Hi,
Since I just had a baby and had some problems breast feeding, thought I'd contribute too.

Sometimes if the breast is too full, the baby has a problem latching on, in that case pumping a bit and then offering the breast helps.

If she has to bottle feed, tell her to use the gerber nuk nipple, which is supposed to resemble the mother's nipple best and I found out that my baby had to do some good work to get the milk out, milk didn't just spurt out like the other nipples. So she learned good sucking habit.

Somebody recommended lansinoh for the cracked nipples, I bought some but didn't use, just used the breast milk itself. I also had the problem with the scabs coming off, but thankfully, the skin became tougher in two days (or my daughter became gentler). I also used to feed with very little gaps in b/w so that the baby was not too hungry and thus too excited when it was time to nurse

hope this helps
Bijo (Sarah)

If breasts are engorged with ilk and painful .....soaking laying on your stomach/kness a hot salt bath drains them off very quickly and heals the nipples at same time

Definitely do not use peanut oil based creams or lanolin or the baby could develop very difficult allergies

A cold baby is less likely to sleep...so make sure he's undressed before nursing. Also, try to nurse using the 'football' hold with the baby placed to your side, clutched like a football. This position helped me when learning to get the aerola into my babies mouths.

Barb-the LLL would affirm nursing well into the 2nd and 3rd years if the child is interested. (usually only nursing at night or something.) I wouldn't know how much nutritional benefit it is to the child at that age as they probably don't get THAT much milk...but a little breast milk is better that NO breast milk. What do you all think?

Unfortunately the only downfall to nursing a toddler is that society has it labeled as taboo ...funny how we'll tolerate the rude, cruel, vulgar & sexually explecit in the everyday media, but the simple act of seeing a woman nurse is considered taboo.

Power to nursing women!

Good evening.
There could be the possibility, that Barb's
milk is of such a quality, that the baby
gets satified after few minutes. The largest
emout of milk is taken anyways in the first minutes of nursing,that's usual the case, generally talking.
If there would be a problem of nurishment the baby would'nt gain weight like expected at her age.
well, i know, sometimes good things hurt. With the time you will feel better barb,so, if you can, do'nt give up nursing now. sometimes nursing is easier if you lay down, next to your baby, and gentlly hold a little back, near the areola, just with the side of your finger.

Shosy-good point. If you can see the baby gulping or swallowing, then you know he's eating...and he could be emptying the breast in a short period of time. I am currently nursing my 7mo old, and as an infant she was quite efficient and never would stay on one breast more than 10 minutes.

I get the impression though that this is not the case with the child at hand. I agree with all that have posted about trying to get rid of the bottle.

Boy! Most of you have posted some excellent information! One more thing about positioning: You will know if he is properly attached if his nose and chin touch the breast. And mother and baby being "tummy to tummy" is VERY important!

And if she has a wound that won't heal, she probably has thrush. I don't know what to do homeopathically for it. In the conventional world, one would apply nystatin oral solution to the areola/nipple. And treat the baby with the same medicine.

By the way, there is a way to make the bottle seem less appealing. Let me know if you want this info.

[This message has been edited by mamma3 (edited 25 June 2000).]

might sound funny but in many many islands around the world ie Papua New Guinea its common to see a toddler dangling from a nipple .....even while mother is walking along the street ,,,,,,,,bet she has nipples of steel ......its crazy that in our society nude bathing etc is OK yet discreetly breastfeeding a baby is not ......just who has got it wrong

WELL SAID!

Funny too, cuz living in the Middle East - I was able to breastfeed in public with NO PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER!!

Funny hey...cuz you'd think the Arabs would freak over anything exposed..but not boobs! They didn't even blink an eye! (NOT ONE!)

So many strange hangups in different societies...and I say to all breastfeeding Mums - GO FOR IT - and DON'T let anyone bully you - mentally or emotionally!

I once had a middle aged woman who was sitting with her husband (across from me and my 4month old) who was indignant at the sounds my child was making while breastfeeding - and she was covered with a little blanket to be discreet! (she was a voracious eater!!! )

This woman had the NERVE to tell me, "Why don't you take your baby in the toilet - and stop causing embarrassment to those around you." My reply?

Well, I smiled at her and said, "Would you eat your lunch in the toilet?"!!!!! Cow....and her own hangups!

Even ol' Ann Landers seems to have hangups about it....and if I see another article about it - I'm going to blast her with me reply!

Here Here...or is it Hear Hear!!!??

Lisa
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Mamma 3 , you've got my curiosity piqued,,do tell, the trick about the bottle....We don't have that problem with this baby, but you never know who i could pass it on to...

While nursing my first child, i had an "in your face, i dare you to say a thing to me " attitude, i hardly ever had to really use it...maybe my unspoken challenge preceded me.
With my second, We had a funny experience where a waitress saw me (from across the room) begin to nurse my infant and RAN over with a cloth napkin and covered me up "so i'd feel more private" (nothing was showing) We just laughed.
Why isn't it emmbarrasing to be feeding formula in a bottle to a newborn??? I am always mortified when i see that, though i try to be compassionate in my visible reaction.

While on the subject, does anyone have any tips on more effectively pumping milk w/ a breastpump??
I work about 10 to 15 hours a week and try to provide enough milk for one feeding while i am gone (i'm never gone longer that 4/5 hours) Now that shes almost 7 months old, she gets pretty hungry....i am only able to make about 2-4 ounces .
We have started to give her small amounts of goats milk, shes ok w/ that, but i'd rather it be breast milk.

Kelly

If you use a manual pump thats probably all you will get ......electric one might be better ....you can usually borrow these from Natural Childbirth/La Leche Groups

Of course you also need to remeber that rest is needed to produce a good supply of milk so maybe back at work you dont get enough rest ......Ist thing in morning should be best time .......maybe there is excess then