Need Advice About Breast Feeding

I agree that if you're not ready to stop breastfeeding then you shouldn't give up. If your little one doesn't take to the breast after you return home, you could always just pump and store and give her your breast milk in a bottle. Keep trying though. She may surprise you.

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My son was cercumsized in the hospital and I gave them permission to bottle feed him and he was gone a long time. I was upset he was not coming back. Then he would never latch on and when I got home a nurse came to us every week and we had to put a bottle nipple on my breast the get him to breast feed. I also had a baby in my home day care that was being breast fed with pumped milk and that baby would not take the bottle and I had to call them several times to come and try to feed him. So please make sure your baby is comfortable with the bottle before you leave. It may be the end of your breast feeding and it may be what the doctor said but bottle fed is what that baby has to be comfortable with before you leave. It is hard to care for a child who is hungry and refuses the bottle. We want happy babies. So God bless you on being brave enough to work with a little one and have a safe trip. G. W

what kind of bottles are using. I used the playtex with th liner and i breastfed for about 6 weeks and she did fine with it. You may want to try different nipples and see which she prefers.

My opinion is that breast feeding is the absolute best for your baby and if there is anyway to give her breastmilk for as long as possible, that should be your goal. But sometimes it doesn't work out and that is fine too. I have learned it is impossible to force feed a baby from a bottle breast or spoon. They are going to eat when and how they want.

From the start, I had a very hard time getting my son to nurse and empty the breast. The pediatrician recommended me topping him off each time with a bottle of pumped milk and looking back that probably just made my son "lazier" about nursing harder and made him want the bottle more because it was easier. Babies sometimes tend to prefer the flow from a bottle because they don't have to work as hard.

By the time my son was three months old, he was getting most of his food from pumped breastmilk because he would lose patience with nursing. At three months he started having some reflux and then he got thrush. I stopped nursing him to try to get over the thrush and after that he was never interested in nursing again. I continued pumping like a mad woman, but once you don't have actual nursing going on, your milk supply starts to diminish. So by 7 months, he was on all formula.

I have heard that it is normal for babies to refuse the breast while they go through a phase. But then they usually get back on. My son never really learned to finish his meal while nursing.

It sounds like your 10 day trip is not optional but I would definitely pump while you are away so that you keep your milk supply going at full speed. And when you return, I wouldn't give up trying to get your daughter back on the breast even if it just for part of her meal. It will keep your milk supply going and I have read that many moms regain the breastfeeding routine with patience.

Nursing is the hardest thing I've ever done. Whatever happens, you are doing a great job just in trying to breastfeed. I wish you success in getting your baby back to nursing. But if that does not work out, your baby will be still be healthy and loved. And that is what matters!

R.

Is there any way you can take your daughter along with you on the trip? It could be potentially traumatic for your daughter who has known no one but you (as her primary caretaker) and the breast as her primary food source to have to suddenly miss breastfeeding and not have her mommy. From a developmental attachment viewpoint, this is will effect her sense of security, her trust in you, and could have long term consequences. I can only imagine how difficult it would be for you to be away from your newborn that long.

Are you taking your daughter on this trip? If not, you will probably not be lactating after 10 days away unless you pump.

I didn't read through all the responses but if you will be bottle feeding her for the 10 days I would suggest a brand of bottles called Breastflow by First Years. Look it up on the internet. You used to be able to get them at Babies r Us but they were not BPA free so they stopped carrying them. Now they have BPA free bottles so they may carry them again. Or you can order them online. This bottle is a two nipple bottle and is the closest thing to nursing. Apparently the babies have to suck the same way as when they nurse. I actually stopped nursing and fed my baby for 2 weeks from this botle and then went back to nursing and it was much better because he kind of "learned" on the bottle. My lactation consultant recommended them to me and they are GREAT!! I would give it a try. Do what's best for you and your baby and don't worry about anyone else.

go to www.naturalbeginningsonline.com

They will be able to help you, and it will be well worth whatever the cost will be. They are reasonable and willing to go the extra mile for you.

If it's absolutely necessary that you go on the trip, then you should start pumping now in addition to nursing her. You can stash the extra BM in the freezer and offer her 1/2 BM-1/2 formula bottles when you're gone. Tough to read...but if the trip is not essential, then I'd take her with you or not go. I've traveled cross country several times with a nursing tot in tow, is no problem at all! Even easier, since I knew she was still getting my BM and antibodies. Don't ever compromise the health of your new one or the benefits of nursing her. Thrush is easily treated with OTC meds, and should not interfere with your nursing. Some Docs are easy to jump on the bottle-wagon for any excuse, hang in there. Listen to your body and breastfeed through any issue. When in doubt, let them nurse.

I know this is tough to read, and you might need a break, but this stage is only temporary, hang in there!

I think if you keep pumping things should be good. Make sure that you aren't the one bottle feeding her. We always set it up that I was the 'breast-feeding' and daddy or whoever else was the 'bottle-feeding'. That way maybe she'll respond more to you. If she has thrush then that obviously needs to get cleared up first so maybe the 10 day break will give her a chance to get over that. Just don't have any doubts and keep it going as long as possible! I promise it's worth it! I only breast-fed my daughter for 3-4 months and even then was supplementing. Then my son breastfed exclusivly for 9 months or so. I can really tell a difference with them health wise!

If nothing else, I want to offer you words of encouragement. There are very few breastfeeding issues that can't be worked out, though lots of work may be needed. Have you talked to a lactation consultant about your concerns? They are an invaluable resource no matter what stage of lactating and nursing you are in. Also, at most county hospitals, you can at least briefly talk to one for free! I know Harris Hopsital in Ft Worth is free to talk via phone or stopping in but you have to pay for an appt, which is about the same cost as a dr's office co-pay and many insurances will pay a percentage of it. You do not have to give birth there, nor at other county hospitals, to have free access to the Lac. Consultants and Harris has a toll free phone number to call them. Lac Consultants are so knowledgeable that they can offer suggestions on both your end and your baby's to help you through this.
Also consider La Leche League and natural health supplements in adding thrush or other issues. Supplemental associates at heath stores have worlds of info at their hands and are very knowledgable. And make sure you have a wonderful pump on your trip. Bad pumps will do nothing but make your situation worse. The pump needs to be commercial grade or medela or the like or your supply will drasticly drop!

Good luck and reallly consider calling a Lac. Consultant. I never had serious issues nursing but they kept me from some issues becoming serious in ways I would have never figured or found on my own in time!

I would see a lactation consultant ASAP - doctors really don't know as much about breastfeeding as the consultants do. I needed the help due to illness immediately after birth (I got shingles). It took 3 months to get back to breastfeeding. Sigh! Check with your OB or your hospital to get a referral for a consultant.

Are you going to be away from your daughter for those 10 days, or traveling with her. If you're traveling with her, breastfeeding - if you can get back to it - is probably easier, as you don't have to worry about the whole bottle routine. If you're away from her, than you have to do what you have to do to get her fed. It may be very tough to get her back to the breast after that, as it's much harder to suck on a breast than a bottle. Good luck!

From my own experience, I can tell you that the bottle is so much easier for them and so they dont want to work for it with the breast. I try to avoid giving my 4 1/2 month old son a bottle whenever possible but I have found now that he is teething it is very painful for him to nurse when I am not just overly full so in those situations I have to give him a bottle but overall try to avoid it because I am afraid that he will get lazy and not want to nurse any longer. I am trying to continue breast feeding until 1 year but he also eats so much I dont know if I will be able to keep up. There is a good chance that you will struggle breast feeding her when you get back but I'm sure if you just stick to it, she will take the breast again.

Wow, I can't believe you can leave your 2.5 month old for 10 days! Once you start the bottle, it is pretty much over for breastfeeding because the bottle is so much easier for the baby to get milk out of and therefore, they become lazy and don't want to have to work for the milk anymore when they can basically just lay there and let the milk drip into their mouths. Sorry and I hope that she will pick up breastfeeding again for her own sake...since it helps with speech. Good luck and have fun on your trip.

Get in touch with one of the wonderful breastfeeding resource centers. We used the one at Harris Methodist HEB Hospital (now Texas Resources). Those ladies were fantastic resources. I had a work trip during breastfeeding and pumped the whole time there and she was fine. She was able to have only breastmilk (from me and bottles) until she was 9 months old.

Again I am sorry that you introduced a bottle. Sometimes they will not go back to the breast. Is it possible to take her with you? She is only 10 weeks old and needs you, not a bottle and a substitute mother/nurse/grandma...Go back to the breast full time and forget bottles for the rest of the time you plan to nurse. I wish you good luck in getting her back as it is well worth it for her and for you.

Don't give up! If you aren't ready to be done with breastfeeding then don't give up. The 10 day trip isn't going to make it easy, but go ahead and pump and bottle feed her your milk. That way she is still getting the best nourishment and your milk supply stays up. Then, try putting her on the breast before and after every bottle, she'll get it back eventually.

I also agree that you need to consult a professional, call the La Leche League, your pediatrician, etc. You might also find an online group to give you support (like babyfit) to get you through. Good luck!

I think it is likely that you will be able to breastfeed upon your return. I breastfed both my little ones until they were 6 months old. However, I had to go back to work at three months and had to travel a bit for my job. There was a trip that I had to take when my first was 4 months old. I was gone for a week. Had a stash of BM that my husband gave her in a bottle while I was away. I had no problems breastfeeding her when I got back. In fact both my kids took BM from a bottle during the day while at daycare. I fed from the breast in the morning and evening; and weekends. If you are concerned, maybe shorten your trip to a week. If you have to go for 10 days, just resume when you get back. I am sure she will have missed that cuddle time. I had no problems with mixing bottle and breast. However, every child is very different. My second preferred the bottle; go figure! However, I think that was b/c she was tongue tied. Good luck!!

Realize that taking milk from a bottle is easier. Your baby will find that she won't want to work so hard to get her milk from you after a 10 day lapse. However, you can certainly continue to pump after your return and bottle feed your baby breast milk.
Switching to formula at 2 1/2 months isn't a bad idea either. The most important, unreplaceable nutrients from breast milk were in her first week. These days, formula packaging makes it convenient to be out on the go with your baby. Although, the quiet holding time should still be cherished as they grow quite fast.

A lot of times babies will refuse the breast especially at such a young age if given a bottle. A bottle will feed them fast and they get frustrated with the breast which takes a few seconds to minutes to get started. You can get her back on the breast but it's going to take some crying moments (probably both of you) and you will have to take her completely off the bottle and only offer her the breast. She will go back to the breast but you have to patient and focused on doing so. It might not be easy. On your trip you need to be sure to pump at regular intervals and keep on schedule with your babies feedings. If you miss feedings your body will naturally produce less and less milk.

If she does have thrush you need to make sure to wash the bottles thoroughly and if you continue to breast feed clean your breasts between feedings as well. Thrush is a fungus and the only way to get rid of it is to clean everything that comes in contact with your baby. Sheets she might suck on, toys, pacifiers, clothes, anything that might make it to baby's mouth.

Good luck to you, have a safe trip and be patient with your baby...she will breast feed again but you have to be strong and patient and determined.