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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Breastfeeding quandary!

8 replies

makingitup · 11/01/2014 09:08

I had a rocky start Breastfeeding My second baby who is now 10 weeks old. Her jaw was super tight and she didn't latch well leaving my nipples ruined after 3 days. I was advised to express and syringe feed which I did for the following two weeks. When my nipples had recovered, she wouldn't latch on so a lactation consultant recommended nipple shields. She at first rejected this but we offered a bottle which then worked and for the last two months I have been feeding her with nipple shields and bottles of EBM. I'm feeling in a tricky place though and wondering how much longer I can continue. Sometimes she gets enough from the nipple shields alone - particularly at night when she is sleepy. But typically, during the day, she needs some EBM in a bottle as well. I've tried taking the shields off daily for the past week but she becomes frustrated at the breast and will start crying. I then end up giving her some EBM in a bottle. My lactation consultant now recommends that I go cold turkey and pull the bottle and shields but I'm not sure i can emotionally stomach this approach as im pretty sure shes unable to work the breast well enough to empty it and feel satisfied. Any advice or previous experience would be great to hear about a good way forward!

OP posts:
EilsFinMart · 11/01/2014 11:03

I had a rocky start to bf with my DS, now 19w. Like you, we expressed and used nipple shields. I was getting fed up with the nipple shields and decided to try pop DS on during one of his predictably more straight forward feeds - during the night. To my surprise, he latched on straight away. Done this at night for a week or so before trying out on the day time. It took a few days of trying but we got there. Had worked myself into a tizzy about never getting him off the nipple shields and how that would affect my confidence feeding in public. I should have wasted my energy on other things! If you find he feeds better during the night, you could try popping him off without a shield and see how it goes? Worst that could happen is that you'd need to put the shield back on. I'm sure others with more experience will have other ideas.

Congratulations on getting this far with bf - especially when it hasn't been easy.

JiltedJohnsJulie · 13/01/2014 18:48

How are things now making? Have you given it a try?

MotherOfInsomniacToddlers · 13/01/2014 18:57

I had a similar problem with my first. I had 3 months of trying to get her to feed naturally but usually ended up with ebm, then i just decided it was too complicated and I didn't thinking could do the cold turkey thing like has Been suggested to you, so i went the other way and only gave her emb, which made life a lot easier really.

HoratiaDrelincourt · 13/01/2014 19:05

I expressed for DS1 for several weeks (inverted nipples, small mouth) then moved on to nipple shields, and eventually the "normal" way once we were both good enough at it and he was big enough.

He self-weaned at 26m (pg with DC2) and is now a gorgeous, gangly, clever, exciteable young man of 5y6m.

Excuse me while I go and squidge him Smile

makingitup · 16/01/2014 02:16

Thanks so much for the advice guys. I've now officially ditched the nipple shields and my nipples are holding up ok. Still have the same problem with the feeding on boob and then after about half an hour she's screaming for a bottle. I'll see how it goes over the next week I suppose....

OP posts:
jaggythistle · 16/01/2014 03:29

What happens when you offer the other boob
after half an hour instead, will she take another wee feed?

makingitup · 24/01/2014 07:01

Thanks so much for all the advice. I'm immensely happy to report that she's got it! Now fully feeding from the breast and no pumping necessary. Over the moon. X

OP posts:
jaggythistle · 24/01/2014 07:29

Aw great news. Glad to hear you all happy. :)

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