Breastfeeding and Pacifier

irohspupil · August 2015

I'm just curious to know how you breastfeeding moms are handling your LOs fussy periods.
I feed my 2 week old on demand. Lately, it's been every hour, sometimes a few times in an hour. This has been happening in the afternoons and evenings for the past several days. She doesn't really even feeding the whole time--a lot of it is comfort nursing. But this is exhausting for me. I've put her to sleep a couple times with a pacifier because I really needed the break. This is despite my LC and pediatrician's recommendation that I wait until she's 4 weeks old.
Any other breastfeeding moms using the pacifier earlier than 4 weeks?

ETA: should I feed her on a schedule rather than by demand?

SassetteSmurfling · August 2015

We started using the pacifier on day 2. We've had no issues and my pediatrician actually recommends it.

Kimk1616 · August 2015

My DD doesn't really like the pacifier but will occasionally suck on one. I hesitated to introduce it in the beginning (along with a bottle) but eventually did around a week old just to get a little break! She gets a bottle almost every night and continues to breast feed like a champ!

e1223 · August 2015

My baby got a pacifier before I even got to hold him (he was in the NICU for a few days) - he was about 10 minutes old. He started nursing the following day and picked it up after a few attempts and does great now - I feed him every 2-3 hours during the day and when he wakes up (usually 4 hours) at night and during the day if he's fussy and it hasn't been 2 hours, I'll give him the pacifier.

With my other 2 kids - my first I didn't introduce one for 2 weeks out of fears of nipple confusion - she never took one and had major issues with the bottle too, and that sucked for 3 months until she figured out how to suck her thumb. My son got a pacifier at maybe 3-4 days old and used that until he learned to take it out himself and suck his thumb instead around 3 months. Both nursed for a year +.

toccoaparker · August 2015

I just started giving LO a paci at one week but there has been no confusion so far and she loves it!

SashaDenn25 · August 2015

LO did her first round of comfort nursing in hospital and I calmly cried while I let her do it and DH just aay and rubbed my back while I got through it. However, the next morning she got a pacifier and I went to sleep. We already had a good latch so I just did what I had to do. It has not effected her feedings at all and she doesnt even want it much.

emmacake08 · August 2015

Mine got pacis (soothie brand) in the special care nursery and were bottle fed with BM. They still latched well with practice nursing. They stopped liking them and using them around 3-4 weeks and were awful at self soothing (most nights I prayed they would take it and they wouldn't). I say if LO will take it, do it!

etayislove · August 2015

The problem is that it's not really 'comfort' nursing, this is why so many women end up with supply issues. From misinformation and no extra knowledgable support. If you use artificial nipples too early and it tends to screw up the supply and demand process of breastfeeding. Some babies and moms do fine, others don't, but you don't know how a pacifier is going to effect your breastfeeding until long after it's a problem. This is the main reason LCs, LLL, and well informed pediatricians tell you to wait. It is very, very normal for newborns to nurse around the clock, and you time the feedings by starting point of each feeding not by the time actually between them, similar to contractions.

I highly suggest going by your LCs suggestions, and it doesn't hurt to look up your local La Leche League group and see if you can make it to the next meeting. Leaders are wonderful support people and you can call them anytime!

Breastfeeding is hard work, keep it up momma!

taylorharber1108 · August 2015

Just curious what kind of pacifiers can you get your babies to take? I cannot get DS to take one! He nurses every 20-30 minutes from 930pm-1130pm. These past two evenings have been rough!

jesselayne8 · August 2015

SassetteSmurfling said:
We started using the pacifier on day 2. We've had no issues and my pediatrician actually recommends it.

This. Both my first 2 gave it up around a month.

jlsweets · August 2015

taylorharber1108 said:
Just curious what kind of pacifiers can you get your babies to take? I cannot get DS to take one! He nurses every 20-30 minutes from 930pm-1130pm. These past two evenings have been rough!

Only one both my babies would take is the soothie.

Lalala2326 · August 2015

Both mine have had pacifiers starting day 2 with zero issues also. I don't give it though if she wants to nurse or to replace comfort nursing. I offer nursing first, if she nurses, then great, if she doesn't want to nurse (and has already nursed well recently), then I will offer a pacifier. Sometimes she takes it, sometimes not. It more settles her during that transition from breast after she has unlatched to laying on her own to sleep more than anything, and she usually spits it out within a couple minutes. Very rarely I will use it to buy me a few minutes before sitting down to nurse if my older daughter needs something, I need to pee real quick, etc... but I don't make a habit of it. My older daughter actually stopped taking one at all after a few weeks and then picked it up again around 5 months. Saved us during the stage of putting everything in her mouth cause she wouldn't take out the pacifier to put something else in. We are still struggling to get rid of it though at 2.5 years for naps/bedtime...

abmommy15 · August 2015

We gave DS a pacifier the day we came home from the hospital and haven't had any issues with breastfeeding.

GirlOnTheBeach · August 2015

Lalala2326 said:
I offer nursing first, if she nurses, then great, if she doesn't want to nurse (and has already nursed well recently), then I will offer a pacifier. Sometimes she takes it, sometimes not. It more settles her during that transition from breast after she has unlatched to laying on her own to sleep more than anything, and she usually spits it out within a couple minutes. ...

This is what we do too. I waited until DS was 2 weeks and 1 or 2 days and started giving him a pacifier when he was finished nursing. He had started to want to stay latched constantly and because I seem to have a bit of an over supply, it was causing him to spit up milk that he didn't want to swallow (since he was already full). It was making him miserable so I gave him a pacifier after he was finished nursing in the evening and all of the spitting up issues cleared right up. He's been much happier and still comfort nurses here and there too. He only takes the pacifier a couple times a day after he's had plenty of time to nurse.

sandrabrooke · August 2015

We haven't had any issues with it. If anything, sometimes she just isn't in the mood for a pacifier! But, we're happy to offer it to her if she decides to get fussy in a store or something.

carleym93 · August 2015

@GirlOnTheBeach Ugh, this is my problem and my kid won't take a paci! She just wants to comfort nurse shortly after she is done eating and I will just have let down after let down and she will swallow too much and spit up mass amounts EVERYWHERE. I have tried everything else to soothe her but all she wants to do is suck!

GirlOnTheBeach · August 2015

carleyec93 said:
@GirlOnTheBeach Ugh, this is my problem and my kid won't take a paci! She just wants to comfort nurse shortly after she is done eating and I will just have let down after let down and she will swallow too much and spit up mass amounts EVERYWHERE. I have tried everything else to soothe her but all she wants to do is suck!

That's totally how it was with DS. He would even start choking on all the milk which freaked me out every time! Maybe see if she would take a different brand/shape? DS prefers it when we run the pacifier under water and it's still wet. If we give it to him when it's dry he spits it out twice then he's fine with it. It's weird but worked for us.

carleym93 · August 2015

@GirlOnTheBeach I may try that! She used to take it, but she won't even try to suck on it now.

GirlOnTheBeach · August 2015

@carleyec93 I hope it works! Babies sure are picky sometimes :-)

emmacake08 · August 2015

@carleyec93 have you tried your pinkie finger upside down for her to suck (so that your nail is tongue side down)? That used to work on my LOs (just remembered). They hated all pacis but I tried a billion kinds anyway...

carleym93 · August 2015

@emmacake08 I tried that yesterday. No luck

I'm hoping as she gets a little older there will be other things she responds to to fall asleep besides nursing. She will stick her hands in her mouth (her hunger cue) even after she is full and just latch on and barely suck until she starts to drift off. That is, until she gets gagged by multiple let downs

kjandericka · August 2015

LO is 2 days old and we gave him a paci for the first time last night. He absolutely loves it and has had no problems nursing (he was latching like a champ from the beginning). The nurse at the hospital recommended that we wait for 2 weeks but the pediatrician said we could give him one right away to prevent too much comfort nursing. If we had been having trouble with nursing, I would have waited for the paci but I'm so glad he discovered his love for the paci early. It's already helped him sleep better and given my poor FTM nipples a much needed break.

KateDerek · August 2015

We use a pacifier and have since the second day in the hospital. Hasn't affected the nursing at all. I feed on demand and will offer the breast first and a pacifier second if she wants to suck.

kat+1 · August 2015

etayislove said:
The problem is that it's not really 'comfort' nursing, this is why so many women end up with supply issues. From misinformation and no extra knowledgable support. If you use artificial nipples too early and it tends to screw up the supply and demand process of breastfeeding. Some babies and moms do fine, others don't, but you don't know how a pacifier is going to effect your breastfeeding until long after it's a problem. This is the main reason LCs, LLL, and well informed pediatricians tell you to wait. It is very, very normal for newborns to nurse around the clock, and you time the feedings by starting point of each feeding not by the time actually between them, similar to contractions.

I highly suggest going by your LCs suggestions, and it doesn't hurt to look up your local La Leche League group and see if you can make it to the next meeting. Leaders are wonderful support people and you can call them anytime!

Breastfeeding is hard work, keep it up momma!

Absolutely right ^^^^^^
This is babies way of getting you to produce more milk for the coming growth... Keep going on demand and just remember this is a season of your life that won't last forever.

Robin910 · August 2015

My LO was given a paci within 24 hours of birth. I was not thrilled but couldn't stop it at the time. She latches and feeds great. However, she won't take the paci from me. My SO or her GIL can give baby a paci and baby is happy but I can't. I joke that it's because baby knows I have the boobs that make the milk. I think it might be true to an extent.

leanne69 · August 2015

I'm a ftm so it's possible I have no idea what I'm talking about but I read the book the baby whisperer and it really helped with interpreting what your baby wants. For example he/she isn't hungry every time she cries etc. might be worth a read.

deviduke412 · August 2015

I personally am not breast-feeding on demand and I'm following a parent directed feeding approach, which is schedule based. We introduced a pacifier to the baby when he was three days old and it has not affected breast-feeding at all for us. We only give it to him if he gets fussy in between of feedings.

irohspupil · August 2015

kat+1 said:

etayislove said:
The problem is that it's not really 'comfort' nursing, this is why so many women end up with supply issues. From misinformation and no extra knowledgable support. If you use artificial nipples too early and it tends to screw up the supply and demand process of breastfeeding. Some babies and moms do fine, others don't, but you don't know how a pacifier is going to effect your breastfeeding until long after it's a problem. This is the main reason LCs, LLL, and well informed pediatricians tell you to wait. It is very, very normal for newborns to nurse around the clock, and you time the feedings by starting point of each feeding not by the time actually between them, similar to contractions.

I highly suggest going by your LCs suggestions, and it doesn't hurt to look up your local La Leche League group and see if you can make it to the next meeting. Leaders are wonderful support people and you can call them anytime!

Breastfeeding is hard work, keep it up momma!
Absolutely right ^^^^^^
This is babies way of getting you to produce more milk for the coming growth... Keep going on demand and just remember this is a season of your life that won't last forever.

It is hard work! Especially since her latch hasn't been consistently good. I often have to relatch her a couple times in one feeding to try to correct her, but there's been a couple days where her latch was wonderful! Two weeks into this and it's still pretty painful. She's got an extremely strong suck.

Thank you all for sharing. I don't feel so bad for the times I do use the paci, but I think I'll avoid it as much as I can. The mornings after I used it, I've noticed she has a slightly harder time latching on me.

lifesabeach85 · August 2015

I have been struggling with this too. DD is only two days old but looooooves to comfort nurse. The nurses at the hospital said no pacis but my mom insists that's stupid (she breast fed three kids for 1 year each). I gave her a paci last night just to get an hour of sleep and she has still nursed just fine today.

Jwdoyle13 · August 2015

We have had great success feeding from day 1, DS was already back at his birth weight of 8 lb 4 oz by his first ped appt at 4 days old, so the hospital lactation consultant and nurses said no reason to worry about giving him a pacifier. He's a comfort sucker and sucked his hand in utero. A pacifier can be taken away, a hand can't, so we feel it's the better solution. It also saves my nipple from becoming a pacifier after feedings when he falls asleep on my breast. I pump and bottle on occasion so daddy can feed him too, but at night he still wants the breast in order to fall asleep. So the bottle hasn't turned him away from the breast at all, it's the exact opposite! Lactation consultants, while helpful, don't always know exactly how your baby will respond. Ours said no pumping or bottles until after 4 weeks, and clearly that wasn't necessary and I'm glad I didn't listen.

I would say a schedule will help you get sleep, but I couldn't stand hearing my baby cry when hungry, so I would probably feed on command too. DS is a great night sleeper and only wakes up once a night to feed and change. So we make sure we get a lot of feeding during the day like our pediatrician suggested to make up for night feedings. He's a big healthy boy, rarely cries and makes plenty wet and heavy diapers, so it seems to be working great. We feed every 2/3 hours from the time he wakes which is usually between 6-7, I don't let him sleep past 8 because our middle of the night feed and change is 3 am. We get plenty of sleep with this schedule and he seems to enjoy it as well.

Hope that helps, and you feel better about finding your own personal way of doing things with out the "professionals" making you feel like you're doing something wrong. I believe mommy instincts trump all!

etayislove · August 2015

@deviduke412 I'm curious what your plans are for or if you know that your LO will have a few growth spurts/wonder weeks? Just giving you a heads up in case you aren't aware, but during these spurts, babies need to nurse more often and it's only for their benefit and also for the benefit of your supply. If you continue with a scheduled feeding during a time where they need to cluster feed you may deal with slow weight gain, a fussy baby, and your supply might not catch up to what your baby needs.

https://kellymom.com/hot-topics/growth-spurts/

gulimz · August 2015

I do a little of everything. My daughter breastfeeds when it's convinient for her, she takes a bottle, and she does really well with a Nuk pacifier. It's the one that looks like the soothies, but she couldn't latch to the soothie nipple. I think any orthodontic pacifiers are supposed to be ok and not cause confusion. Mine got used to bottles and pacifiers when she spent 12 hrs in the NICU so I kind of had no choice.
And @carleyec93 , this sounds totally creepy but I'm so jealous of your milk supply and your baby breastfeeding. I can't pump more then 2 oz at a time and it barely satiates her crazy appetite. Since its not fast enough for her, she wont latch when shes hungry. Any tips on increasing milk output?

AimSwag · August 2015

I hesitated to introduce a pacifier and a bottle because I was afraid my little guy wouldn't nurse as well or as often.
But at less than 2 weeks, we had him circumcised and we were told to bring a pacifier. So at about a week old, we started trying to get him to take it. We use a Soothie and he is not to fond of it (still).

My boy is almost 3 weeks and I feed on demand as well. He is a great eater! Sometimes every hour but sometimes he'll sleep for 3-4 hours then wake up HUNGRY! (I do not wake him to feed. Bad mommy!)

deviduke412 · August 2015

etayislove said:
@deviduke412 I'm curious what your plans are for or if you know that your LO will have a few growth spurts/wonder weeks? Just giving you a heads up in case you aren't aware, but during these spurts, babies need to nurse more often and it's only for their benefit and also for the benefit of your supply. If you continue with a scheduled feeding during a time where they need to cluster feed you may deal with slow weight gain, a fussy baby, and your supply might not catch up to what your baby needs.

https://kellymom.com/hot-topics/growth-spurts/

Yep I'm fully aware of this. Ultimately pdf is based off of hunger ques and not the clock. Hunger cues always trump the clock. It's all about getting to know your baby and recognizing these cues.

carleym93 · August 2015

@gulimz This is going to sound horrible, but I have no idea why I make so much. I'm lucky if I can get in a meal a day and I barely get any water in either. I'm like the poster child for what NOT to do when you're BFing. But I really think a lot of it stems from how much I had to pump in the NICU. The nurses made me pump for 20 mins or until I was completely dry after every single feeding. It sucked staying up those extra 20 mins when she was already asleep, but I think that is why I'm able to produce any now. It literally almost doubled my supply in less than a week. I know drinking a TON of water is key to a good supply too. My LC in the hospital told me 1,000 extra calories and 40 extra oz of water more than you were drinking when you were pregnant is needed for a good supply. But honestly, try pumping more. Like after each and every feeding. It will definitely up it, its just a real pain in the ass. But if it works for you and your LO, its totally worth it.

gulimz · August 2015

@carleyec93, thanks! I pump like 15 mins each time. I don't religiously get up and do it which I should. I haven't been drinking water or eating that much either. I cant imagine drinking more water then when I was pregnant! I used to drink way over a gallon.
But I will try. Whatever it takes.
Thanks again!

carleym93 · August 2015

@gulimz I was the same way! I drank a ton and they said I still needed to drink more. I noticed I produced the most milk at night and early morning when I was pumping. Honestly, I wouldn't have gotten up and done it if the NICU nurses didn't make me but it definitely helped my supply to pump through the night. I would easily get 2.5 oz after she had eaten per side if I pumped at night but during the day, I'd get .5 oz or maybe 1 oz sometimes, so definitely pump at night. And definitely eat as much as you can! Not just for supply, but so that you have enough energy to keep up with LO! I saw on the bump that breastfeeding burns the same amount of calories daily as running 7 miles. You definitely have to give your body the fuel to keep up!

EileenY324 · August 2015

I'm trying to avoid a pacifier with my 2 day old so I can learn his hunger cues. With that said I have let him use a pacifier when I know he's definitely not hungry to practice suckling. I also have been more successful at having a loose schedule, every 2-3 hours, and if he's being fussy or just playing with the nipple I'm giving him more time before the actual feeding.

marieva · August 2015

My son used a pacifier from day one (not my decision honestly). He was taken away from me a few hours after birth and placed in the NICU. One of the many issues with him around that time was that he would not latch to me and he had a weak suckle (couldn't latch onto a bottle nipple either). Anyways fast forward a few days, hubby and I went to the NICU and saw a pacifier in his mouth. I was a little heated because I was still very much interested in breastfeeding him at some point and I was worried about nipple confusion. Fast forward again ( 4 weeks later) and he latches just fine to my breast and can take a pacifier as well. If it helps the pacifiers they used with him were the avent soothie pacifiers. He hates those now so we have switched to NUK and MAM.

But remember every baby is different. But IMO if she is breastfeeding well I think he may do fine with a pacifier.

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