Hi Everyone,
New here. My baby boy is 6 days old today. He was delivered three weeks early and is small (5.1 lbs) but healthy. In an effort to keep him eating and gaining weight, I am pumping my breast milk and bottle-feeding it to him, supplementing breast feeding. At the hospital, when nurses or lactation consultants helped me, he breastfed beautifully, but at home now, it's tough. He seems to get really frustrated. He flails with his hands, his head can't seem to get comfortable, and he doesn't get the right amount of nipple/areola into his mouth for a good latch. He does better sometimes, and other times he gets into a screaming and crying frenzy. He just seems super uncomfortable and frustrated...I try various positions. We do lots of skin to skin. I own the "womanly art of breastfeeding" book and have read all about latching. I stay calm and try to gently guide him without forcing ... but its not getting better. My pediatrician says I need to keep at it, make him "work" for the milk at the breast, as bottles are "easier" ... and I know this. But I have used bottles only because he is so small and I want him to grow. I'm afraid I've spoiled him ... I am going to a breastfeeding group next week, but between now and then, any advice would be so appreciated ... Thanks so much ...