Breast Feeding through bottle

Is it bad?

I tried to breast feed but the pain was too much. My nipples were and are still soooo sore!!!! I've been pumping and feeding Lola that way with hopes that my nipples will begin to heal. It's to the point that I cannot have anything rub on them, touch them, and quite frankly just looking at them hurts...

I have to say it SUCKS to pump because I'm doing it so often. I don't think I will be doing this longer than 2 months.. At least I tried right?

Re: Breast Feeding through bottle

Posted by Mimi25

Is it bad?

I tried to breast feed but the pain was too much. My nipples were and are still soooo sore!!!! I've been pumping and feeding Lola that way with hopes that my nipples will begin to heal. It's to the point that I cannot have anything rub on them, touch them, and quite frankly just looking at them hurts...

I have to say it SUCKS to pump because I'm doing it so often. I don't think I will be doing this longer than 2 months.. At least I tried right?

Re: Breast Feeding through bottle

Posted by MrsRivera

Posted by Mimi25

Is it bad?

I tried to breast feed but the pain was too much. My nipples were and are still soooo sore!!!! I've been pumping and feeding Lola that way with hopes that my nipples will begin to heal. It's to the point that I cannot have anything rub on them, touch them, and quite frankly just looking at them hurts...

I have to say it SUCKS to pump because I'm doing it so often. I don't think I will be doing this longer than 2 months.. At least I tried right?

How old is DD?

It took a good 4-6 weeks for BF to stop hurting me. I used nipple shields because DD's latch was so strong that she was actually drawing blood

IMO, it's most important that she gets your milk, not so much HOW she gets it. So if you'd rather pump than nurse, I think that's extremely admirable

Re: Breast Feeding through bottle

The BF pain was excruciating the first week or two but it has gotten A LOT better. I don't know if the latch is better. Honestly I don't think there is much of a difference in latch but the pain disappeared. Everyone told me the pain would go away after 2 weeks and they were right. I wanted to pump and bottle feed only during the first painful weeks but now I find it more convenient to whip out my boob and feed him in the middle of the night. The pumped breastmilk is more for DH to help feed the baby and for storage so we have milk for him when I go back to work.

Re: Breast Feeding through bottle

before going that route (pumping is extremely time consuming!) get a lactation consultant.... DC is almost certainly not latching properly.... DS luckily had a good latch from day 1, and unless he slipped and needed to relatch, I was never in any pain....

when he had a small phase of not maintaining his latch, the lactation consultant fixed the problem w/in 5 min

Re: Breast Feeding through bottle

Here is my "standard" reply to new BFing moms:

First, I'd like to give you some ...and inspriation:

DS is almost 10 months old and we are still going strong!

I'm no professional but here are my suggestions:

The more you supplement with formula, the less time DC spends latched, = less milk production. By supplementing and DC not at the breast your body is thinking DC is eating less. So you are actually decreasing your supply.

Try to remove all suckling items from DC's day except the breast. Don't give pacis, bottles, etc. The aforementioned require a different latch than the breast and could be confusing DC. I know this sounds impossible at 2:51am, but for the next few days really focus on BFing alone. Don't worry about laundry, cooking, cleaning, etc...it will all still be there once you have a BFing champ! Nap when DC naps so you have that extra umph at 5:59am.

Your nipples may be sore because DC isn't latching properly. Make sure majority of the bottom part of your nipple is in her mouth. DS latched like a champ from the beginning, then around 3 weeks my nipples were so sore they felt like they were burining. I discussed it with my sister (who is now EBFing her 3rd) and she said "check your latch". Sure enough I had gotten too confident and he wasn't latching properly.

Also, try to nurse "ahead" of the feeding. For the first 2 weeks (especially because DS was jaundice) I would set an alarm. Every hour and a half I would wake him up and put him on the breast (even at night). If you get to it before hunger strikes they are more patient and willing to work on their latch. Versus being ravenous pigs

Maybe change how you are holding DC at the breast. For the first month I could only BF Ryan in the football hold. My breasts are/were large (38DD). I felt like the cradle hold suffocated Ryan and I wasn't quite coordinated enough to move my breast away from his tiny nose.

Pumping.....only pump (before 6 weeks) if you want to increase your supply. And make it a habit/schedule (most pumpers get the most in the morning since babies usually go their longest stretch between feedings at night). I have never been a successful pumper and to this day, only keep a few days worth of bottles in the freezer gosh forbid there is an emergency.

To also increase your supply make sure you are drinking at least one 8oz glass of water at each nursing session. (Don't forget to drink water in between as well). Add oatmeal to your diet. And there are a few good health food stores (Trader Joes, Whole Foods, etc) that carry a tea called "Mother's Milk". I never actually used it, but have heard great things.

Lastly, don't get discouraged. I know easier said than done but we have all been there. Especially in the beginning. They cluster feed, and cry, and you begin to feel like a cow. Anytime you get frustrated, drop me an FM...I'll boost your confidence You'd be surprised at what a "I think you are doing an amazing job" can do!

Oh, and one final note. Don't EVER feel like a failure. Ultimately only YOU, the MOTHER, know what is best for your DC. Go with your gut and stick with it! If your gut is telling you to stick with it, I say go for it!

Re: Breast Feeding through bottle

I found BFing extremely painful for the first 4-6 weeks. I thought about quitting every day, but I stuck with it. I had to pump early on and although it was more work, it was less painful for me than BFing. Eventually BFing got a lot better. I only pump while at work and after the first morning nursing session on weekends. Now I'd much rather BF than pump.

I think one of the things that helped me get through the first few weeks of BFing was to set little goals for myself. I tried to take it day by day and sometimes even nursing session by nursing session. I know it's hard, but it will get easier. Talk to a lactation consultant to make sure DC is latching properly. Use Lansinoh cream often.

If you decide BFing/pumping is not for you, that's ok. A happy mommy = a happy baby.