Ask Me Help Desk - Bottle vs breast

Ok... here we go.

Little baby Jacob Lloyd prefers breast milk from a bottle, he won't breast feed. My sister in law keeps trying with no success.

Jacob Lloyd is only 13 days old, he is healthy and gaining weight however rather slowly. He was 6.12 lbs at birth and has probably gained 1/2 to 3/4 lbs since. She is following all instructions for her first born and is producing milk which he will drink however like I said only from a bottle.

Any suggestions will help as she wants him to nurse. J, do you have any suggestions?

Thanks,

Stringer

Congrats Uncle Stringer on the new addition to the family!

Little Jacob Lloyd isn't really lacking in weight, not to worry too much there.

As you know, breast is best, but at least he IS getting the benefit of the breast milk rather than formula. I'm sure your sister wants the bonding attached to the actual breast feeding as well as the benefits associated to it such as birth control and assistance in post-pregnancy weight loss, but at least she is pumping and he is getting her milk.

Is your sister aware of all of the different breast feeding holds, such as the football hold or the cross-cradle hold? Many of my gals benefit best from the side-lying hold.

While I am a huge advocate of breast feeding, it's not really one of my strong points. I'm currently going through classes with our lactation consultant at the hospital. Your sister may benefit from the same. We do breast feeding classes before and after our babies are born. Have your sister contact the hospital where Jacob Lloyd was born to see if they have classes or if they have a lactation consultant who can work with her side by side.

I'm hoping too that Doula will chime in here.

I agree that contacting a lactation consultant will work wonders. Mine (hospital based) was a true God-send as she helped me through things with such ease I was blown away! In many areas, there are also community based LC's that can make home or office appointments. Jacob Lloyd could be hesitant from a textural standpoint and possibly senses his mothers' anxiety. A LC could help much more than I could though. Congrats on the little one and good luck to mama! It can be done! :)

Congrats Stringer... :)

Do you know what he is weighing now? What he weighed when he left the hospital? Usually they like to see them at, or at least close to, their birth weight by about 2 weeks. This is one way of knowing that he is getting what he needs.

How often is he feeding in a 24 hour period? What is his output like... number of wet diapers and bowel movements? Was he latching on before?

A few things she might try in no particular order:

* loads of just skin-to-skin contact frequently throughout the day... with and without latching attempts
* start milk flow with hand expression or short time on pump before trying to put him to the breast... some babies will get frustrated when they have to work too hard for their meal and having the milk already flowing can help.
* try latching him on when he is sleepy or just in a quiet alert state... not necessarily when he is hungry. He may pacify on mom first, and that can lead to feeding
* she might satisfy his initial hunger a bit first and then try him at the breast
* as J_9 mentioned, try different positions... some babies will prefer one over another, even for each breast
* I would strongly suggest she switch to medicine cup or syringe feeding instead of the bottle. This is because babies will find it easier to take milk from the bottle than from mom. They don't have to work too hard for it from the bottle... and can frustrate easily at the breast once they get used to it being easy. It is sometimes referred to as nipple confusion, but I think of it more as nipple preference. The main reason, however, is their mouth position is different for a bottle nipple compared to mom. For breastfeeding you want a wide, open mouth, which is not necessary for bottle feeding. When a baby has trouble latching at the breast you want to be careful to not encourage an improper latch by using a bottle.
* If the bottle is preferred by mom, she can try rhythm bottle feeding... she holds him up a bit more upright and bottle a bit more horizontal... still making sure nipple is full of milk and not part air. Let him have several sucks then remove bottle, several sucks, remove, and so on. This way he has to work a bit for it.
* Again, better to cut out the bottle altogether for right now. Save it for a later introduction once the breastfeeding is going very well.
* She should offer the breast first at each feed and then an alternative method if necessary... then pump as if she were feeding at that session. This will help build and maintain her milk supply. It works on supply and demand.

He will likely be having his next weigh-in soon. Please let us know how it goes.

If she continues to have trouble, definitely follow what J_9 and LearningAsIGo said, and have her see a LC at the hospital. Being able to see how he is latching can allow the LC to make recommendations.

Frustrating at times, but worth the effort... good luck! And enjoy that new baby!

J, LearningAsIGo and Doula I really appreciate all you helpful, great information as you probably know I am an older man and it has been YEARS and I mean years since I had any involvement in-depth with babies, but I love him (them). He has already added so much to our home, a wonderful addition. We are so happy.

I have copied all this information and printed it for my sister in law, at this moment she is reading it and I am sure she will pursue all these helpful suggestions.

Thank you again for this valuable help. Per chance if you have any other ideas just let me know.

Stringer

Stringer, you've already got great info, but I'll put my 2 cents in too.

I had a heck of a time breastfeeding with Jared. He had thrush, and for 8 months we passed it back and forth to each other. It was pure hell.

I didn't go to the doctor right away. I was a new mom, thought that the bleeding and the pain was just an adjustment to breastfeeding.

When I finally couldn't take it anymore I went to my doctor, and he not only gave me meds, but sent me to a lactation consultant.

Seeing her was a God send. No, it didn't get rid of the thrush, but some of the pain and difficulty we were having also had to do with the fact that we weren't breastfeeding properly.

I highly recommend a lactation consultant. Many of them will even come to your home.

For me the football hold worked the best. It puts you and baby in a great position to latch on properly.

I hope this helped, and I hope she gets the experience she wants. Breastfeeding is a great time to bond. In fact, with Syd I had no issues, and I ended up nursing her until she was almost 3 years old (much longer than I intended).

All the best, and I'm still waiting for pictures!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alty

Stringer, you've already got great info, but I'll put my 2 cents in too.

I had a heck of a time breastfeeding with Jared. He had thrush, and for 8 months we passed it back and forth to eachother. It was pure hell.

I didn't go to the doctor right away. I was a new mom, thought that the bleeding and the pain was just an adjustment to breastfeeding.

When I finally couldn't take it anymore I went to my doctor, and he not only gave me meds, but sent me to a lactation consultant.

Seeing her was a God send. No, it didn't get rid of the thrush, but some of the pain and difficulty we were having also had to do with the fact that we weren't breastfeeding properly.

I highly recommend a lactation consultant. Many of them will even come to your home.

For me the football hold worked the best. It puts you and baby in a great position to latch on properly.

I hope this helped, and I hope she gets the experience she wants. Breastfeeding is a great time to bond. In fact, with Syd I had no issues, and I ended up nursing her until she was almost 3 years old (much longer than I intended).

All the best, and I'm still waiting for pictures!

Hi Alty,

Thank you so much also. I will pass this on to her. You are so right hon the friends here are great and knowledgeable and also so helpful. Jacob Lloyd now has people who care about him 'on line! ' :)

We have been SO busy the last week or so, I will get the pictures posted give me a little more time OK, I will I promise. I know that all babies are cute and beautiful but when he is family... well you know.

Hey! He smells like a beautiful little baby boy!! :)

Stringer

Hey Stringer,

Just checking... any improvement??

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoulaLC

Hey Stringer,

Just checking.....any improvement???

HI Doula,

She is working on it...

Thanks for checking.

Update:

Still trying the suggestions that you all have made with little success so far. However the doctor doesn't necessarily think that it is a problem presently. She said that he will in due time.

Well, my apologies, I was corrected today Jacob Lloyd is only 17 days old for some reason I had him at 22 days today... oopps.

He has gained 2 pounds since birth at 6.1, 8.2 now.

We took him, mom, my wife and I to a professional photographer today and found out the 'he likes it' posed like a pro with a lot of smiles and he was hamming it up... :) I loved it, he was great. Took a lot of pictures we should have them back in two weeks. And the photographer promised to air brush mine... :(

Stringer, tell her not to give up.

Women seem to think that breastfeeding, since it's a natural thing, should come naturally. It doesn't for all. In fact, many women have issues with breastfeeding, as do babies.

Has she consulted a lactation consultant? That really is your best bet. They're great, they will sit down with you, watch how she's feeding, and show her and baby how to do it correctly.

This is fixable.

Now I'm waiting for those pictures. I can be patient, but I'm on the edge of my seat. Can't wait. :)

Great weight gain... :) Definitely suggest that she see a LC. It really can make all the difference for the LC to be able to see how he is latching and suckling.

They may suggest trying a SNS... supplemental nursing system, for a short time. These can be a great help. Mom can wear a small tube like a necklace that has her breastmilk in it. A thin tube goes from that into baby's mouth as he latches to the breast. It is a win, win situation. Stimulates milk production as baby suckles at the breast, baby gets fed, baby associates being at the breast with being fed, they both get practice at breastfeeding, and baby learns to take the breast instead of the bottle.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alty

Stringer, tell her not to give up.

Women seem to think that breastfeeding, since it's a natural thing, should come naturally. It doesn't for all. In fact, many women have issues with breastfeeding, as do babies.

Has she consulted a lactation consultant? That really is your best bet. They're great, they will sit down with you, watch how she's feeding, and show her and baby how to do it correctly.

This is fixable.

Now I'm waiting for those pictures. I can be patient, but I'm on the edge of my seat. Can't wait. :)

She has another appointment soon Alty I will tell her this too.

Let's see how those pictures we took today turn out should be in two weeks (:() I'll post them. OK? :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoulaLC

Great weight gain....:) Definitely suggest that she see a LC. It really can make all the difference for the LC to be able to see how he is latching and suckling.

They may suggest trying a SNS....supplemental nursing system, for a short time. These can be a great help. Mom can wear a small tube like a necklace that has her breastmilk in it. A thin tube goes from that into baby's mouth as he latches to the breast. It is a win, win situation. Stimulates milk production as baby suckles at the breast, baby gets fed, baby associates being at the breast with being fed, they both get practice at breastfeeding, and baby learns to take the breast instead of the bottle.

Doula that is interesting, I'll have her talk to her doctor, thank you again.

He is soooo cute Doula, I have to be very careful, want to just squeeze him and squeeze him...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stringer

He is soooo cute Doula, I have to be very careful, want to just squeeze him and squeeze him.....

I can well imagine... just think "baby" not "melon"... ;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoulaLC

I can well imagine.....just think "baby" not "melon"....;)

I know, but he brings out all that 'baby love' I have had cooped up for a long time. So wonderful to have him here. I... just got to burp him. :)

That's a great weight gain Stringer! I'm glad to hear that he is doing so well.

Glad Doula chimed in here, but I still think she needs to contact a LC.

I can't wait for the pics.

Quote:

Originally Posted by J_9

That's a great weight gain Stringer! I'm glad to hear that he is doing so well.

Glad Doula chimed in here, but I still think she needs to contact a LC.

I can't wait for the pics.

Good morning J,

She is consulting with her doctor soon.

I'll post in a short while when the session pics come back.

Thanks,
Stringer

Better yet, have her call the laborious and delivery unit where she delivered. They may have a LC there and or classes on the unit.

I will let her know J, thank you.