How to shift my baby from bottle to breast while sleeping?
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
My baby is 6 weeks now and born preterm at 35 weeks of birth weight 4.19 lbs. My baby was in NICU initially, and she was fed with Katori (bowl) and spoon. I tried breast milk feeding for a week, but the doctor advised me to continue Katori feed with formula feed. Then I got admitted for secondary suturing for seven days, followed by baby admission for jaundice. In both cases, I did not breastfeed for about three weeks. During that period, she got formula feed from the bottle from her father. Now again, I am trying to breastfeed her and used lactation support medicines too. My milk supply is fair enough. I tried a breast pump. But I am not comfortable with that. My main problem is when she is awake and calm, she latches properly, but she gets irritated and cranky during her sleep hours and does not accept my nipple at all. Again we have to bottle feed to calm her down, which she accepts with ease. Please suggest how to shift from bottle feed to exclusive breastfeeding.
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
I understand your issue. You can do for now to give the child the breast to feed on, and then also, if the child is hungry, then only give top feeds. This should become a usual practice for at least a week to two weeks until the child latches on. This way, the child will be trained well and should learn to accept the breast.
Regarding acceptance of the nipple at night during sleep hours, I feel at the age of six weeks (even if the child was born at 35 weeks), the acceptance will be a little less only if you try to feed when the child is not hungry. Hence, you will have to now start on-demand feeds and not feeding every three to four hours. You will have to give the baby feeds only when asked for and not otherwise.
Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!
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