so much milk at first she was able to freeze it and use it later when she needed it (trips out, daddy feeding, etc.)

 

[ShannonMcCatholic]

thanks..i've kept trying when im up with her at night...she acts like she knows there's milk there and she almost latched on last night, im hoping if im diligent in my efforts that she'll take to me. thank you all so much for the advice, ive bookmarked all websites and ive been reading them.

Hang in there Crystal!! You are doing a great job being a mommy!!

 

[ShannonMcCatholic]

Oh-- and yes keep pumping to keep your milk up as you keep trying!!

 

[Joykins]

I had a c-section with my first and my son never latched well at the hospital and when we got home he stopped latching at all. I just kept trying, I gave myself 15 minutes of trying each feeding time and if he didn't get it in that time I would give him a bottle of pumped milk. We saw a lactation consultant that taught me to finger-feed him and I did that for a while but it was more difficult and not as cuddly as giving a bottle (I had to prop him and couldn't hold him). At about 3 weeks suddenly something clicked with him when I was trying in the middle of the night and he latched on and he went on to nurse for 2 years.

Keep trying, see a lactation consultant, find a support group for breastfeeding, and if it just doesn't work out after you've given it your best, don't feel guilty.

 

[jgonz]

People always talk about nipple confusion and such but Abby was able to switch between nipple and bottle with absolutely no difficulty. The problem for us was my milk supply and not her ability to latch though

I honestly and truly did not believe that there was such a thing as nipple confusion. My first 5 breastfed babies never had a problem with using pacifiers and nursing! But then along came my youngest... She had to be different in a lot of ways. It took us 3 More weeks to get her latch right. That was such a trial. She finally got it right though and went on to nurse until she was nearly 3.5. lol