Formula, Breastfeeding and "Rebirthing"

[WeeCheekyBird]

Hi, apologies if this is a bit long but looking for some advice on what to do with a complicated situation.

Quick back story: DD is just turning 2 weeks old. We had a traumatic birth and we've both been through a lot since before she was born.

She was born early (36 weeks) although she was a full-term size, so looks like a "proper" newborn iykwim.

I had always planned to breastfeed and her first feed was on the breast. However, apparently due to the fact that the midwife put her on and she didn't find it herself this has caused issues with latching. She also spent time in SCBU and they (without discussing anything with me - but that's another story) bottle-fed her exclusively until I kicked off and got them to give her some expressed milk too.

Anyways long story short, I have met with a lactation consultant and she has suggested something called "rebirthing" where we both lie in a bath and she gets the weightlessness of being in the womb and is allowed to go through the natural process of self latching etc etc.

Has anyone tried this? Does it work? I get the psychology behind it but I feel a bit weird having a woman looking over us in a bath while trying to breastfeed and reset. I'm feeling a bit under pressure now and have been just pumping and mix feeding and we're getting by but obv it would be easier (and cheaper) if we get back on the breast.

Thanks for reading.

[SilverdaleGlen]

It's up to you but TBH it sounds like hookum.

The bath idea in itself, skin to skin, call and peaceful and ty to latch isn't a bad idea, but calling it rebirthig and having someone watch unless you feel happy with it isn't going to help as you won't relax.

I'd keep just bathing/lieing with baby and trying to latch but don't drive yourself nuts as bottles really aren't so bad that it's worth not just relaxing and enjoying your newborn.

I FF DD1 and BF the other two, no different except DD1 slept

[SilverdaleGlen]

*calm not call

[blue2014]

Hmm - I have my reservations. DS wasn't prem but he was c section and my milk didn't come in immediately. He had formula the first night and the midwives also put him to my breast rather than automatic latch (he probably didn't latch himself for the first few days) he's 7 months now and we have no problems BF

I just really doubt it'll make a difference to be honest. I guess it canr hurt but will it actually help?

[WeeCheekyBird]

Thanks for the replies. I thought it sounded a bit....alternative too.

The girls I'm dealing with are super pro-BF which is fine - but it's feeling a bit pushy now and I don't want to stress DD, and myself, out. She gets frustrated and headbutts me in the boob cause she's used to the bottle now and it's faster (she's a gannet).

I don't really see anything wrong with continuing to mix feed her if I have to - as long as she's getting some or most of her feeds from my milk it can't hurt. I just want her to have the immunity so was happy even if it's just a few weeks of expressing.

She's my PFB, took a lonnnng time to get here and I just want to do what's best for her.

[DonkeyOaty]

How about thinking about calling it biological nurturing instead of rebirthing?

here's a LLL page about it

No need to be in a bath.

Good luck.

[blue2014]

Oh love, if you are ok with mix feeding keep doing it. DS is also my pfb and a result of ivf. Honestly I wish I had mix fed him. It would be so much easier now we are starting to wean. As long as she's fed you're doing the best for her

[blue2014]

Oh also - congrats on the birth of your daughter just enjoy her

[troodiedoo]

It sounds very new age but it can't do any harm, and might help. Relaxation and skin to skin are always good. Congratulations and good luck. If you do want to ebf I'm sure you can.

[PolkaDotFlamingo]

I had a lot of latching problems and found that she would feed using a nipple shield and after a few weeks I managed to get her off it and onto just the breast. Have you tried one?

[WeeCheekyBird]

Thanks everyone - I really appreciate the feedback from you all!

Polka I haven't tried one - that's a really good idea actually. I'll need to pick one up and try it.

Donkey I'm kinda trying that just now on my own - I was so stressed out with our experience in the hospital that I wanted to wait until I was comfortable at home, in my own environment and just let her do what she wants with plenty of skin-to-skin. She does try every now and again to latch and I just let her do what comforts her.

[HandbagFan]

I have a frien who did the re-birthing thing and it worked for them. She breastfed then for a year.

But I don't for one moment believe the trouble you're having is because the midwife put her to your breast.

Give it a go, perhaps by yourself or with DH, and see what happens?

[Sugarcoma]

Hello cheekybird So this was suggested to me too. I had terrible problems latching DS (now 3 and a half months) and also put it down to him being given a bottle Day 1 due to low blood sugar. He would just scream and thrash at the breast and never stay on longer for more than a few mins. We started off on a mix of formula and EBM, eventually managing to make it to about 90% EBM and then around 6 weeks he started trying to latch a bit.

We didn't do the bath thing in the end but the NCT BF counselor got me in a reclined position on a comfy chair and popped DS onto my chest (then around 7 weeks) and he started to bob around to find the nipple and started to latch, almost like a day 1 newborn.

From there his latch continued to improve (for a week or 2 that was the only position he'd latch btw) and now he's EBF.

I think I would have given the bath thing a go but doing it on a comfy chair is pretty much the same thing. I think it's just giving the baby the opportunity to find the nipple themselves and re-set, somehow.

Wishing you and your little one lots of luck.