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If it's possible to find middle ground -- using a pump for example -- that would be a good thing. My mother made some kind of formula that doctor put together. I turned out, OK. I don't know if she knew about pumps, or whether or not I bit her, or what. I never thought to ask.
Please just go with your gut feeling on this and do not let anyone make you feel bad whatever you choose. Your baby's health is most important. With my first, he would not latch--all I'd heard when I was pregnant was how breast is best and if you don't breastfeed you are a bad mom. So I tried and tried while my baby screamed, and the La Leche woman looked at my son, who honestly was skin over bones at that point (lost almost 2 pounds) and said to just give it another week...next day I took him to the pediatrician for a checkup. The doctor said if he didn't gain weight in the next 24 hours he would have to be hospitalized, so we immediately went to formula and never looked back. Today my son is smart, healthy, and wonderful. Do what is best for your family and don't let anyone tell you differently.
do whats right for you.every baby deserves a mummy who's happy and able to enjoy them,and their babyhood goes sooooo fast.
but if it's important to you to b/f give it a go.
with my first i found it realy hard and by 2 weeks was giving bottles,but by 6 wks ,was exclusivly b/f
i'm from the uk,and found the nct invaluable....do you have it in the us?
i found it easier to givehalf a bottle feed and then offer a breast as my son wasn't so desperate and didn't get distressed as quickly.
it was also easier to get him latched on when he was half asleep at the beginning.
for myself,i found it easier to think in the beginning of offering a taste ,a bit like weaning on to solids,with his main intake being from bottles.
once you're confident you're daughter will latch on,and she's confident and knows what to do ,then breast feed 1st and top up.then gradually make the top ups smaller.
to go from no milk to totally b/f,takes a bit of time,lots of rest and frequent feeds in the beginning.
when babies have a growth spurt,our bodies are designed to accomadate them.......a7mth old drinks much more than a new born as they need more,they have a cranky few days and feed a lot more and the supply increases.
what ever you decide to do,let us know how it goes,good luck
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Drover
Fussy and gassy after breast milk but no problems after formula.... Maybe the little one is lactose-intolerant?
Babies do sleep better on formula than on breastmilk because its more filling but it may be a bit early to come up with any kind of diagnosis.
Usually if breastmilk is making the baby gassy its because of something in mom's diet rather than lactose intolerance. Brocolli, spinach, beans, strawberries, spicy food, etc. etc. can all have a secondary effect on baby. A bit more uncommon but no less possible is dairy in mom's diet. Sometimes babies will be unable to digest a protein that occurs in cow's milk called casein. Casein is expressed through breastmilk when present in mom's diet and stays in her system for as long as 14 days. It is not naturally occuring in human milk nor in goat's milk (so goat cheese or goat milk are still fine). You will need to do some experimentation and get scientific with your diet until you find something that works for you and baby.
Don't give up on breastfeeding. I know a woman who was unable to move exclusively to the breast until the baby was about 11 weeks old, but she was determined to do it and finally achieved it. Its hard and its frustrating but you will not be sorry that you stuck with it. You only get one chance with this baby. Breastfed babies are easier to comfort and put to sleep when they get a little older. You will be glad to have that trick in the bag later on during teething and when baby just doesn't want to go to sleep at bedtime.
The first three months are going to be hard no matter what. When you get into the less dependent and more active ages I'm not sure that the extra hour of sleep now is going to seem like quite the bargain.
Whatever you do, you shouldn't harbor any regrets. I would keep that in mind.
Fussy and gassy after breast milk but no problems after formula.... Maybe the little one is lactose-intolerant?
There is MILK in formula too. . They have dairy/soy free formula. Soy formula can be dangerous/unhealthy for many reasons so at least try to stay away from that.
Keep trying. Keep your head up. Don't get discouraged. Lot's of good advice on here. Did the OP ever come back???
Find a lactation consultant. They are really great. My mom was helpful, too. My first didn't latch on for 2 weeks. I was pumping and giving her breastmilk in an AVENT bottle. I believe the baby has to suck the same way on that nipple as they would on the breast. I stuck with it and by the time she was a month old we were both doing fine.
I remember sitting and crying with my baby because it wasn't working. My mother was a great support.
Also, get a GOOD BREAST PUMP (Medela?) that you can pump both sides at the same time. This will help keep your milk flowing.
Good luck. It is VERY HARD!! Don't be too hard on yourself and if you get too down, make sure you talk to someone.
She needs to find a midwife, doula, or someone from LLL or even a breastfeeding consultant from a WI office could help her. Where is she located? It's not too late. She can still do this if she wants to!
Keep trying if you so feel moved to.
There have actually been women who adopted who have been able to nurse.
Even going thru the motions of breastfeeding with a content baby may help you become more comfortable with the closeness of nursing.
I remember numerous times my DD was not hungry and just lay there using me as a human pacifer LOL, gave us both some quiet close time.
The baby in the OP is almost twelve years old now.
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