Tips On Breastfeeding?

Question

Can I get some tips on breastfeeding? My 1 month old son will not latch on for anything! I've tried pretty much everything anyone has told me. I talked to a nurse and she told me to keep trying and that eventually he will get it, and he is not. Is it too late to give up hope? I know I am not but I feel like a horrible mother that he is not getting the nutrients he needs from the breastmilk. I have been giving him formula.

Answer 1

Don't give up! Ask your pediatritian for a referral to a lactation consultant. I cannot even begin to express the value of the help of a good lactation consultant. Or call your local hospital where you gave birth. Most nurses are not trained in lactation and will not be able to guide you.

What I can say is that you should try different positions, cradle, football, laying down. Find which one works for you and your baby. Wait until the baby's mouth is opened really wide and then encourage him to latch. He should have a good part of your areola in his mouth. You can even kind of push the rest in if his latch isn't that great. Please please please talk to a lactation consultant. I did and it was the best educational experience ever for my daughter and me.

Good luck!

Answer 2

I have had three children and I have tried to Breast feed them all. With my first child I only managed to nuse him for a month. He did not latch on right either and I ended up in alot of pain. I eventually put him on formula and he turned out fine. My second child was much easier. We had the same problems at first but she caught on and I nursed her for about three months untill I went back to work.I have a four month old boy now and we have been through all the ups and downs. They do eventually get better at latching on as they get older. They have to learn just like you do. I do have to supplement from time to time as well. Just make sure you nurse him first and only give enough formula to satisfy him until the next feeding. As long as he is gaining weight. It will be fine. If you do decide to stop nursing I can tell you that you are not a failiure and that you gave him alot of good immunity and nutrients while you did nurse him.

Answer 3

Hi there

Congratulations on your baby!

I had latching problems with my baby too (shes 9 months now). She was on formula the first 2 weeks, and yes it did take time, but i also had nurses and lactation specialists help me, we tried shields too and nothing woould work. To date, she is not a good nurser, but if she is hungry shell take it (now its a teether for her to sleep haha). I think going one month with no luck is frustrating, and you should see a lactation specliast. the nurse telling you it will take time doesnt sound good enough to me. The reason i say it coz when i gave birth as i was giving up, the nurses would come in during breastfeeding time to make sure i was doing things right, the lactation specialist would check for baby's sucking if it was hindering anything, etc. Definitely see a lactation specialist, they will try having you feed so they can watch what is going wrong.
Good luck.
Oh one more thing, when i was having ahard time nursing, my milk supply wouldnt come in becuase its a supply and deman thing...as the baby sucks the milk comes in...since he isn't you wont have good milk supply and that probably could be a little factor (my daughter at some point would only latch well if i was very full and she had a quick letdown, since hes used to having a fast bottle now). TO have ur milk come in, you will have to pump...its a pain, but you will have to pumo for 10 mins at every feeding 6-7 times a day? that will increase yor supply and hopefully you'll have fast flowing milk to tempt the baby =)

Good luck

Answer 4

I myself had issues with breastfeeding. It took me 3 months of no sleep, heartache, and constant stress to finally decide to switch to formula. I am abig advocate for breastfeeding and I had a really hard time making the switch. I finally decided that I could be a much better mother to my beautiful little girl if I made the switch. My daughter is now a beautiful, healthy, intelligent 1and 1/2 year old. the nutients in breast milk that are the most important are produced during the first 4-6 weeks. The choice is completely yours, just don't think less of your self for being unable. You're a great mom! Keep up the good work!

Answer 5

I have breast fed 4 babies. My first and my last were both difficult nursers. My first took about 6 weeks before I felt like I was finally getting somewhere with her. I understand how frustrating it is. I nearly gave up on breast feeding, but I am glad I kept at it. My last just never was what I would call a "good" nurser, but we kept it up and I managed to nurse her until she self-weaned at 14 months. If you have been giving him formula in a bottle, you will want to stop doing that. A bottle nipple is much easier to grasp and suck from than a breast. He may refuse the breast since the bottle doesn't require so much work. He won't starve so don't feel like you are being a bad mom, but don't give him a bottle of formula all day long. Set up a special nursing spot with everything you need to spend a couple hours or more working with him. A comfy chair with a stool for your feet, a large glass of water, some soothing music if you want, turn off the phone and put a note on your door to do not disurb or let your husband or someone take care of phone calls and visitors for the entire day. Use 1-2 bed pillows or a boppy nursing pillow to get him positioned in the way that is most comfortable. Try a couple different nursing holds if you want, but I didn't like any of the others such as the football hold. If you are engorged, express out some milk so your nipples are easier to grasp. When he is good and hungry and probably crying with a wide open mouth, manuever your breast into his mouth and squeeze out a little milk into it. If he screams and wiggles, try swaddling him in a receiving blanket. Hold his head gently, yet firmly in place if he gets his mouth near the breast. Use the opposite hand of the side you are holding him with to cup your breast underneath to aim the breast into his mouth and hold him close. Sit up straight and hold him so you are belly-to-belly with him. Breast feed him skin to skin when you can. I encourage you to keep trying. You can do it. Contact your hospital where you gave birth and see if they have a lactation consultant who will come to your home. Many do. It is not too late to give up hope.

Answer 6

A nipple does feel different from a bottle teat. I would say your son is preferring the bottle because it's easier. Try not to give him a bottle and if he is hungry then it should be easier to get him to latch on. Squeeze a small amount of milk from you breast onto his lips and it may encourage him to latch on. If he doesn't then he doesn't. You can always express and then you son is still getting all the nutrients he needs. Don't stress over it. Some babies just don't want to breast feed. Some mothers bottle feed straight from birth, you should feel proud of yourself for trying for as long as you have.
Good luckxx

Answer 7

Just keep doing the best you can but there are some babies who just don't "get it"-don't feel like a bad mom if it doesn't work out-just make sure you continue to feed him formula to make sure he is getting the nutrients he needs. I wouldn't necessarily keep trying too much longer though-if he hasn't gotten the hang of nursing by a month old...i'm not so sure he will and it's just causing you frustration (and probably him too)

Answer 8

Did you have a lactation nurse help you when you were in the hospital. My daughter had to call hers several times after she got home with her son and she was always available and very helpful. I know it can be very frustrating. I know it is better to breastfeed, but some women just have no luck. I know plenty of babies who were bottle fed formula and they did just fine. I sounds like this is important to you though, so I hope you get the help. If not, and you have to give him a bottle, don't beat yourself up, I can tell you're a good mother just from your concern. Good luck and hang in there.

Answer 9

Relax, the baby can sense your anxiety. Try different positions, football hold, laying down, using a pillow ( I had a Boppy with my last one). Squeeze out a bit of milk so he can taste it. Pinch down your areola and gently push it into his mouth. Keep trying. Are you pumping? If you arent pumping you may not be producing enough. Try stroking his chin while offering him the breast. Have you tried giving him the bottle and then doing a quick switch-a-roo? (Reverse tactic from weaning) Contact a lactation specialist. Dont feel bad, keep trying. That is great that you want to nurse your baby. Good Luck!
Merry Christmas!

Answer 10

My son was given formula in the begining and I also had hard time "teaching" him to breastfeed. He would try and than give up and cry.
I spent one whole day trying without giving him formula at all and he just forgot about it.

The thing that really worked for me was to put some formula on my nipples and it worked wonders, the second day on he is been on breastmilk only untill today!
TRY IT !!!!
Good luck!