all previous attempts, but now loves the bottle. I'm still breastfeeding, but now his suck is so strong he's tearing up my nipples! I swear, the top where the nipple meets the areola is cracked and it hurts so bad...what do I do? I want to continue to breastfeed! Help please!
2006-06-17 09:52:03 · 5 answers · asked by sophiensamsmom 4 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
This is very common when a bottle is introduced to a baby. The baby is starting what is called "nipple confusion". It can happen at two weeks, or 10 months. The best thing for you to do is stop the bottle. In a month or two, you can introduce a sippy cup (you can even try now) and this will avert the problem.
Nipple confusion can basically be defined as - preference to the bottle. The bottle releases more milk, faster, and he doesn't have to wait for the milk to let down. Many babies will wean themselves if the bottle feeding continues.
I would also suggest only giving baby expressed milk, whether it be via bottle, sippy cup, whatever. Your milk supply could drop if you give baby formula when you would otherwise be giving breastmilk.
Check out the links I put down in the sources. They are very reliable and valuable, well researched and experienced articles and personal accounts. If you do a search on there for "nipple confusion" (this is a technical term) you will turn up with lots of results and maybe some more suggestions.
2006-06-17 11:14:34 · answer #1 · answered by Melissa N 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This happens with some babies. It is most common if you give a bottle before baby is 2 months old, but it can happen at any age. It's called nipple confusion.
It may be that you have to choose between breastfeeding and bottle feeding. Some babies just can't go back and forth. In this case, you can offer him pumped milk in a cup instead if you choose to.
Do *not* use salt water!! First of all, water dries your nipples and can cause more damage. I won't even try to describe what *salt* will do to open sores--let's just say OUCH!! Moreover, your baby could get a high amount of salt; it could seriously harm him. Stay away!!
If you use lanolin, be sure to choose *purified* lanolin. There are at least 2 brands available: Medela PureLan and Lansinoh. It is really helpful for wound healing (it will work on *any* wounds--not just sore nipples). Good luck!!
2006-06-17 17:28:56 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It happen to me, I was breastfeeding and I give my daughter a bottle and after that that's all she wanted I try every day and she just refuse to do it, so what I start doing was using the electric breast pump and that way I could keep giving my daughter breast milk, if your baby refuses the breast milk on a bottle mix it with the formula, that will work!!
2006-06-17 21:27:53 · answer #3 · answered by Jacquie A 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can use the lanolin that you can buy from a drug store or babys r us or just your regular grocery. Or, what worked best for me (the lanolin didnt work at all for me, but some women will swear by it) hold your nipples in a little bowl or cup of warm salt water for a few minutes a few times a day. That just did wonders for me. It is awkward to do, but it helps heal so quickly!
2006-06-17 17:06:37 · answer #4 · answered by GoldensandJacks 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What can i say, all woman is experience this if they breastfeeding baby"s, if you can continuum this even is hurts. But don"t continuum if you cannot take this anymore.You can stop when baby start bait your nipple, is really hurts. if is not enough your milk for your baby, start give to baby formula or regular milk 50/50% whit boiling water.
2006-06-17 17:46:01 · answer #5 · answered by yekaterina p 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋