10 weeks, too late?

[mzpuff]

DD is 10 weeks old and I breastfed her for the first 3 weeks or so, but her latch was causing me so much pain due to cracked nipples I was in tears.. I tried everything I could find on the internet and in books to try and correct her latch and I couldn't, so I started pumping and giving the milk to her in bottles. and we have been doing it this way ever since. However, I still feel guilt about not being able to nurse her like I always wanted.. I really wanted to experience that bond, and still do . My questions is, is it too late to try again? Maybe if I get with a lactation consultant could there still be hope? Or has she probably just gotten too used to the bottle? I've tried feeding her from my breast and she won't even take it at all anymore. She has just gotten so used to how easy it is to take a bottle and only opens her mouth a little bit. Anyways, any advice or input would be appreciated.

[CowsRock]

Never too late to try. If you don't try, you'll be left wondering and I think that can definitely be worse. Since you aren't needing to bring your milk supply back in or up, the best place to start would be a Lactation Consultant and/or an LLL leader. If you are able to, spending lots of time skin to skin with your babe can often lead them to try again on their own. Offering the breast as they fall asleep or as they are waking up can often help. Letting babe lie between your breasts as you lay back on an incline can lead to latching. And just offer, offer, offer. Also, maybe hand express a bit so the milk is immediately available if you can get babe to latch.

My son went on a very early nursing strike and he would protest violently when I tried to latch him. He loved sucking on our fingers though which was how we fed him...a finger and a syringe. I got lots of advice and none was working for us. What finally worked is I would give him my finger to calm him, then I would try to switch to breast, he would get upset, finger again to calm, try to switch, over and over until finally he just got some milk from my breast and he was back on again. I had to take all the advice but then ultimately go with my gut.

Good luck! Not all LC's or LLL Leaders are the same, if you don't like the advice you are getting, then get another opinion.

[cristeen]

It's not too late. But it will be a lot of work. Get yourself a good, experienced LC, and put the bottles away. Expect it to be a couple days w a lot of tears on both your parts. But you can do it.

[dakotablue]

Not to late and easier since you still have a supply! defiantly get a lactation consultant on board.

Best of luck!

[GoBecGo]

Not too late! It might be a bit of a road, but think of all the babies who aren't breastfed due to needing surgery (for a cleft for example) or prematurity. With good help and perseverance many many end up fully BF. You can do it Mama!

[sammymama]

Definitely agree with PP about not all LCs being the same! I would advise you start with a LLL leader before a LC through a doc's office, for example; they will probably have more experience with a situation like yours.

I'd also recommend switching to the slowest-flow nipple on your babe's bottles while you are making a plan/transitioning to help ease any frustration on her part at having to "wait" if/when she makes it to the boob.

It's not too late, and you are awesome to try!! Good luck!!

[lunarlady]

Not too late! Make sure babies bottles are slow flow, feed, then try to top off with the breast. Offer, offer, offer. Good luck!

[Heba]

Totally agree! You have the supply (very well done for committing to expressing so your daughter could have breastmilk - that in itself is fabulous), which is half of the issue. The other half is getting your daughter back to the breast, and it can be done but you may need a fair amount of patience so go easy on yourself and don't give up!

Kellymom has some great suggestions: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/...to-breast.html

Also, did you ascertain the reason for your sore nipples to begin with? If not, an IBCLC can help identify any underlying problem which may still impact your daughter's ability to latch and breastfeed effectively - and suggest ways to tackle this if there is a problem.

The very best of luck, and please let us know how you get on!

[haydn'smommy]

No, it's not too late. My oldest didn't nurse until he was 3.5mos old. I had problems at first and ended up EPing for 3 mos. I decided to quit and just give up but then had second thoughts and started domperidone to help my supply. One day I had been extra busy and missed a pumping and had gotten a bit engorged. I planned to bathe the boy and then put him down and pump. I climbed into the bathtub with him and we played and soaked in the warm water, and I leaned back against the back of the tub and put him on my chest. I closed my eyes and just laid there enjoying my nakey, snuggly baby and the warm water over us, and I suddenly felt him latch on. That was it. From there on out, he nursed. It wasn't every feeding. He still took bottles when I was at work and a couple of bottles/day when I was home but I was so dang grateful to be able to nurse him that it didn't matter that it wasn't full time. We went on to nurse until he was 22mos old. I put away the bottles at 10mos and went to just sippy cups and boob.
Good luck, mama, you can do it!!!

[mzpuff]

Thank you everyone for the support and words of encouragement! I really appreciate it. I found a LC in my area online and I've wrote her an email telling my story and asking if she can help me. In the mean-time, I will keep offering offering offering.. I tried again today and she just will not open that little mouth wide enough, she would start to suck on just my nipple and then get mad and let go. Tomorrow I'm off work so I'll be home with her ALL day and I will work at it, I may try taking a bath with her. Anyone have any suggestions for getting her to open up? Thanks again!

[PatioGardener]

hVEN'T read the thread and nak so pls excuse typos!

Have you tried to let her latch by herself? It can take hours of skin to skin, but I have seen it happen in an 8 week old who never latched before.

see: http://breastcrawl.org/video.shtml for ideas (but a newborn) and also: http://www.biologicalnurturing.com/
http://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=...lips&Itemid=13

[sammymama]

I would guess she gets mad b/c there is not instant gratification happening at the breast yet. If you are not able to get your milk flowing in advance of her (I know it can be hard to get a full-on letdown going on your own), perhaps you can try an SNS or some version of it? There are syringe-style ones as well, where you put your pumped milk into a syringe and stick the attached (tiny) tube next to your nipple and get baby to grab both - this way she gets some milk right away which might calm her down to keep on sucking until your letdown happens, then you can slip the tube out. This can be crazy, especially with a small baby; it helps many moms to tape the tube to the top of your boob to make it more manageable. (I would guess your LC might have a system like this to offer you?)

http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com...ing-system-sns

Also, do you have access to any place locally that would carry the Jack Newman all purpose nipple ointment? (This SAVED MY NIPPLES from DD's really intense early-sucking weeks. It's safe enough for baby to just apply a little to your nipples after every nursing to keep them from getting cracked.) Again, maybe the LC would know a place that carries it - or a good, "old fashioned" pharmacy can make it for you - here is the compound list:

http://breastfeeding.about.com/od/ni...iplenipple.htm

It's also important to just give her time, a ton of practice - and patience. It can definitely be re-learned, though, so as long as you feel inclined to keep it up, go for it! Good luck.

[thebigfam]

I also recommend a SNS as a way to get her to the breast! I used one to nurse DD from 4 months to 12 months.  I had major supply issues though and you don't so you can do it!!!!!!!! 

Big Momma