Transitioning from bottle to breast!

[shininglight16]

Hi mums,

I'm at my wits end as I don't know what to do. My baby was born in July and we had a long labour which also involved the baby and I being on antibiotics. We had a rocky start as the baby wouldn't latch on to the breast at first and the hospital staff helped a bit but due to the number of patients they were seeing every day, they couldn't help and support as much as was required. They encouraged formula from day 2 and sadly I gave in, as I'm a FTM, I was worried she wasn't getting enough and couldn't cope with the incessant crying. She kept having formula till about 2.5/3 weeks but the breast was offered as well, therefore, we were mixed feeding. I also got wrong advice by the midwives that I had to give more milk to the baby when in fact, I think she just had to feed more often.

Things got better by week 3 and she was able to latch perfectly but she only liked the left breast and rejected the right one completely. By week 6, I thought breastfeeding had been established, my milk supply had gone to 150/160ml but to my horror, things took a U-turn. I had a tummy ache one day and my MIL suggested to give the bottle as the gassiness could pass on to her too. I paid heed thinking maybe she's right. My milk supply dropped as well, or rather, there was no oversupply anymore so I assumed I had to do something about it. I wasn't regularly expressing either.
Went for our 6 week check up and were told that the baby's weight gain is slow, hence, we should top up. My mother-in-law interfered too and asked me to pump for 2 days and see how much I produce. All of this meant that we kept giving the bottle and the baby got used to it. She started refusing the breast. She would cry and cry and to make matters worse, my mother-in-law would come to my room and take her away. I'd blame her as well as my lack of knowledge/support for my breastfeeding journey to go downhill.

Thankfully the mil has left and I'm better able to bond with my baby. I've contacted La Leche League, NCT, had a private lactation consultant come home, been to infant feeding cafes, contacted helplines etc and tried everything possible but the support I've received has been limited and I can't seem to get my baby on my breast. She's 3 months old now, 7-8 weeks since she last breastfed.

I really want to breastfeed exclusively and would like to make it happen. Any help would be much appreciated. Did any of you succeed in bringing the baby back to the breast after weeks? Please share your suggestions 🙏

Many thanks in advance!

I guess you just need to follow any advice from your lactation consultant and other than that just offer the breast as much as possible.

Hello,

That all sounds tough - and hope you are doing OK!

To give you hope, I had a very similar situation (exclusively bottlefeeding for a couple of months after BF got off to a rocky start). I was pumping all that time though, which helped build supply.

It was tough, but slowly, slowly got baby back to breastfeeding again. Just offered the breast consistently and kept at it. If he cried or turned away, never forced it - and just tried again the next feed. This took at least a couple of weeks I think. One day though, things just clicked. We’re now 5.5 months and still exclusively breastfeeding.

Good luck!! xxx

Sending hugs!

we were the same and had to top up with formula as was readmitted due to massive weight loss!

BF has been so hit and miss as my supply tanked due to the stress of my mum passing away so we are doing our own style of combi feeding where she gets offered the boob for as long as she wants and then we top up until she’s satisfied! Sometimes goes well sometimes not!

it’s working for us as she’s growing well now after a rocky start and BF is becoming easier again….. but I refuse to beat myself up about the formula (like I was doing) as ultimately as long as she’s fed/happy/wet nappies etc im happy!!

I'm sorry for what happened but I don't think your baby will go back to breastfeeding as she is only 3 months old but hasn't breastfed in 2 months? Have you pumped to keep your supply going?

I was in a very similar situation to you and managed to turn things around. Have you tried using a nipple shield? I’m not sure what professional advice would be on this but it really helped transition my son back to the breast - I think the fact it probably felt like a bottle teat helped to get him latched on and then eventually I just kept taking the shield away and within a week or two we were back on track.

I’m probably making it sound like it was easy and without distress, it really wasn’t, my breastfeeding journey has probably been one of the hardest but most rewarding of my life. Still going at 3 years old now 😊

Nipple shields might work to trick her as they have a teat. Lots of lying on your side letting her feed. Keep offering boob to her.

But prepare yourself it might not happen now she has got used to the bottle. My baby was similar and only re latched a handful of times. I pumped for months.

Thank you all so much! I am hopeful that it will happen! I have been pumping as well, sometimes often, sometimes very less but I'm trying to build back my supply. I suppose I just need to be persistent and persevere, it's been so challenging I just don't want to give up!

Hi @charliearm how long did you not breastfeed your baby, can you give me a timeline please? Also, what wax your pumping schedule like and how long did it take you to get your baby to accept the breast again?

It was a couple of months. A little hazy, but I think we breastfed for one month, bottlefed for two months, then back to breastfeeding. Like other posters have said, it was hard going at times, and gradual transitioning back, probably took a couple of weeks.

I was pumping all throughout that time to build supply, at least every few hours. Xx

Thanks @Anon01010 how did you introduce the nipple shield was it before feed, between feeds or after? Was your milk supply low or was it good enough that your baby stayed on the breast? Did you pump to build up supply before introducing the nipple shield and how long did it take? What made your baby stick to the nipple shield, any position that helped? I'd really appreciate your inputs!

@Unexpectedlysinglemum you mean she never exclusively breastfed?

Glad it worked out well for you. I'll keep trying for as long as I can. I really want to breastfeed my baby. How much ml were you expressing every time and how long was each expressing session for?

@shininglight16 he only exclusively breastfed for first few days (lots of pain and nipple trauma due to tongue tie) after he lost weight at day 5 we were advised to formula supplement and then combi fed this with as much breastmilk as I could pump, then tried to get him to re latch after my nipples healed but it just never worked properly he used to snack at and chew on them only

Hi @charliearm Glad it worked out well for you. I'll keep trying for as long as I can. I really want to breastfeed my baby. How much ml were you expressing every time and how long was each expressing session for?

Hi @charliearm any tips on how you successfully managed to get your baby to suck on the nipple? Did she refuse the breast lots of times and when was the best time yo offer breast before or after feed? What was the gap between feeds? Did you use a nipple shield?

Did anyone try the supplementary nursing system and did that help putting the baby back to the breast? What position helps best in transitioning baby from bottle to breast?

@shininglight16 did you ever manage to get back to nursing? I am in pretty much the same situation as you were and wondering how it worked out for you at the end?

Hey no I didn't, I have been experiencing depression and anxiety and have been focusing on my mental health. I wasn't able to go back to nursing I'm afraid.

Sorry I couldn't help, I wish you better luck and do try seeking as much help as possible by going to feeding clinics and midwives.

@shininglight16 thank you for responding and sorry to hear you couldn't go back to breastfeeding! I hope you are ok and your mental health is better now, that's the most important! X

Thank you, you're very kind.

I'm still in depression and it will take me a long time to overcome the trauma I've been through. I just pray for a happier day, every day. What issues are you having with breastfeeding? Many I can give some suggestions?