Is there any way I can put my 2 month old baby back to my breast?

Question

I've breastfed my baby during his first days but he jaundiced and he spend a weekend in the hospital where he was fed with formula. After that he didn't want to latch on my breast again. I've been pumping since then. Is there any way I can put him back to my breast now that he is 2 months old?

Answer 1

You can try, since he hasn't had the breast in a little bit it may take some getting used to again.  

Answer 2

Absolutely:

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

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.  

http://www.kellymom.com/newman/13still_m...

. b*****s also change in the first few weeks, and as long as the mother maintains a good milk supply, the baby will usually latch on by 8 weeks of age no matter what, but get help and the baby may latch on before

http://www.llli.org/llleaderweb/LV/LVFeb...

Sometimes, Patience Pays Off

Several years ago, I received a call from a new mother with triplets. The babies had been born prematurely; two had been home with her for two weeks and the third had just come home.

One baby was nursing well, another baby was nursing fairly well, and the third baby, Brian, the smallest and weakest, would not take the breast at all.

The mother was very happy about having triplets and that they were all well. She was very relaxed and was pumping in addition to breastfeeding and making sure that baby Brian would at least get some of her milk each day. When I assessed her situation, many of the tips I would have suggested to a mother of a singleton did not seem feasible with having three babies to care for. It became apparent that baby Brian was not going to be taking the breast any time soon. I told her how wonderful it was that she was providing her milk for all of her babies. Privately I thought that she was doing more than most women would even attempt.

I remarked that she shouldn't give up on baby Brian, but try putting him to the breast once each day. Perhaps baby Brian would grow strong enough or perhaps his mouth would grow big enough so that he would be able to handle actually taking the breast. I remarked that she'd have nothing to lose and who knows, some day he just might decide that he was ready.

Imagine my surprise when about five months later, I received a call from the triplet mother saying that she had been continuing to pump and breastfeed and spending a few minutes each day allowing Brian to fool around at one breast while she was pumping on the other. Excitedly she told me, "Today he just took the breast and nursed as if he'd known how to all along." His gestational age was just over three months and he finally figured it out. This was such a wonderful story and I was so happy to get that call - it made my week.

Answer 3

Yes I did when my baby was 9 weeks old (but I breastfeed for the first 6 weeks so nipple confusion wasn't an issue). However, you have one over me - I did not have one drop of breastmilk when I started pumping

I kept reading Mystics (she's answered your question above) responses and I kept reminding myself lactation consultants can help adoptive mums breastfeed - add her to your contacts and read all the links she gives mums

You don't have a milk problem which is great and you have motivation to have kept pumping so long - whoa - you're amazing.

Start by offering the breast half way through a bottle so baby starts to suckle without being too hungry. You cannot go cold turkey or baby will starve - he needs time to learn how to suck from the breast again (which is much harder than the bottle).

You can do it - I did!!!

Answer 4

Yes, definitely.

Just put him up to your breast, and nurse nurse nurse!!

I would also quit using bottles, and take a "nursing vacation" and just strictly nurse to get him back into the swing of things.

I would maybe consult the help from LLL or a lactation consultant if you run into any problems.

Answer 5

yes you can do it. I know someone who has and successfully fed for the first year. You will need to be extremely patient and very stubborn about it and you will have to see a lactation consultant. They can help you better than you can help your self. But it will be tough. But you can do it. Kudos to you.

Answer 6

Like the others said, it is possible.  Another tool that may help is a nipple shield.  It is a silicone cover for your nips that may help your little one get reacquainted with the idea of nursing.  It will feel a bit like a bottle nipple.  Going from bottle to nipple will be different for your baby so anything to help ease the transition is great!  Good luck!  

Answer 7

Yes, you can.  Daytime you can try bottle milk and night time breast feeding.  It will work you have to patience.

Answer 8

Yes!

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/adopt/index.h...

You might want to consider getting a supplimental nurser to get him back to the breast if he has developed a bottle nipple preference.

http://medelabreastfeedingus.com/product...