Breastfeeding is not going at all like I thought. I never realized it was so complicated! I just assumed you put the baby on the boob, they latch on, everything is great. After struggling to get my babe to latch on right for days I finally gave up and went back to the hospital to see the LC. She couldn't get her to do anything but purse her lips on the tip of my nipple, and neither could I. (We made the mistake of giving her a pacifier for a day...I think that caused confusion that started this. 
: ) So the LC gave us a nipple shield. I didn't want to use it, but out of desperation I tried it. Now my baby nurses SO well. I still hate the shield, especially because I feel like I have to be at home in private to use it since it's not discreet to put on and all.
I want to wean her off of it, but I can't get her to latch on at all now if the shield isn't on! I don't know how to go about getting her to just take my nipple again.
And I have another problem--in three weeks classes start. My MIL and my mom will be watching the baby for 4-5 hours on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The baby will have to eat, she'll only be a month old at that point and she eats every couple hours if not more often. I can pump with no problem, but I don't want to add to her nipple confusion by giving her a bottle.
I need some advice! How can get my baby to nurse without the shield? And what should I do about the bottle situation? I'm so lost, I don't want to make a mistake that will complicate our breastfeeding relationship even more.
: ) So the LC gave us a nipple shield. I didn't want to use it, but out of desperation I tried it. Now my baby nurses SO well. I still hate the shield, especially because I feel like I have to be at home in private to use it since it's not discreet to put on and all.I want to wean her off of it, but I can't get her to latch on at all now if the shield isn't on! I don't know how to go about getting her to just take my nipple again.
And I have another problem--in three weeks classes start. My MIL and my mom will be watching the baby for 4-5 hours on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The baby will have to eat, she'll only be a month old at that point and she eats every couple hours if not more often. I can pump with no problem, but I don't want to add to her nipple confusion by giving her a bottle.
I need some advice! How can get my baby to nurse without the shield? And what should I do about the bottle situation? I'm so lost, I don't want to make a mistake that will complicate our breastfeeding relationship even more.
