Two day old refusing bottle but not boob! help!

[raininginbaltimore]

Right many of you have advised me before, but just in case brief history:

I have bipolar disorder. Been planning on bf baby for one day then restarting lithium and ff. I have researched effects of lithium on bf babies, talked with many professionals. I do not want to get ill so thought this was best course of action.

My dd was born Friday night. She fed brilliantly straight away and all day yesterday. She is a natural. My ds was always a struggle but she just gets it- even lying down.

I thought I might feed for longer, but after a marathon 3 hour feed last night I decided to stick to plan (sleep is important in management.

But hates bottles. All day have managed to get 3 oz in her. And she puked up some. She doesn't ask for it (trying to feed on.demand) She got so sleepy I offered boob and she was straight on and has now been feeding for 40mins.

But my nips are raw and bleeding (happened with ds, latch checked etc, I just have very pale akin and sensitive nipples) and I don't know what to do.

Part of me wants.to continue, as mostly it is nice, she is a natural. But it hurts and is exhausting. Any way to help her take bottle?

Huge congratulations on your dd! When my dd was born, she had real problems latching, so we fed her through a tube sellotaped to my (or dp's) finger. She loved this: after about a month we moved her onto a bottle, and she had no problem making the transition. A bfc at the hospital gave us the tubes ( and equipment with which to clean them) and showed us how to use them - perhaps you could ask for something similar? Congrats again!

Thanks. I have lansinoh, have been lathering it on. Still all scabbed though. I will try that idea.

Well, firstly I would suggest going to speak to a Brett feeding counsellor or ringing one, as it's Sunday - but in the mean time, if he won't take the bottle and your using the boob have you thought of using a nipple shield?

Thanks. I could get some nipple shields tomorrow. I think this is so hard because I don't really want to bottle feed her. But feeding my son was so hard and relentless that I think it contributed to me getting ill.

I am worried that if I leave it too late to take medication I could make life horrid for myself and ny family.

I just don't know what to do. I think if I could feed without hurting (which is because of the raw, bleeding nipples) I would continue.

Bit of an odd question but how quickly does lithium kick in? I am also bi polar and preg but not been on lithium. I totally understand the wanting to get back on meds before things kick off (if they do) but if you're not 100% into the bottle feeding is it worth carrying on with breast feeding and watching your moods very carefully (dunno if you do a mood diary but it really helped me) then going onto lithium as soon as things start to change? Not sure how realistic this is as I guess it depends how quickly it kicks in.

It isn't instant. They have to get your level right, but that would be quicker this time as they know what I was on before.

I am going to keep going with bf for now. My Dh and mum support me in this. We will watch out for signs together.

Hi raining - are you able to try a few different types of bottle teats? there are a huge number of shapes and varieties and it may be that one is more acceptable to DD?

Other things you could try

• are you trying the bottle with expressed breastmilk or formula? It might be easier for her to get used to the same taste with a new teat-shape, and then the switch to new taste might be easier?

• when newborn DS and I were in hosp and he wasn't latchingg on properly, the midwives produced this tiny little beaker (holding about 15ml) which had a specially shaped lip which they held to DS's mouth and he sort-of lapped it - see if your health visitor or midwife team know what this is about?

• no idea whether it would be relevant to such a young baby but older babies who have got used to breastfeeding sometimes accept the bottle more easily if they are cuddled close on their side (as if breastfeeding) - the bottle needs to be in your armpit to get the teat in the right sort of place.