Need help getting started breastfeeding after exclusively formula feeding. Help please?

Question

My baby is a week old. I have been formula feeding and now have decided I would like to try breastfeeding. I just dont know where to start! I bought a pump after my breasts became engorged to start pumping before the milk dried up. I have been pumping since yesterday. I have a few questions. How long should I pump each breast and should I do both in one setting? When should I begin feeding her on the breast and stopping formula? I just generaly need to know some information on getting started on the switch. Im a little lost. Thank you so much for your help! :)

Answer 1

It's awesome that you're wanting to try to do this. Know that it IS possible! I would start to latch your baby onto your breast, you can try to do that by taking your hand and form a "C" shape with your thumb and remaining fingers. Then take your hand and grasp your breast, you'll squeeze kind of like you're trying to squish your nipple. After that you'll kind of move your breast up around your babies mouth to his/her chin make sure your baby opens really wide. As soon as your baby opens wide, bring your baby to your breast and latch on!



After you breastfeed for as long as possible, then if needed, offer the bottle of formula. Slowly stop offering the formula, and strictly breastfeeding.



I would recommend you get in touch with a lactation consultant. You can call your hospital, and find someone local to help.



Oh, and with pumping, you can pump after each time you breastfeed your child. You can also power pump. Take 1 hour of your day and set it aside for pumping, pump on and off 10 minutes the entire time.



eta: Oh, and another thing - try to hand express some milk before latching your baby on. That way as soon as your baby latches on, milk will come out and it will provide instant satisfaction. This may help you have more success with getting your baby to latch on.

Answer 2

Try breastfeeding your baby about an hour or 1/2 hour before her regular feeding time so she isn't so cranky that she won't latch on. If she latches on and starts feeding, then great. It might take some time, but offer her your breast before giving her a bottle. It might be frustrating, but if you're tense it could affect your milk letdown, which also could cause your baby to get upset if she's not getting milk right away.



You could try and hand express some milk before you let her latch on so she can taste the milk first. That might help get her on the breast.



If she's breastfeeding just fine, then pump after she feeds so you empty your breast. If she only feeds on the left breast and is done, then pump the left breast to empty it. Then at the next feeding offer your right breast first so there's milk there. Then pump after that if she's done.



Good luck with starting breastfeeding again. It might take some time, especially if she's used to the bottle nipple. Just be patient. I would also recommend contacting a lactation consultant to help if your baby can't latch on correctly.

Answer 3

The next time she's ready for a feeding, offer her your breast... don't get frustrated if she doesn't want it... sometimes you have to coax them a little by stuffing your nipple in their mouth so they can feel the need to latch on. Especially when going from a bottle nipple to your own nipple, as they're shaped so differently...



Your baby is young enough to adjust very well to the breast....



As far as pumping goes, pump 15 minutes on each breast. If you're giving your daughter a bottle, sit down and pump while she eats. Do that every time you give her a baba to make sure you produce enough milk. It's a supply and demand thing.

Answer 4

Does she latch on to your breast? If so then forget the pump and just begin nursing her directly from your breast. Let her nurse whenever she wants and for as long as she wants. Resist the urge to give her a bottle. As long as she has plenty of wet and soiled diapers and she is gaining weight she is fine and getting plenty of milk.



If she doesn't latch on then you need to find a lactation consultant to help you out.



Good luck.