the other day I tried pumping some milk (only got a tiny bit before I got frustrated and stopped) and I tried bottlefeeding Abryn with it, but she never really got the hang of it. She just made the yucky face and kind of chewed on it and looked at me like "please stop!". Will she just never be able to drink from a bottle or do we just have to work at it? I'm worried because I'd like Axyn (boyfriend, daddy) to be able to feed her when she comes to visit him in jail/rehab (they won't let me, the MOTHER, be there, which is a long story)
I had to pump when my youngest was in the hospital. Take a deep breath and relax, don't be worried, it will work . What kind of pump are you using? I had alot of trouble with the little ones you can buy at wal mart. I used a hospital pump then got a Medela pump in style. Try nursing her on one side and pumping from the other. IF the let down reflex is stimulated it is much easier. Also try to pump at the same time each day, just like feeding you need to establish a routine for your body. I found that nursing the older one stimulated the reflex so pumping was easier. This may sound silly, but I also would call a good friend and talk to her, when I could relax and not worry will I have enough milk for her, the milk would let down easier. It was also suggested that I tape her crying to play, and look at a picture of her. I'm sure other momma's here have other great advice if these don't work, but for me I think that worry was the biggest obstacle. Blessings
i had the same problem but like busmama said just relax and establish a routine. Maybe your pump's suction isnt strong enough i had to go through 3 different pumps until i found the perfect one with the strongest suction. good luck and remember to relax and not to worry. *HUGS* FF
How old is Abryn now? One thing to remember, men do not bond by feeding, they bond my playing, daily care, hugging ect. If men could bond through feeding, they would have lactating breasts. Only one of my kids ever took a bottle, and she developed such severe nipple confusion (and was so angry at me) that it took us months to over come it. I never used an other bottle with an other baby, despite working part time and seeing clients. My dh would use a shot glass or a Baby Feeder cup (about the same size as a shot glass NOT the same as a sippy cup) not to "bond" with the baby, but to give the baby a little milk until I got home. Some kids do really well going from bottle to breast and back again, others get nipple confusion, which I would not wish on anyone. You never know how your baby will do until the bottles are actually taken by the baby. If you have a baby who is suseptible to nipple confusion, you won't know until she starts refusing the breast, screaming, not eating and prefering the bottle to you. Not worth the risk, unless you have NO other choice. I used to do day care for babies who never took bottles, they all did well with shot glasses ect. I have a question, the baby will be going into the prison ALONE without you? How does that work? How long is the baby away from you, that she would need to eat? The best plan is to nurse her RIGHT before she is brought into the room to see her father, make sure they know she has to nurse again in 2, 3 or however many hours, and make sure the baby is back with you then. There is simply no need for him to possibly disrupt your and the baby's breastfeeding sucess with a bottle she simply doens't need.
I agree with Maggie - I know that Daddy wants to be part of your baby's life, but all of the work and trouble that ONE bottle will cause isn't worth it. Daddies aren't meant to feed babies! He will not "bond" because of one bottle! He will bond when he holds her, smells her, kisses her, etc.....
Definantly nipple confusion is a big issue. When baby finally came home it took almost non-stop feeding to teach her to latch on properly, and I pretty much just refused to give her a bottle and continued to offer the breast, but it was hard at first. If she had been my first I'm sot sure I could have done it. And since milk comes out of a bottle easier some babies will refuse the breast. I have used a small glass to feed my sisters baby and it worked quite well for us. Hubby may not have ever fed the baby, but his bond is just as strong as mine. I agree with the others, papa's bond more by holding, playing ect.
I started trying to give my son a bottle at 3 weeks old. He screamed everytime we put it in his mouth. I kept trying because I needed to go back to work, but he wouldn't take it. At 11 weeks, I returned to work and ended up running home twice a day to feed him. I finally quit my job because it was miserable seeing him like that. I continued to try the bottle until he was 6 months old and I bought every bottle sold, even the one that looks like a boob. He never took it, and I finally gave up. I swore that if I had another baby I would give a bottle from day one, but now that I'm pregnant, I have decided not to use bottles at all again (I'll be home with her). It was just such a personal thing to know that only I could feed my baby. Good luck!
Well you're all probably right about the bonding thing, which makes me feel better, but I just want to make sure she can eat if she's hungry with him. she nurses with me now anywhere from every half hour to 2 hours. we spend most of the day nursing. (she's getting chubby lol) the deal with the jail/rehab is that it's for juveniles. he went in 10 days before he turned 18. since it's for juveniles, they won't let anyone come see him who's not family (although I am his family, they won't accept it since we don't have a marriage certificate). I'll have to give my baby to his mom (who I have almost NO relationship with, she used to hate me and now has just accepted me) and she'll take her to see him.
if it were my baby, I'd go down there, and stay out in the car. I'd nurse baby right before his mom takes her in to see him, with the very strict instructions that she is back in your arms within the hour. No...I probably wouldn't do that at all. I probably would refuse to let the baby out of my sight at that age, especially not with *my* MIL because I know she would never respect my wishes or the needs of my child, and she would never bring me the baby just because she was screaming and crying for comfort. I don't know how your boyfriend's mama is at all. But you are the mama and you get to make the rules. There is no reason to jeopardize your breastfeeding relationship just so daddy in juvie can feed her. And there is no justification for traumatizing a baby by taking her away from Mommy, not even to see her father.
well the one good thing is that I do trust his mom's baby instincts. I've seen her with them and she's all for cloth diapering, breastfeeding, natural births and such. she's very caring when it comes to little ones. I think she would bring her to me if Abryn started crying. and of course I'll be going with her to the facility. if for the only reason that I just can't be away from Abryn for very long. I even start missing her if she's just been sleeping for a long time. so that solves my feeding problem. hey, mamboogie, you have a LION FOR A DAUGHTER! I've seen that picture so much and I've just now noticed it. it almost looks natural on her lol
it's actually a bunny nose, with teeth. she's been wearing it ever since a friend of ours gave it to her a couple weeks ago when we went up to Nashville for a visit. LOL
Thank goodness for you going with them to the facility! It sent up red flags in my mind of kidnapping and yeah.... Make sure baby is back in your arms in an hour or so, so you know she's alright and you can feed her again... Daddy will bond with baby when he's out and can play with her and hold her all the time. Trust me. I didn't meet my daddy until I was twelve years old and I love him just as much as someone that knew daddy from birth.
These ladies know what they say, sweetie! jgirl, your baby made it very clear what she needed, and, guess what? It worked out for the best. Giving a bottle "from day one" is usually a terrible set up for nipple confusion. A baby who "won't take a bottle" is certainly better than a baby who refuses to take the breast, because she HAD a bottle and got nipple confusion. You listened to your first baby, he also told you something aobut his new sibling. Listen well. Blessings!
plus this will be the first time he's seeing her, why get him all frustrated trying to feed her when she'll just be fighting it. without you there and her being so well cared for by you, i bet the visit won't be long they will bond later. babies really just naturally need only their mother right now.
Skye didn't like the bottle at all when his momma first started working, trust me, I know how frustrating it is. I had quite a few night of a screaming hungry little man. It just takes a lot of patience, but then again doesn't parenting in general. I actually had to go interupt my wife in the middle of her training on her second night, so she could feed him. I always wondered, "how long could he really cry for?", and now I know that he can scream at the top of his lungs for at least four hours straight! Just keep offering the bottle, the little ones have to learn it*, they already know how to use the nipple. It just takes a bit of time. *just to clarify, I don't think that children, in general, have to learn a bottle. Just the ones who need to use them. I am probably over analyzing my own message, I am exhuasted and cannot fall asleep for some reason.
