bottle vs breast feeding

midwife2b · Mar 28, 2006

The best time is within the first hour of birth. Of course, baby must be stable and mom must be stable. We look for cues that the baby is ready. Often if the baby is skin to skin with mom sucking motions appear minutes after the birth and I've had some babies start nursing within 10 minutes of their arrival!

I'm not a fan of taking babies who are perfectly healthy to the newborn nursery. Might miss that first critical period where breastfeeding would turn out to be successful.

SmilingBluEyes · Mar 28, 2006

Like said above, within first hour of birth, if both you and baby are healthy.

SmilingBluEyes · Mar 28, 2006

Just curious, why did you title this breast versus bottlefeeding?

Jolie, BSN · Mar 28, 2006

As the others have stated, breastfeeding ASAP after delivery is ideal. However, there are times when nursing is unavoidably delayed, such as when mom or baby experience complications. It is not my experience that this interferes with meaningful bonding between mother and baby. Delays bonding, perhaps, but does not make it less strong or meaningful when mother's and baby's conditions permit together-ness, nursing, cuddling, etc.

epiphany · Mar 28, 2006

Slightly off topic, but I am of the opinion that once a baby is started on the bottle, it takes a very resilient mother to get it to take breast. Anyone seen a successful breastfeeding AFTER the introduction of bottles, I would love to know. I always encourage mothers to breastfeed in the hospital even if they want to supplement later.

SmilingBluEyes · Mar 28, 2006

I have seen it quite a few times....but this is clearly NOT the way to go! Often it was in moms who changed their minds and wanted to attempt breastfeeding. And it did work for many. But it takes alot of work and dedication----more than some have.

JeanettePNP, MSN, RN, NP · Mar 28, 2006

I have given birth 5 times, completely natural, last 2 at home, and I have never been able to nurse successfully in the first hour, no matter how hard I tried. The baby was always too sleepy to get a good latch. Later, when I had showered and he was bathed and we were both settled, it was much easier to get nursing started. I really wanted to see the grasp reflex where the baby climbs up the abdomen and finds his way to the breast but it flew out of my mind.

allnurses Guide · Mar 28, 2006

I have given birth 5 times, completely natural, last 2 at home, and I have never been able to nurse successfully in the first hour, no matter how hard I tried. The baby was always too sleepy to get a good latch. Later, when I had showered and he was bathed and we were both settled, it was much easier to get nursing started. I really wanted to see the grasp reflex where the baby climbs up the abdomen and finds his way to the breast but it flew out of my mind.

I had a cesarean with my 4th child and he went to the NICU for awhile - majorly mec stained kiddo - and I had NO problem bonding with the little guy or getting him on the breast. In fact, he stayed there for 3 1/2 years.

That said, it is a good idea to attempt nursing within the first hour, as has been said. Not all moms are the same - it can be a huge surprise to some that this baby they've just "birthed" takes a while to get used to.

steph

epiphany · Mar 28, 2006

I have seen it quite a few times....but this is clearly NOT the way to go! Often it was in moms who changed their minds and wanted to attempt breastfeeding. And it did work for many. But it takes alot of work and dedication----more than some have.

We have to check off the mom's preference so the nursery will know. When mom says both, they might as well just say bottle. We know the nursery is going to give them bottle, and that would be the end of that. I tried educating the mothers, but I feel they have so much against them - one mother was following my direction and doing fine with breastfeeding, but her mother came in and convinced her that baby wasn't getting enough milk. Both me and the mother are fighting an uphill battle. sigh.

allnurses Guide · Mar 28, 2006

We have to check off the mom's preference so the nursery will know. When mom says both, they might as well just say bottle. We know the nursery is going to give them bottle, and that would be the end of that. I tried educating the mothers, but I feel they have so much against them - one mother was following my direction and doing fine with breastfeeding, but her mother came in and convinced her that baby wasn't getting enough milk. Both me and the mother are fighting an uphill battle. sigh.

I hate when that happens.

It happens mostly with our hispanic moms - but I've found out that they go home and successfully breastfeed their babies - my sister-in-law works with the hispanic community and is married to a hispanic man. So I feel a bit better about that.

My youngest son had jaundice - this was only 4 years ago - the nurses gave him bottles of formula:uhoh3: . And sent me home with formula. Needless to say, he still breastfed well.

steph

epiphany · Mar 28, 2006

I hate when that happens.
It happens mostly with our hispanic moms - but I've found out that they go home and successfully breastfeed their babies - my sister-in-law works with the hispanic community and is married to a hispanic man. So I feel a bit better about that.
My youngest son had jaundice - this was only 4 years ago - the nurses gave him bottles of formula:uhoh3: . And sent me home with formula. Needless to say, he still breastfed well.
steph

Thanks Steph,

That's encouraging news.