I have had lots of moms who went back to work at this age and here are some
things that I noticed - most you probably already know, so pardon me in
advance if this is old...
About taking a bottle: Many will take a bottle from someone other than the
mother, but for those that won't, try using a sippy cup. The one from
platex that has a valve in which the milk won't come out unless the child
sucks works for some, others need the regular sippy cup for a bit to get
the idea. Some will drink quite readily from a shot glass at this age.
I have had a lot of moms who are teachers or teen students who have access
to the baby at lunch time. Their babies RARELY take a bottle. They
gradually learn that mom will be home at a certain time and tend to a long
nap in AM and wake near noon, then patiently wait, and do the same thing at
4 pm- sounds crazy but have heard it over and over. Those babies do really
well, as they do most of their eating after hours.
Some will take one kind of nipple but not another. Some will take a cross
cut nipple but won't use anything they have to suck on (more the sippy cup
type of attitude).
At 4 mo, giving some solids to hold the child over if he won't take a
bottle might be helpful, although this seems early for solids it might be a
stop gap measure.
I spend a lot of time trying to work things out with working moms, and do
help her look at her priorities. Sometimes she realizes that her income
isn't ESSENTIAL and ends up being a stay home mom for a while - but most of
the time this isn't an option. I live in an extremely impoverished area
(Indian reservation) and many either work or starve. I spend a lot of time
making sure she knows the particular benefits the breastfed baby has when
attending day care, as day care is a hotbed of infection, IMO.
I do family care as well as midwifery, (FNP) and I tell them, "If you bf
your baby, I will probably only get to see you at well baby visits. If you
use ABM, I will get to know you and your baby VERY well, because you will
be in for ear infections, colds, sore throats, tummy upsets and all kinds
of stuff. I really don't want to get to know you that well." (grin)
Jude Kurokawa, CNM, FNP
Wolf Point, MT
Mailto: [log in to unmask]
A Coyote midwife sits by the hole and waits....
Only Cowards cook on low.
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> From: Patricia Sawarna <[log in to unmask]>
> To:
> Subject: Mom back at work
> Date: Sunday, October 05, 1997 9:59 PM
>
> A mom contacted me a month ago concerned because she would be returning
> to fulltime employment and hadn't been successful at getting her 4 month
> old to take breastmilk from a bottle. She had tried everything and after
> consulting with another LC, I was able to give her some more
> suggestions. She has now been back to work for 3 weeks and he still
> refuses to take breastmilk from a bottle. I would appreciate hearing how
> others have supported moms in a similar situation.
>
> I am writing a paper for a therapeutic course on treating thrush in
> infants with gentian violet. I would appreciate if you would send me
> names of articles and resources to address this topic to my e-mail
> address.
>
> Thankyou in advance for your support.
>
> Patricia
>
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