Is it too late to breastfeed?

Question

my baby is 5 days old and my b*****s are now engorged.i have been bottle/formula feeding.i did not want to breastfeed at all,but now that we are home i feel that mabey he and i are both missing out on something special.how long do i have to change my mind before it is too late?also i am a smoker and if i do decide to try i will be quitting but will the smoking up til now harm him if i try?

Answer 1

you should not smoke 48 to 72 hours before you want to breastfeed!! pump the milk that you have now (but through it out because its no good if you have been smoking!) you will need to pump the "bad" milk out for at least 24 hours to get "clean" milk. its not to late and if your baby doesnt take to the breast then bottle feed him!!

Answer 2

Give it a try. It can't hurt him, and it may work. Do it now because your b*****s will quickly give up on making milk if it isn't used. If he can't latch on, then express as much milk as you can and give it to him instead of formula (as well as, if there isn't enough) and then next time he is hungry try to breastfeed him instead. Did you get any advice on how to latch him on? If not, call your midwife or doctor (or just your mum, if she breastfed you) and get some advice now.

I agree, you might be missing out on something special. Breastfeeding can be tough - but when it works it is the best feeling in the world.

Answer 3

it is not too late. for help i would contact a lactation consultant from the hospital or a local LLL member or group

Answer 4

i would go ahead and try to breastfeed your baby.. if you dont.. you may regret it.  if your engorged..it means your stil producing milk... if you wait much longer.. you may loose it.. its a use or loose kind of production.  i would do it... what happpens if your milks gone and then you wish you could try..dooo it.. and if you dont like it.... stop.  no regrets..ya know?!  

Answer 5

From what i understand there is no research showing negative effects on babies from smoking but the last I checked was about 5 years ago. You can still breast feed but it will be a lot easier if you get some help. Maybe call a friend or family member that has and ask for help or go to a lactation consultant which is usually covered by insurance. It's hard work breastfeeding sp be prepared and if you think that you might give up try harder. You can do it if you really want it. Good luck

Answer 6

Your Answer:

Walk away from your computer and go nurse your baby ...right now. The sooner you start, the better.

If you were smoking while you were pregnant (which I assume you were if the baby is only 5 days old and you're calling yourself a smoker) Breastmilk with minute traces of nicotine is STILL better than formula.

Go, now, and nurse your baby. You won't regret it.

Here's a link to another post with lots of good information for you if you DO decide to give it a try and stick with it.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?...

Good Luck!

Answer 7

No, you are fine.

You can also breastfeed as long as you smoke 60-90 minutes before feeding, and then smoke again right after feeding. It takes that long to get it out of your system, but it is still better than formula feeding.  

Answer 8

No..... it is not too late to breastfeed.  

First off....  good for you...... trying to breastfeed.  ITS not too late.  Especially if you are engorged.  

Breastfeeding is soooo much easier once you get the hang of it..... I loved it......  There was no bottles to clean..... it was free..... and when baby woke in the night to eat.... I could just bring him to my breast and fall back asleep while he nurse.  

Just start trying right away........  it will take a little work and a little time..... but your baby and you will get the hang of it.  you may even want to call your hospital and ask them if there is a lactation consult you could see.  They are miracle workers.  

As far as smoking...... the benefits of breastfeeding and smoking are still better then formula feeding.  

Just don't smoke before you breastfeed..... because the 30 minutes after smoking is when the nicotine will be the highest.  Make a habit of smoking right after you get done nursing.  

Answer 9

If you quit the smoking completely, the previous smoking should not affect the baby. as for being to late, if you still have milk in your b*****s it's not too late, but consult with a lactation expert to make sure baby is latching  on correctly.

Answer 10

No, it's not too late.  Definitely put your baby to the breast.  With a little luck he'll latch right on.  If he doesn't (and he may not after 5 days of bottles), keep trying, and get in touch with a   lactation consultant who can help you.

While it's best to not smoke while nursing (or at all), if you want to breastfeed, smoking is not a contraindication. (In fact, breastmilk will offer some protection against the risks associated with second hand smoke.  Breastfed babies are less likely to get respiratory infections, ear infections, asthma, and SIDS. )

Answer 11

Its not too late, and the smoking is not a problem.  Yes it is far better for you to quit for your own health and your babies -but it is safer to breastfeeding and smoke then to formula feed and smoke.

Some babies take weeks to learn to latch properly even if they never get a bottle, its not too late.

Breastfeeding and Cigarette Smoking: http://www.kellymom.com/health/lifestyle...

Relactation and Adoptive Breastfeeding: The Basics

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/relact...

Relactation or induced lactation (for those who did not give birth to their baby) is essentially a two-fold process:

   1. You will be teaching (or re-teaching) baby to nurse at the breast, and to equate nursing with comfort. If you're having problems getting baby to nurse, see Help -- My Baby Won't Nurse!

   2. At the same time you will be developing (or re-developing) a milk supply. Developing a milk supply requires nipple stimulation (via baby nursing, hand expression, pumping or a combination) and milk removal (once there is milk to remove). If your baby will nurse, regular and frequent nursing sessions (even if baby is just learning in the beginning) will be very helpful.

If your baby is 4 months old or younger it will generally be easier to relactate. It will also be easier if your milk supply was well established (frequent and effective nursing and/or pumping) during the first 4-6 weeks postpartum. However, moms with older babies, moms who did not establish a good milk supply in the beginning, and adoptive moms who have never breastfed can also get good results. Keep in mind that breastfeeding is not just about the milk. Your child will get numerous benefits from breastfeeding even if you do not have a full milk supply.

Help -- My Baby Won't Nurse!

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/baby...

http://www.normalfed.com/Help/babyget.ht...

"My Baby Just Doesn't Get It"

There are lots of reasons why a baby can't seem to get the hang of latching on and nursing well at first. While your baby learns how, you need to: 1) keep him fed, 2) keep your milk supply going, 3) keep in touch with breastfeeding specialists... and 4) keep the faith! Your baby will learn how. These babies did.

Answer 12

No it isnt.

I stopped when my baby was 3 months and started again after another 3 months and luckily she didnt get confused and just drank!!

BREAST IS BEST :)