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BF'ing help

ttgcolettgcole member
in Washington Babies

I was given a nipple sheild in the hospital because they told me my nipples are flat.  I am also supplementing with formula for night feedings because they seem to hold him over better.

My problem is he won't BF without the sheild at all, and I am now worried that I messed this all up somehow.

Any suggestions??

I feel like I shouldn't have even started with the formula but it just didn't seem to work to just BF.  I feel like I am screwing him up now.

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Re: BF'ing help

  • MrsEditorJaxMrsEditorJax

    I am still using the shield and Collin is 4 months old tomorrow. Sometimes I get him started with it to elongate my nipple, and then take it off, but he prefers it. I give him formula once a day, sometimes twice, since my supply is still a bit low.

    Don't worry about messing him up -- he does BF which is good, and it helps you that he will take a bottle. Keep at it!

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  • llking_2984llking_2984
    I know some people say formula shouldn't be supplemented and are totally against it, but some of us just need that extra help for our baby. We just started giving Ryder 1-2 bottle of formula at night along with what I feed him when he nurses. We have to feed him every 2 hours now because he has lost almost a full lbs. Don't feel bad. I don't think you are doing anything wrong. I almost looked at a nipple shield when Ryder wasn't taking to the breast very well the first couple days but now he does fine. My biggest worry now is not having enough milk when pumping when I go back to work.
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  • Seattle_JiLLnSeattle_JiLLn

    It's very normal for kids to cluster feed in the evenings.  It's their way of stimulating you to produce more and more milk as they grow.   So try to nurse as much as you can in the evenings.  Sack on the couch and nurse all evening if you have to.  I know it was really hard at first, but it does work out.   THere's nothing wrong with giving bottles or even doing formula and BF'ing.  But you're so early in the process, you want to give your supply a good chance to get going well, so if you can back off on the bottles for a little, it might help.   Are you bottle feeding all night long? Or just the evenings? 

    On the nipple shield - how do your nipples look now?  Do they still seem flat?  If so, you might be able to start for a few minutes with it, then take it off and get him to latch on.  

    OR... have you tried to do without?  Just go cold turkey?   Maybe pump for 2 minutes at fisrt to draw your nipple out and then go for it? 

    Your best bet would be to see a lactation consultant if you can and work out a good plan...  they can assess your baby's latch and make sure things are going well and help you with some strategies..

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  • llking_2984llking_2984
    imageSeattle_JiLLn:

     Maybe pump for 2 minutes at fisrt to draw your nipple out and then go for it? 

    THIS! I can say that when I was in the hospital and they let me use their pumps I did this at first and it really helped me when Ryder was having problems latching. It helped my nipples come out more for him to latch on to.

    Also, have you thought about seeing a lactation consultant because sometimes it's not you but the baby. Sometimes they have a smaller piece of skin under their tongue so it makes it harder for them to latch. The Dr just goes in and snips it when baby is little. That's something that runs in my family so I checked that with the Drs and consultants in the hospital. Just an idea.

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  • chibipoechibipoe
    imagellking_2984:
    imageSeattle_JiLLn:

     Maybe pump for 2 minutes at fisrt to draw your nipple out and then go for it? 

    THIS! I can say that when I was in the hospital and they let me use their pumps I did this at first and it really helped me when Ryder was having problems latching. It helped my nipples come out more for him to latch on to.

    Also, have you thought about seeing a lactation consultant because sometimes it's not you but the baby. Sometimes they have a smaller piece of skin under their tongue so it makes it harder for them to latch. The Dr just goes in and snips it when baby is little. That's something that runs in my family so I checked that with the Drs and consultants in the hospital. Just an idea.

    Ditto on trying going cold turkey, it worked for us. I hated the shield it pinched really bad and was even more uncomfortable than her regular bad latch. Ditto too on checking for tongue tie - it runs in DHs family but fortunatly DD didn't have it but it's worth checking into, it's a really simple procedure.

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  • ttgcolettgcole member

    I have been trying to just feed him a bottle in the middle of the night feedings and BF during the day.  Although yesterday and today he is simply not interested in BF'ing at all.

    I think I will call my hospital and talk to the lactation consultant.  I just don't want to be judged because I am not exclusively BF'ing.  I don't know why but I am all weird about it right now....

    Thanks for the tips ladies, I really do appreciate it.

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