My wife and I just had a baby on Monday. My wife wants to breastfeed her, but the baby is having a hard time latching on correctly. It's been a couple days now, and I'm worried that she's not getting the food she needs. Should we bottle feed her while trying to get her to latch on?
2006-11-08 12:58:54 · 13 answers · asked by Shaun J 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
No!
Introducing a bottle will make latching even more difficult. Bottlefeeding and breastfeeding have totally different mechanics.
If you are worried about how much baby is getting, try offering expressed breastmilk on a spoon, in a medicine syringe or in a medicine dropper. You can also use a little soft cup, the the kind that comes with a bottle of Pepto Bismol.
Call the Lactation Consultant at your hospital or your local La Leche League Leader to work with them on latching. The LLL Leader will help for FREE and might even be willing to visit you at home.
Baby is only about 2 days old? Remember that her tummy is the size of her fist. She doesn't need a lot at once. She should be nursing about every 2 hours around the clock. Mom's milk will come in between 3-5 days postpartum.
Be patient. Cross-cradle and football hold are two positions that are good for mom to control her head while latching on.
Check out the links below and call the LC or LLL Leader for help!
2006-11-08 13:06:28 · answer #1 · answered by momma2mingbu 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She's ok, and you've gotten great advice so far. My biggest mistake with my first was giving the bottle because I was so afraid of him being hungry. Babies actually need very little in those first few days. More importantly than the latch, is she getting wet and soiled diapers? Get a lactation consultant for help with the latch, but be warned that once her milk comes in her breasts will become engorged (hard) and that brings on new latch problems. Hot washcloths before feedings were a huge help for me.
2006-11-08 21:52:00 · answer #2 · answered by Wendy F 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You need to get some help from a lactation consultant and don't fret it takes time for some babies to learn how to breast feed. I was told that even if you express milk and try that way it may help, but in most cases it will just confuse your baby and you really are not suppose to give the baby breast milk in a bottle until 4 -6 weeks after birth but if the baby is not eating than I guess you must do something.ask a professional. I feel for your concern as I am due in less than two weeks and plan to breast feed also. there is alot to know and it really is a learning experience for all involved. good luck and congrats on your new baby. Take care
2006-11-08 21:42:12 · answer #3 · answered by lynn 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get a lactation consultant or contact la leche league. In the mean time you want to watch for dehydration (though it's probably too early for that) but if she's dehydrated her mouth will feel dry and you can give her tiny bits of formula (like a few teaspoons). Just make sure if you're going to feed formula to use a syringe and not a bottle so she doesn't get nipple confusion.
2006-11-08 21:22:09 · answer #4 · answered by AerynneC 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get a lactation consultant immediately or contact lalecheleague to help with the latch. If you give her a bottle early she can have nipple confusion which will make it harder for her to breastfeed.
2006-11-08 21:01:21 · answer #5 · answered by me 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dear just don't bottlefeed as it will create nipple confusion. Within few days your baby will start latching on. As the first three days milk called collostrum is very benefitial from health point of view, i suggest the mother should pump and store it to be later on fed to yuor baby.
also the mother should try keeping the baby close to breast and try to latch, the more you try the more breastmilk supply.
congats on your baby
2006-11-10 00:42:59 · answer #6 · answered by riki_khan 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, if she's having trouble getting the baby to latch, the last thing you want to do is introduce a bottle into the mix. You probably don't need to supplement at all. Please read this website with information on what to do if your baby won't nurse: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/baby/back-to-breast.html
2006-11-08 21:29:27 · answer #7 · answered by I ♥ EC 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
she will be fine... call the hospital where she had her, they usually hace lactation specialists on hand. I would not bottle feed, the baby may never latch on if you do that... babys dont really need much for several days after birth.......
2006-11-08 21:04:43 · answer #8 · answered by ME 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, u should definitly bottle feed her... About 2-4 oz every 2-4 hrs, or whenever she wakes up for it... Keep trying 2 breast feed it may take a little time for her to figure it out... Squeeze it so milk comes out put a little on her mouth n then when she opens up, put it in her mouth, ( u may have to hold it there for a minute)
2006-11-08 22:29:52 · answer #9 · answered by danastann 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You might want to try having your wife pump and put the milk in a tiny cup (like a measuring cup for cough syrup) you can feed your baby breast milk from that while she's learning to eat.
2006-11-08 21:05:47 · answer #10 · answered by Annie Hightower 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋