How do I get my 18 days old baby to total breastfeed? She's so used to infant formula. Help!?

Question

Due to the constant stream of visitors in the hospital, there was no chance for me to let my baby suckle, thus there was no milk flow at all. When I brought her home the next day, my anxious mother persuaded me to supplement my baby with infant formula for fear that she's not getting any milk from me. Now that my milk supply is on going, my baby prefers the bottle and will still cry for the bottle even though she has been on the breast for 20mins. I want to breastfeed totally...how do I achieve this? Help please...

Answer 1

Don't give up! Mix the formula with breastmilk - first start with more formula than milk and slowly decrease the formula and increase the milk until you have breastmilk only. Make sure you pump/express the breastmilk after she stops nursing to keep your supply up. You can freeze the extra. Maybe baby just likes the bottle. You can pump and give her breastmilk via bottle. It is not the same experience as breastfeeding, but she still gets all the benefits. Way to go for working so hard at it - you are doing the right thing and you and your baby will figure it out together. Try not to stress too much, as baby can pick up on that and it make things more tense for the both of you! As long as she is making at least 4-6 wet diapers a day, she is getting enough fluid. Good luck to you and keep up the good work Mommy!

Answer 2

It sounds like two things might be happening:

1) your milk supply has diminished since you have been giving her formula. There are a lot of ways to increase milk supply. The absolute BEST way is to feed on demand as often and for as long as your baby wants. Your body will adjust the amount of milk you make based on how much your baby nurses. Here are some other ways to increase milk supply:
-herbal remedies such as Mother's Milk tea, Fenugreek, and Milk Thistle
-reduce stress level
-drink plenty of fluids, preferably water
-massage your breasts often
-get plenty of rest
-offer both breasts at each feeding
-when your baby needs soothing, offer the breast instead of a pacifier whenever possible
You can find out more about increasing your milk supply at the sources listed below.

2) your baby is suffering from nipple confusion. Bottle nipples operate differently than your nipples. They require an entirely different sucking motion than breastfeeding does. Babies who are used to bottle-feeding will often get "nipple confusion", where they try to use the sucking motion required of bottle nipples only to find they can't get any milk. They then become frustrated. The best thing you can do to solve this problem is to contact your local La Leche League leader. They can help you make sure that your baby is latched on right. Here are some other suggestions:
-avoid pacifier and bottle use until nursing is well-established (There are other ways to give milk to your baby if she won't nurse, such as using a spoon or a straw. These other methods are less likely to interfere with your baby's ability to adjust to the breast. Check out the webistes below for some suggestions.)
-try to feed your baby at the breast before she gets overly hungry and frustrated, when she will have more patience
-try out different nursing positions to find what is most comfortable and relaxing for you and your baby
-try to relax; your baby can sense your tension!

Also, eat healthy, and make sure you are taking you prenatal vitamin to make up for anyting your diet may lack

And you should never be afraid to nurse your baby in front of other people, especially in your own hospital room after her birth! What is more natural than feeding your baby? Your shirt will usually cover most of the breast, and your baby will cover the rest. If you feel really self-conscious, use a blanket draped over your shoulder. With a little practice, people will hardly even notice and think that your baby is just sleeping on you!

I urge you to contact your local LLL leader for help with these issues. They are helpful and knowledgable, available 24 hours a day and FREE.

Answer 3

Relax. This is still possible. Stop offering the bottle. It may sound shocking but she will prefer you eventually. Get comfortable. It sounds like she is latching on fine and feeding fine. Try laying on your side with her so you are comfortable if she needs to feed for long periods of time. If she cries after feeding for 20 mins put her back to the breast. She knows how long she needs to feed. I promise she won't nurse for ever. The first two weeks are the most difficult and I promise promise it gets easier. Also babies will often cluster feed sometimes seems like they need to eat all the time just keep making yourself avalible. They also go through periods where they sleep for 6 hour streches between feedings. I breastfed my last one until she was 9 months and you just have to keep trying. She will always get just what she needs from you. It is also very normal for your milk not to come in until after you leave the hospital. They get all the nutrients from the colostrum or clear liquid that you had before your milk came in and believe it or not it is all baby needs after the exhasting delivery process. Don't listen to the hype. Nursing your baby is worth it. It's hard to slow down and let yourself and baby get used to this new routine but you will be so glad you did. I actually think getting up in the middle of the night fumbling around to make a bottle and then having baby get all worked up crying is much harder than rolling over and feeding her the minute I you sense she is awake and rooting around to feed.

Answer 4

I found these AWESOME bottles from The First Years called BreastFlow bottles. They have a dual nipple design that simulates suction and compression just like a breast. The outer nipple is soft and shaped like a breast, the inner nipple acts like the milk ducts. The baby will get small sips until the outer nipple fills up, then it is just like a letdown with a gush so to speak. There are even drainage tabs on the outer nipple to allow fluid to go back into the bottle.

I breastfeed and have NO problems with nipple confusion with this bottle. It might be a great way to have your baby get used to the breast, but still drink from a bottle for awhile. Pump your milk and serve it in this bottle.

Maybe do a little "reversre weaning" if you will. Instead of adding small amounts of formula to the milk like people do when weaning to get the baby used to the taste, add small amounts of milk to the formula so baby gets used to it instead. Slowly adding more milk to the mixture over a week or so until it is all milk in the bottle.

Keep offering the breast in the meantime as well. This bottle will help train her on eating from the breast and the combining will help get her used to the taste.

They are a bit expensive though and near impossible to find in stores (I think it might be a new product). You have to order them online.

Answer 5

take away the bottle. totally. you can pump and store the milk but i wouldn't give it in a bottle until you have breastfeeding well established.
nurse as often as you can, anytime baby needs it, even if its to use you as a pacifier. its to bad you didnt just nurse in the hospital, even in front of people. if they didn't like it they could have left.

Answer 6

You can pump and give her the milk in a bottle, not all babies are breastfeeders. It will be especially hard now that she is use to the bottle. As long as she is getting your milk that is all that matters. Call and talk to her pedi or your OB.