Weaning off the Breast

oh my goodness.. 4 times? I've never had mastitis.. thank goodness.

Would you consider talking to my friend who is laleche leader.. it's free! They go through a ton of training too.. she may be able to help you, perhaps your baby isn't latching on correctly.

I think nursing is one of the most wonderful experiences.. plus it's cheap and great for baby.

PM if you'd like some more help..

Best of luck though either way.. sounds like you are already a wonderful mother and dealing with a lot.

which types of nipple are you using? This can be very important for any baby, but especially for breastfed babies who have already developed a preference for yours! ;) Try still having some skin to skin contact and hold her close as she gets used to the bottle. Express a little bit of formula from the nipple so it's visible on the end when you put it in her mouth. That should help her get the idea that there's something yummy there. If she's hungry she'll take it eventually. :)

there is a fabulous article on mastisis in the mothering magazine - maybe someone here has a copy or you could google it or find it at mothering.com

good luck

ALSO PLEASE contact your local laleche or call the 800 number By Telephone
voice: 1+###-###-####
1+800-LALECHE ###-###-####)

they WILL call you back and are a TREMENDOUS source of help.

I promise.

I thought weaning made mastitus worse?? Hmmm. I would consult Le Leche League and see if they could be of offer any assistance to treating the infection... unless you have just decided that you don't want to breastfeed anyway. When baby's don't take bottles there are a number of reasons it could be from but it is not uncommon for the bottle itself to be a problem. Try several different kinds and see if you can find one that is most like the shape and feel of your own breast. Make sure you are holding her as closely as possible to a nursing position when you offer the bottle. Also you might try the finger feeding method in which you use a long, thin tube alongside your finger. When baby starts sucking your finger she starts getting the milk from the bottle through the tube. I send you well wishes and hope you find a solution as what you are experiencing has got to be so uncomfortable!

First, before you give up... contact a lactation consultant. They are worth their weight in GOLD! I had terrible trouble nursing my DD at first. I didn't have mastitis...but I was engorged all the time, it hurt to even hold my daughter... and we had terrible terrible latch problems. My nipples were constantly bleeding and I was so sore I creid through every nursing session. It was horrible. I was ready to give up. I couldn't take it anymore. I was in so much pain I wasn't enjoying my daughter and even resenting feeding her.

Then I contacted a lactation consultant. It changed everything! She watched how we nursed and worked with us for over an hour to help us 'get it right'. We were doing everything by the book...but the shape my daughters upper palatte just wasn't suited for the 'by the book' method. It caused extra pulling on my nipple etc...

Lactation consultants are trained to know everything about nursing. I'm sure one can help you figure out what is going on.

Also, a friend of mine got a really bad plugged duct. Half of her breast was rock hard! She found some information online that said to nurse on all fours. Basically baby lies on the bed, you hover over on all fours and nurse. Try to massage your breast while you do it. This position helps drain the breast completely... gravity helps.

Honestly, my guess is your body is trying to get used to this supply and demand system. I've had many many many mommies of multiple children say the first time is the hardest... it's like your body doesn't quite know how to 'get in gear'.

It took a GOODO 3.5 months ... but finally DD and I got our rythm down, my supply is just what she takes and I've had no more issues.

Breastfeeding is NOT easy. It takes time to settle into it.

Please... try to exhaust all the options before switching. But, also, if you decide you just can't... then the time you did nurse will be beneficial to your baby too.

Good luck!

A.,

I had similar problems breastfeeding. I know it can be hard and tranistioning to a bottle can be hard. Luckily my daughter transition pretty easily. I would try having someone else feed her until your milk dries up, if possible. Just keep being persisent, she will eventually take the bottle.

I also have mastitis a few times with 104 temps and it was horrible! I started to know when I was getting one and would massage the breast in the area where I saw the red developing and would nurse the baby in a different position to best empty the breast. I would also pump a little afterwards. I understand why you want to wean her though. My only advice is, three months is the magic number for nursing to start to work out fully! I would also call a le leche leader. One step ahead magazine sells a bottle that actually looks like a breast! I have seen it and it feels different also. Mixing the milk with breast milk will help too. Good Luck you really have put a great effort into it and enjoying your baby really is the most important thing. Formula fed baby's turn out just fine!

Hi A.. Wow, a lot to go through and very painful. One thing I can tell you is that some babies are very particular about the bottle nipple. My friend had to try several bottles before her daughter would take one. Then her second daughter didn't like the one the first daughter did, so she had to do a different one for her. Try buying a couple of one type of bottle at a time. Hopefully you'll find one that she'll take. I also like the idea of trying to mix breast milk with formula for a little while so she gets used to the flavor and consistancy. Best of luck to you and your little girl!

I had a lot of trouble getting my daughter to take a bottle at 7 weeks. I am nursing, but wanted her to have a bottle when I was out. She refused all of the bottles until I found the MAM bottle by Sassy. I love this bottle!!! The nipple is shaped like the breast and the texture of it is different. This bottle is worth the try!!!

Usually the best treatment for mastitis is to continue nursing. You can still be battling the mastitis even if you wean. You neeed to figure out the source. Here is an article for you to see what other risk factors may be causing your mastitis. http://www.llli.org/FAQ/repeatmastitis.html/
This is a good resource for you breastfeeding questions. Hope this helps!!

P.S. Keep up the good work. Breastfeeding is really hard but also really worth it!!

D

I am not sure if this will help or not, but here goes. Do you wear a wire nursing bra? If so that might be causing the plugged ducts. That might be to simple of an answer, but I generally don't wear a wire nursing bra when I am nursing because I tend to get plugged ducts. HOpe that helps. Sorry that you have had to go thru all of that.

Not to say you won't still have to wean but have you consulted a Lactation Consultant to make sure you are completely draining the breast at each feeding?

I can't even imagine having mastitis 4 times but if you enjoy nursing I say exhaust all your options.

Good Luck and God Bless
K.

A.,
Mastitis or not, it was going to have to happen eventually anyway. Did your OB offer any suggestions?

I would ask for advisory help at any clinic or hospital. A pediatrician.

But it will take consistency and determination. Your baby will get hungry enough at some point and relent. It sounds harsh, but these difficult-to-wean cases take drastic measures sometimes.

Hi A.,

Try a syringe with a small tube attached to it. Put the end of the tube and one of your fingers in her mouth. That way she gets "you" as well as the formula. I had to do that for a while, after my daughter was first born, because I was too sick to nurse. Check a medical supply store, or ask your OB.

Good Luck!
C.

Hi A.! Wow, I can't imagine the discomfort! would you like me to get the contact information of a lactation consultant?

Weaning your baby does not mean you will not get mastitis. What does your OB think is the root of the problem?

wishing you the best,
M. G