How to get baby back to the breast at 8 months?

[RootSnort]

I have an auto-immune disorder called Behcet's Disease. My DS was born 8 months ago, and at 2 days old, he developed a mouth full of the painful ulcers that are the hallmark of my disease. Thankfully, they were gone within a month, but by then he was happier with his bottle, it was easier to get the milk out of it. Every now and again, I would nurse him with a nipple shield, but somewhere along the way, he has quit accepting my breast. He is still exclusively on breast milk, we have tried to introduce foods for the last 2 months, but he does not like the texture, and his weight and growth are just fine, so we'll leave that up to him.

I would like to start nursing again. I work and so I will still pump, but I would love to nurse when we are together. Nursing is so comforting, and while he is such a happy baby right now, I know that he will need more comforting as he approches his toddler years.

What can I do?

[Momtwice]

You might find some helpful advice at http://www.kellymom.com

I know they have an article titled something like "help, my baby won't nurse" with a ton of information. They may have info specifically about "older" babies.

Good luck in your journey.

[twinsarefun]

I would put your breastmilk in the SNS. That is great that you can still get that much milk. Your baby will get stimulation with the SNS and your milk too! What a double bonus! I would get the regular SNS with the two tubes. Make sure baby nurses on both sides. I would always have baby nurse first without the tubes if he will do that, then put in the tubes. Start with the medium tube if you can. If he won't take that, start with the larger one and then work your way down to the smallest. Hopefully this will work for you. If you need help with the SNS just pm me.

[rionnhannah]

I tried and tried to get my baby to nurse (wouldn't latch on at all) and finally did (after he was fed with the bottle until then) at 3.5 months. I got some help (after many people failed at helping me) from Edith Kernerman. She was my life-saver. You can go to her website at www.edithkernerman.com or www.jacknewman.com and contact her via there. She is very helpful and knows her stuff. Good luck to you.

[clogmama]

My daughter learned to nurse at age 7 1/2 months, and I had been exclusively pumping from shortly after her birth. I emailed Jack Newman directly (he quickly wrote back with helpful links) and also read relactation advice. I gave my daughter lots of opportunity to spend time next to my bare chest during the day and all night. I offered a lot of praise during positive time spent at my bare chest. I tried squirting milk into her mouth when she wasn't hungry and maybe a little tired. If she resisted my efforts, then I stopped and didn't pressure her. Finally she latched on. She latched on at first for short periods and within a month she was fully breastfeeding and is still breastfeeding at age two. How is it going for you now?

[RootSnort]

Not so good. He's getting plenty of my expressed milk from the bottle, but he doesn't want my breast, or anything not covered in silicone, anywhere near his mouth. I've tried when he's sleepy, I've tried in the tub. The only thing I haven't tried yet is the SNS, but perhaps tomorrow since I've got the whole morning free.

I'll keep on trying, and who knows, maybe when he's old enough to understand, he'll give it a try. He's 10 months now, maybe in another few months we'll have a breakthrough!

[RootSnort]

I've continued to offer the breast, and night before last, I had him latched with the nipple shield for a few minutes!!

This weekend I've dug up the SNS I bought but never opened, and I plan to try that out as well. I'll let y'all know how it goes!

[boheime]

It took me almost 6 months to get my dd on the breast (finger feeding when she refused). It can be done!

Try making the breast a happy place. Have as much skin to skin contact as possible.

[clogmama]

Originally Posted by RootSnort

I've continued to offer the breast, and night before last, I had him latched with the nipple shield for a few minutes!!

Congratulations! This is huge progress! This is also what I tried when my daughter refused my bare breast and actually her first latch on was with the nipple shield.

This weekend I've dug up the SNS I bought but never opened, and I plan to try that out as well. I'll let y'all know how it goes!

I'm curious to know how it goes! The first few times my daughter latched on before latching on for good, I used a syringe and slowly squirted milk into her her mouth when she was at my breast. She was used to getting milk quickly from the bottle, and this seemed to help with the transition.

[RootSnort]

No new progress. But I'm still trying!