I am a childbirth educator and a student of mine called me bec.
her baby refuses her breast. She gave birth last Oct. 23 and
stayed in the hosp. 4 days. Her breast milk came 3 days
after she gave birth. She did not room in. While in the hosp.
the baby was bottle fed formula milk. She tried to give her baby
her breast wehn they got home but he closes his mouth and even
pushes the mother away. By now she has plenty of milk and is
mix feeding using the bottle. Her baby drinks 2.5ozs. of milk
every 2 hours and she is not able to get that much milk from
her breast to meet the demand. She wants to give up. She says it's
very inconvenient for her bec. her breast gets engorged, she can't
sleep straight through the night from the pain and discomfort.
The breast pump doesn't remove all the milk. She also feels
guilty if she stops breastfeeding. She sounds discouraged. She
will be going back to work on Dec. 20 and she can not pump at
work bec. of time limitation. It's been 2 weeks, she says she
tried everything. She tried to give her breast when the baby was
very hungry. Position correct. Baby was wrapped comfortably.
Is there anything I could advice this mother? How can the baby
like her breast?