https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 18 Apr 2026 02:33:13 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/back-to-breast#post-2763002 Sat, 29 Jul 2017 13:24:14 +0000 Annette 2763002@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nipple shields worked well for us and we were eventually able to transition from them after a few months. Buy youself a few spares while you are using them because forgetting one or having no place to clean them can be stressfulllll! My SIL nursed for almost a year with the shield as well so whatever works! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/back-to-breast#post-2762879 Fri, 28 Jul 2017 19:51:08 +0000 erinbaderin 2762879@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@peachykeen: Yay! Great update! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/back-to-breast#post-2762799 Fri, 28 Jul 2017 15:46:51 +0000 peachykeen 2762799@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Update: Nipple shield is a game changer! She latched right away - didn't fight me at all - and nursed happily for 45 minutes. No idea how much she swallowed vs dribbled out of her mouth, but I figure getting her to stay latched is the first step.</p> <p>I'll keep trying and probably end up using more of these tips as we figure it out. I know the nipple shield isn't a permanent solution. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/back-to-breast#post-2762751 Fri, 28 Jul 2017 13:48:04 +0000 ShootingStar 2762751@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think an SNS could be really helpful, as well as seeing an LC as soon as possible. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/back-to-breast#post-2762746 Fri, 28 Jul 2017 13:30:49 +0000 peachykeen 2762746@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks so much for the tips! I'm going to try a few of these before getting with a lactation consultant on Monday hopefully (we're still driving to a hospital the next city over for blood draws each day and she's supposed to be on the lights 24/7).</p> <p>@Rocker2014: I was wondering about the shield and you convinced me to have DH pick one up. I'm excited to try - sounds like that may be just what she needs!</p> <p>@kiddosc: I'm already pumping around the clock so this sounds like a good idea. I know I'm getting plenty of milk so maybe she just doesn't like to wait for it. </p> <p>@IRunForFun: We've been trying the partial bottle then nurse method a few times now and I can get her latched temporarily. I'm hoping things will get easier when we don't have the complicating factor of the bili light of course.</p> <p>@nanilani: Thanks - this is definitely my worry long-term! Having pumped with DD1 I'm torn between hoping we can nurse and being prepared to pump if necessary (which from past experience I know I'd rather have an oversupply than under). Luckily I've only been pumping 2 days now so hopefully I can get her to nurse before I do too much damage. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/back-to-breast#post-2762700 Fri, 28 Jul 2017 11:35:04 +0000 nanilani 2762700@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would try the suggestions of letting down before latching first, but if that doesn't work then consider if your pumping routine is the issue. DS didn't nurse until he has 5 or 6 days old (feeding tube and bottles in the NICU). After a few weeks of struggling, an LC clued me in that he wasn't latching b/c he was getting too much milk too fast. Turns out the pumping schedule the hospital set me up on to help my milk come in generated too much supply for a single newborn. I scaled back how long I pumped each session, and he became much more willing to latch. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/back-to-breast#post-2762695 Fri, 28 Jul 2017 11:27:24 +0000 RKitty 2762695@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our LC recommend to me spaced feedings with the bottle. Feed for a couple of swallows and take the bottle away for a second or two and repeat. Bottles feed a lot faster then breasts so some babies get used to the quicker feed and won't take boob back because of it. We did this and typically had no issue going from boob to bottle and back. (Though he hated it when the bottle was taken away for those few seconds) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/back-to-breast#post-2762664 Fri, 28 Jul 2017 10:44:29 +0000 IRunForFun 2762664@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Don't wait to see the IBCLC!!! I had to pump for DD from 3 to 7ish weeks and the IBCLC was invaluable when it came to getting her back to the breast. I echo a PP who said to get your milk flowing before latching, since she might be more likely to keep sucking if there's immediate reward. </p> <p>Also, I know when combo feeding they say to always nurse first and then offer a bottle, but if she's super hungry she might be too frustrated to latch and wait, so you could try giving her a small amount by bottle first and then nursing when she's more patient. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/back-to-breast#post-2762662 Fri, 28 Jul 2017 10:38:21 +0000 Mrs. Microscope 2762662@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Keep trying! Maybe pickup an sns? That way you can latch her, yet still measure some milk amount? And get with an IBCLC right away! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/back-to-breast#post-2762637 Fri, 28 Jul 2017 09:30:10 +0000 Rocker2014 2762637@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you thought about trying a nipple shield? It may be more like the bottles she's used to and make the transition back to breast a little easier for her tiny mouth. The downside is another potential transition in the future, but that should be easier once she's bigger. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/back-to-breast#post-2762634 Fri, 28 Jul 2017 09:25:23 +0000 MenagerieMama 2762634@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Try lots of skin to skin! Have someone watch your older LO and then get topless and camp out with baby only in a diaper and snuggle all day! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/back-to-breast#post-2762629 Fri, 28 Jul 2017 09:03:05 +0000 kiddosc 2762629@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Try hand expressing or using a pump until you get a let down and then latch her on. She may be frustrated that there isn't immediate flow. Also wait until she's sort of sleepy or distracted, though that's kind of all the time at this age :) Don't give up Momma, I imagine it's super frustrating, but she's still so little that you can overcome this! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/back-to-breast#post-2762628 Fri, 28 Jul 2017 09:02:00 +0000 snowjewelz 2762628@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD1 had nursing strike (well, she first had bottle strike and then once she got used to bottles then she didn't want breast). It was a pain but I'd offer still every time and if she rejected then go pump and eventually she got over it.</p> <p>DD2 was in NICU for 2 days and I was the one that was sick so I was not allowed to visit for the most part and only pumped. We were fine with nursing once we got home. </p> <p>I think partly your DD is just young! Both my girls weren't big and didn't have the best latch at first. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/back-to-breast#post-2762627 Fri, 28 Jul 2017 08:59:11 +0000 peachykeen 2762627@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Does anyone have any experience getting baby back to breastfeeding after a short (or long) stint with bottles? DD2 is only 6 days old but was severely jaundiced at her 4 day ped appointment. She was close to being hospitalized so we had to give her pumped milk for 24 hours to make sure she was eating a certain amount to flush out the bilirubin.</p> <p>She was an awesome nurser the first 4 days of life but has fought nursing every time I've tried lately. She can still latch and suck but doesn't want to, of course. I can't take bottles away completely yet since her bili levels are so high, but I so wanted breastfeeding to go well with DD2 (I was forced to pump for DD1 due to similar reasons).</p> <p>I plan to find a lactation consultant once her jaundice is to a safe level, but wondered if anyone else has experienced something similar. Any tips? :sad: </p>