Help! I gave Elena a few bottles and now she won't breastfeed

newinhouston

Elena and I have thrush (mouth and nipples respectively) and my nipples are sore and bleeding, so I decided to pump (much less painful than Elena's sucking) and alternate breast and bottle feedings. I've done this for 3 days and now she doesn't want to breastfeed. I've tried for 3 hours to make her latch on, and I think she finally gave up because of hunger, but her sucking was very weak.

Any ideas about what to do? Should I give up and give her a bottle? I've stopped pumping, so my breasts are super full! 

 

lilycat

Nurse her, and then pump for ten to fifteen minutes afterwards. That should get you through a little bit.

I would contact a lactation consultant. My second son and I got into a situation where we were battling breast health (mastitis) and trying to establish breastfeeding that had been interrupted by events (NICU and related bottle feedings). 

The only thing I might have done differently was get an l.c. involved sooner. Once I did, I realized a lot of things were beyond our control, but some things might have been different with assistance earlier.

We never got it going very well in the end (and I breastfed my first). I pump for him. It is the best option for what we dealt with, but not my first choice.

Good luck. I feel for you. 

charlotteL

If they are super full that may be part of the issue.  Maybe pump a little, so they are less full and it may be easier for her to latch.  My second kiddo was was similar in that if he had bottles he refused the breast for a while too. 

brideonjuly8

Sometimes when my son would go on a nursing strike I would give him my pinkie finger, upside down and let him get a good latch on that, calm down, and once he's calm take it out really quick and stick my nip in.  Make sure she's opening up really wide, and just shove it in.  And ditto pp- she may not be able to latch good if you're engorged.  Try pumping enough to relieve the pressure, and see if that helps.  You want to keep stimulating let down whenever your LO would be eating anyway or your supply will tank.  GL!! 

kat.in.the.hat

Also, you might try hand expressing a few drops so that she can really smell and taste the milk as soon as she gets close, and that might encourage her to latch on quicker and better.

nanann

I have nothing new to add -- my daughters had the opposite problem and would never take bottles.  BUT, I wanted to tell you that your daughter has a beautiful name! 

MMS2007

someone else mentioned if your breasts are too full, she may not be able to get her mouth around, makes it more difficult for her.  if this is the case, you may try a nipple shield while they're so engourged.  this worked for my son when we first came home.  we used it a couple of times and then when my breasts leveled out, we didn't need it anymore.

good luck, definitely stick with it!!