I  would also like to comment on nipple confusion. As in the case that
Barbara Wilson Clay described with a baby exclusively bottle fed for 2
weeks going to the breast; I have had the same experience many times.
Recently, I saw a mother will extremely large, wide nipples and a baby
with a tiny mouth. This baby could not get close to the lacteriferous
sinus areas. She could not get around the nipple! She transferred 0 milk
and it was very painful for the mother. Mother pumped tons of milk, fed
the baby by bottle for 5 weeks. She put the baby to breast every day for
a few minutes for some casual cuddling and licking, no stress to latch.
This baby gained weight beautifully on only her mother's milk and when
she had grown enough latched to the smaller of the nipples. One week
later she latched to the other side and is now a completely breastfed
baby.
It is not easy to pump and bottle feed. Mothers need to be praised for
their efforts. I always tell these mothers that they are breastmilk
feeding their babies when their baby are unable to get the milk for
themselves. I try to be super positive and supportive and really do
believe that they are delivering a great gift to their babies. AND most
babies when they are able, will go to the breast. They prefer the breast
when they can get milk out. Some of my mothers have had to do this for
many weeks. The longest was a baby who took 3 1/2months. After latching
to the breast,finally; he refused the bottle completely. Who is
confused? Maybe, we're the confused ones! Ann Anderson, RN,IBCLC,NJ

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