my baby wants bottle...refusing to nurse please help..

[iroliam]

Help....I wanted my baby to get used to the bottle and my milk production was low so I started feeding her formula along with bm. BIG MISTAKE I know...now she doesn't want to nurse at all. I've been pumping and she has bm and formula throughout the day and night but only from bottles. She was nursing at night no problem but now when I offer my breast she cries and arches her back, she will not nurse at all now. I'm so sad and I feel like I could kick myself.

I guess I just wanted to ensure a little freedom for myself because my first was breastfed exclusively for 20 months she wouldn't take the bottle or pacifer and I felt so chained down. My second was bf until he was 10 months, then switched to the bottle. My baby is only 5 1/2 months and I want to continue bf but I feel like it's too late 'cause she just refuses to nurse. Please help, someone, I don't know how to get her to nurse again.

[@llli*jmkca]

You could try sleep nursing- slip it in when she's still groggy and doesn't realize it. You could also try wearing a nipple shield- maybe she has become accustomed to the feel of the nipple on the bottle.
Make sure the bottle you are using has a nice slow flow so she doesn't get too much instant gratification.
Pumping until you get your letdown could give her an instant reward as well.

Good luck!

Janine

[@llli*Iryssa]

If you're using a faster flow nipple, I'd try switching to a newborn flow to get baby used to working harder for it. That's all I have to add...the PP has great advice.

[iroliam]

Thank you so much, I'll try all of the suggestions.

[@llli*jcdandfamily]

Here's some more info and lots of ideas. http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/...to-breast.html Lots of skin to skin contact is always good.