Hi. Another question, rather involved.
Mom called me when baby was 6 weeks old, wanting to relactate. Baby threw
up all regular formula and also had a cardiac problem. Mom had 'squeezed
out 4 0z of milk' the previous evening, without EVER having BF the baby in
6 whole weeks!! I was pretty impressed. Doubly impressed because Mom was
from my inner city postpartum floor and I have never had a single question
about relactating in my experience there....
Anyway, Mom got a pump and, 3 weeks on, is doing pretty well, getting 3 to
4 oz per pumping session. The baby had cardiac surgery Fri. and is
recovering well.
Mom reported however that she is getting fed up of pumping, and we are
about to tackle getting baby onto the breast....(she couldn't really cope
with this before upping her milk supply and the surgery).
Here's the big problem. Mom is convinced baby prefers soy formula to her
breastmilk. (Baby is on soy because will not tolerate the others). She says
he drinks the soy faster and is 'happier' with it (though he does not
regularly throw up her milk). This makes her worry about nursing the baby.
If Mom is right, I think maybe this is dairy intolerance, as witnessed by
bad reaction to formula.
I am SO reluctant to tell Mom to eliminate all dairy. She is putting
herself through all this effort and I feel she would hear that the baby is
tolerating the formula better than her milk!!
I need some creative ideas. Also, anything creative about getting the baby
back to the breast? I am thinking of sending her a silicone nipple shield,
just to start her off. But I fear that if Mom is not really convinced the
baby likes her milk, she will not get very far....help!
Anne Merewood