Returning to breastfeeding..

oylmar10

Due to a series of errors when my little man was born I have been exclusively pumping and bottlefeeding. My son is 15 weeks old and we have tried breastfeeding occasionally with varying degrees of success. To top it off I have flat nipples and use a nipple shield. I hate pumping all the time and am curious if anyone has bottle fed then returned to breastfeeding or if I'm wasting my time trying. I'd also appreciate any tips and suggestions... thanks in advance

GoogleMD

I had to EP after having surgery 2 weeks pp.  LO got bottles exclusively for the 4 days I was in the hospital, and then did not want to nurse when I got out. It took 2 or 3 weeks but he did start nursing again. Mind tiu he was still onky a month okd when he started  nursing again. your LO nursing at all right now, if he is not nursing at all I am not sure how difficult it would be to try to start at 4 months. 

That being said if you don't want to pump, and little one can't  or won't nurse there is no shame in formula feeding or supplementing. 

MoRay05

With my first I bottle fed then returned to nursing. I nipples were so raw and bleeding I had to take a break to let them heal. After a month or so I started with one feeding a day and every few days I would add another until we were no longer bottle feeding. 

NovemberSno

Well I have actually been trying for over a month now to get her back to the breast. She developed an aversion to it after I had surgery at 6 weeks and before that it was already difficult for us but she was breastfeeding.  After my surgery she would scream and scream if I tried to breastfeed her. At 14 weeks I began slowly trying to decrease her stress level while at my breast, lots of skin to skin, playing while having my breast at her mouth but not offering her feeding just introducing it  letting her know it was ok. Recently she took about 1/2 a feed from my breast. I was so so happy. I've worked really hard with not much success yet but she laughs now when she sees my breast lol. I guess it's better than screaming like it's poison. Haha. Because it was bad before!!! So maybe she'll breast feed maybe not. But the BEST advice I ever got from my LC was this "just don't stress and stop offering it, make it play time. If she shows interest great but if she doesn't don't worry, the most important thing is that she's getting your milk. You have tried so hard for 3 months and it may be hurting your relationship more than benefitting." Seriously before she said those words to me I was so stressed out when trying now I'm just like ehh...if she doesn't feed that is ok. And I HATE pumping but I'm still going. I'll continue as long as I can tolerate it. Good luck and don't stress out! 

FilmFreak933

I'm in a similar situation. My son was born 4 weeks early and would get too tired trying to nurse, so I've been pumping and bottlefeeding. Occasionally I'd offer the breast again and he'd usually show no interest or get mad about it. A week or so ago (when son was 4 months) I offered again, and he took it and nursed for about 15 mins as though he'd been doing it all along. I haven't tried again since he's been battling a bit of thrush, but it gives me some hope that he'll be able to do it at least occasionally. I know a few women at my work who also started up around 3-4 months with success. Good luck mama! 

VexedMommy

I would definitely suggest you consult a trained lactation consultant.  She would be able to give you personalized advice.  The La Leche League also has great resources and their facebook is very supportive.

oylmar10

I'm a little nervous about a lactation consultant because their the ones that gave him a bottle when he was 6 days old... we had a successful breastfeeding session this morning! Fingers crossed it continues..

jdal1206

We had latch and refusal issues in the beginning so I EP'd and bottle feed for just past 6 weeks. I would offer the breast but my LO really wasn't into it...and then one night we gave it a try with the nipple shield and boom he latched on.  Then the next feed I tried without the shield and he got right on there with no issues, I had to pancake my nipple/areola but he took it and ate!  LO is 18 weeka old now and he has been breastfeeding well, has wet diapers and has been steadily gaining weight.  I'm so glad that we kept trying as it was something I really wanted to do and honestly pumping was getting tough, we had talked about switching to formula for some of the feeds just because I was getting overwhelmed! My best piece of advice is to just keep trying if it is something you want to do...and find some sort of support to help you through, I really don't think I'd have been able to keep going had I not had friends I could call at anytime to get help/advice/vent to!  As PP's have said if you can get in touch with a lactation consultant or la leche league they can be a great resource.  Above all do what is best for you and your family! 

Knottie65841689

When my LO was 1 week we did formula and breastmilk because she seemed still hungry after breast and I had horrible cuts on my nipples from wrong latching. I ditched formula and did exclusive pumping, but it took me about a week to get her back on the breast. As they say dont stress, let the baby direct you. Lots of skin to skin and dont push it on the baby if they are crying or desperate. That would only create an aversion

At this time I was just pumping once a day for her dad to do night feeding. But tpday I have officially stopped pumping all together!!!!