Thread: My friend needs some nursing help-back to work and baby doesn't want to nurse.

I have never btdt so I don't have much advice for her, other than nursing as much as possible. He is almost 4 months old, she just went back to work 2 weeks ago and she says it's progressively getting worse. First she was having some supply issues, she took reglan and it helped. Now he doesn't want to nurse, is very fussy when she tries to nurse him. She pumps at work, dad is going to be home for a couple months so he's the one feeding him.

She said he was a fussy nurser all weekend, and they eventually gave him a bottle of EBM and he sucked it right down. She's really upset.

Does anyone have any btdt advice/stories that I can pass on to her? Any suggestions on what may help them?

TIA.

Just bumping this, changed the title to be clearer.

My first and most important advice is to call LLL. If she doesnt already go, help her find a local group and talk to someone.

I've never been in her situation before, so i'm not speaking from experience or anything. But the thought that comes to me is they should quit giving the baby bottles.

Is it possible for dh to bring baby to her during the day to feed? Maybe at least during her lunch time or something?

How about using something other than a bottle when dh has her, soft spout sippy, finger feed, etc. There are products out there they can use to feed baby besides a bottle. LLL would probably be able to help them out w/ that.

Baby is probably getting used to the bottle and doesnt have to work as much to get milk. I dont know what to suggest to make baby to want to nurse except take the bottle away.

Oh, also, does baby sleep w/ them? If not I would suggest she put baby in bed w/ her and let him nurse while she sleeps. Maybe on the weekend she can spend some time just in bed w/ baby and nursing. Also, some babies will latch better when sleepy. Lots of skin to skin contact. Maybe a bath together.

hth a little

Have them try a sippy cup instead. That is what I did with HUnter when he went to daycare and I couldn't go to him on my lunch break. The advent soft spouts should be good. They are soft but not soft like a nipple and should beharder for him to suck, like the breast.

Dad could also try cup feeding with a ounce(at a time, refill till he's not hungy kwim?) or so in a open cup, giving him little sips. It takes more work of couse but worth it IMO if it gets him back to wanting the breast.

I hope they are able to figure our something. It's so hard having to leave little nursing babies to go back to work.

I know he has brought the baby to her at lunchtime, I am not sure if it's every day though. I will pass this info on to her tomorrow when I talk to her, thank you! Oh, he does sleep with her, and she did say the only time he nurses well now is when he's sleeping. I suggested staying at home with him this weekend and just nursing, I think she is going to do that.

Thank you.

nurse, nurse, nurse. She should drink lots of water and spend as much as possible of her non-working time holding, slinging, sleeping with and/or nursing the baby. It's probably more nipple confusion than supply. It will take some time to get the baby used to doing both, and may require trying different nipples or feeding techniques. She shouldn't take the fact that he took a bottle after trying to nurse as a sign that it's a supply problem. It *could* be, but I'd look at nipple confusion first and moniter his wet/dirty diapers just to make myself feel better.

I also agree it's probably nipple confusion and she should avoid bottles. The sippy cup idea sounds best but if not an SNS wiorks for finger feeding. Finger feeding is the only reason I am nursing today! I know it's hard on her but if he seems to be fine on the weekends (peeing and no signs of dehydration) she should not give him anything other than breast. If she really must give in it should be on the breast with an SNS.
JMO tho.. Haven't BTDT

I am amazed by mamas who work and nurse! Such dedication! :thumbsup: