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XP:Anyone have success going from Bottle back to BF?

TexasLadyBugTexasLadyBug
in Breastfeeding
Anyone have success going from Bottle back to BF?My LO is three weeks old today and at the beginning he was having weight issues so we started him on formula. I am having a hard time letting the idea of being able to BF go so I have contacted a LC and I am going to see what if anything we can do. I have it in my mind that I have a low supply, but i think I might be just telling myself that because I am scared to try BF again and fail at it.??Anyways I am just looking for advice and support. Thanks so much!?
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Re: XP:Anyone have success going from Bottle back to BF?

  • CaitlinJ22CaitlinJ22 member

    I dont have experience, but I have to say im impressed with you attempting it. I think if you dont try now you may regret it later, even if you cant get your supply up at least you gave it your all.

    I do know its possible, and it will take work. GL and keep your LC's number on hand so you can call wth issues. If you have a low supply I would try to nurse as often as possible and have lots of skin to skin contact. Drink a lot of water and try to cut back on the formula slowly.  Im sure your LC will help, but thats my advice. GL!

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  • Princess_ArielPrincess_Ariel member
    DD refused to latch on until I saw an LC when she was about two weeks old, so she got used to the bottle pretty quickly - we did have various types of nipples, tho, including the breastflow which requires babies to suck just right to get the milk.  Anyway, once we worked out our problems at the LC, BFing was a breeze, and soon DD wanted nothing to do with bottles.  After some coercing (and realizing that it wasn't filled with formula) she eventually would (when staying with her grandparents, for instance).  Keep at it and you'll be grateful you did - BFing is sooo much easier, in many people's opinions, than formula feeding.  If nothing else, while it requires more work, try to pump and feed your baby that.  You may much pump much, but that's normal.
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  • bv27bv27

    Yes, we started supplementing heavily with formula beginning in the hospital and in the meantime, I kept pumping every 3 hours to get my supply up. Her initial diet was almost entirely formula with only an ounce or two of EBM. Initially, we were having problems with feedings because my DD was frustrated at not getting any milk and would just hold out for the bottle. I mostly bottle fed her for the first few weeks but at about 6 weeks I was able to get her to nurse regularly although she was nursing for 40 minutes every 2 hours as opposed to every 3 hours with the bottle although that could have been due to her growth spurt. By 8 weeks, I was finally able to get her on an exclusive BM diet.

    For some reason, getting her to latch on properly was easier at 6 weeks - less tears, etc. - and my LC said that as they get older the babies "get more organized" so feedings can go easier.

    One thing: I made the mistake of phasing out the bottle once I was able to nurse successfully and then the baby stopped taking it and would refuse the bottle from both me and my husband. My LC told me that I should make sure to have the baby take one bottle each day so that I can get a little relief each day from the feeding and also so that the baby can be fed if I'm away or temporarily can't breastfeed such as if I get sick and need medication, etc. So, now we're struggling to get her to take 1 bottle a day.

    Good luck!

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