Pls help w/transition: Bottle to Breast

[GOPLawyer]

Long story short, we have been feeding DS BM in a bottle since about week 2. He has a super high palate and so he just wasn't getting much milk while nursing as he couldn't nurse very well.

From what I've read, there's a good chance DS will grow into his palate and will be able to nurse (hopefully in the next month or so). However, I'm worried that he doesn't/won't know how to.

I put him to the breast at least once or twice a day but it's clear that he really doesn't know how to nurse from a breast. He also doesn't stay on long and often won't nurse unless I use a shield and/or walk around at the same time.

I'm absolutely determined to nurse DS2 (DS1 still nurses at almost 3 so I know how important that nursing relationship is...I'm also super lazy and BF is sooo much easier! ). Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to transition him to the breast and away from the bottle? I'm assuming I need to train him how to nurse...how do I do that? Any input is great appreciated!

Thanks soooo much!

[attachedmamaof3]

I have NO experience in this, but I wanted to say good luck!! and

Have you thought about asking a LLL leader?

also, may want to check out www.kellymom.com

[BakerALM]

Do a search on nipple preference or bottle preference in google along with motheringdotcommune. this topic has come up a ton and everyone has a different idea on how to do it. And you will hear alot about tossing the bottle and going for it using an SNS or Lactaid until his mouth develops fully.

Your Babe has really no idea how to use the breast and teaching him how to use it has alot to do with practice at the breast. If he knows that the bottle will come eventually he may choose to scream/fuss/or just lock his lips when offered the breast since he knows you will breakdown and give him what he is use to, a bottle.
The sooner you start this up hill struggle with your babe the better chance you have of succesfully BFing full time. The longer he identifies with the bottle the harder it will be to get him to nurse at all. :

My babe bascially never nursed full time due in large part to nipple preference. Once she became hooked on the bottle she did not want anything to do with my breast, as soon as she even saw me unbuttening my shirt she would FREAK out. And this was bascially since she was 1wk old. So after mths of trying I realized it would never work so I EPump, it is horrible and really hard but I know BM is best.

Sorry to be such a downer! It is do-able just start ASAP like you said, dont wait for his palet to develop or else it may be too late.

[GooeyRN]

Like BakerALM, I had to EP for my dd for 18 months. She could not nurse at birth, and got hooked on a syringe/finger-feeder. By the time she was strong enough to nurse, she didn't want to. : So I had to EP for her. I would suggest getting help from a LC or your local LLL and fast. I would hate to see you stuck EPing for years to come.

[boheime]

You can do it. Dd had a lot of problems which kept us from nursing at first. It took almost 6 months to get her completely off of finger feeding and onto the breast, but it was well worth it. She is still nursing at 2 1/2 and will be sharing nursing soon!