Bottle-feeding really compromise Breastfeeding?

[crazyaaa]

To be honest,This is really something i never heard before i came here.

(Am i too stupid? )

But i was told by some senior that so long as Mums want to do BF,never suggest or

give bottles.It's all right for preterms,but i feel so weird to do tube feeding on a big termed baby who is screaming and sucking crazily when Mum is not present.

Anybody can give me some light about this?

[bookworm1]

Most nipples on bottles force the infant's mouth to work differently than compared to when they are breast feeding. New babies can develop "nipple confusion", but I don't see how it can happen within a day or two. Also, new moms can quickly stop making milk (colostrum) within a few days of giving birth if they aren't BF or pumping, but again, it usually takes several days, so one or two missed feedings shouldn't be that important.

Those are the only things I can think of. There is probably something else that I am missing.

[SteveNNP, MSN, NP]

Nipple confusion doesn't happen overnight. It requires several days of nipple feeds before it sometimes starts happening. Regardless of when mom can get there to breastfeed, she needs to pump regularly to maintain/increase milk supply. Usually once the kid gets put to breast it takes only a little coaching from Lactation/Speech consulting to get him going.

[Jolie, BSN]

Unfortunately, there are times when moms and babies are unavoidably separated, due to illness and/or transport, making it impossible for mom to breastfeed exclusively. Obviously, it becomes necessary to find alternative feeding methods. But in my opinion, it is NEVER appropriate to tube feed an otherwise healthy full-term infant who desires to suck. Some mothers will request this out of misguided fear of "nipple confusion", which is a very rare occurence. But to insert a feeding tube in a screaming infant is to introduce the unnecessary risk of aspiration, and to deny the infant his/her natural urge to suck for nutrition and comfort. Any mother who insists on tube feeding such a baby needs SERIOUS education.

[dawngloves, BSN, RN]

I've heard of it, but I've never seen it. We have several moms that bf when they visit and we bottle feed when they are not there. And think about the babies that go to day care when mom goes back to work. Do they have nipple confusion?

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

I don't believe it happens to every baby. Many many babies do great switching back & forth, but the party line at my hosp is to wait a couple weeks before offering a different nipple. The reality, however, is that many many many many babies get artificial nipples WAY before then and do fine. My own son included...I gave him a binky on day 2 and he never had an issue.

If a baby is having trouble getting a good latch, I am a little more cautious before offering a bottle. That's just me.

[2curlygirls]

Some BF'ing moms get very upset if you give babe a bottle.

FWIW, my first had no problem going back and forth. #2 would NOT take a bottle at all, which made going back to work interesting.

[tntrn, ASN, RN]

I think it's like global warming: another way for a group to get a lot of press, sell a lot of books and CREATE a problem that isn't really that big of a problem at all.

Most of our Hispanic patients breast AND bottle feed, right from the beginning. They don't seem to have any problems. As much as we are scolded and counseled about being culturally sensitive, the nipple confusion people would have us slap cultures far older than ours in the face and tell them they've been doing it wrong all this time? Give me a break!

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

I think it's like global warming: another way for a group to get a lot of press, sell a lot of books and CREATE a problem that isn't really that big of a problem at all.

Most of our Hispanic patients breast AND bottle feed, right from the beginning. They don't seem to have any problems. As much as we are scolded and counseled about being culturally sensitive, the nipple confusion people would have us slap cultures far older than ours in the face and tell them they've been doing it wrong all this time? Give me a break!

Well put.

I don't offer breast babies a bottle at all unless Mom requests it (well-baby), per our policy. Which I'm fine with. It's Mom's choice. But I think people get their knickers in a bunch over something that most babies don't have a problem with.

[cathys01]

I would have no problem at all with the idea of exclusively breastfeeding a baby **IF** mom is there around the clock for each and every feeding. If you want the baby to only have the breast then you better have the breast available when the baby needs it!!

[RNSC]

I would have no problem at all with the idea of exclusively breastfeeding a baby **IF** mom is there around the clock for each and every feeding. If you want the baby to only have the breast then you better have the breast available when the baby needs it!!

Amen & Amen

[sbic56, BSN, RN]

Global warming is real; nipple confusion is not!