bottle vs breast feeding

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

Is there a weaker bond between mother and infant, if the mother had an episiotomy or if the infant was premature and what role do nurses have in the maternal-infant bond?

Specializes in Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy.

My firstborn was given formula in the nursery. The nurse woke me in middle of the night to tell me he had not yet had a bm and he needed to eat. I was too groggy to refuse. He drank almost a full bottle of formula and then barfed it all up.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Practice Nursing, Postnatal Nursing.

We do things a bit differently here - we've been accredited with the BFHI (Baby Friendly Hospital Inititative). Babes are skin-to-skinned at birth, fed within first hour (not many that dont) and then 'room in' 24/7.

There is no nursery! Even in our bigger hospital, post caesar, they are put to breast in recovery room. (unless of course the babe or mum aren't up to it)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Practice Nursing, Postnatal Nursing.

oh yeah and no formula is ever given without informed signed consent for 'medical' reasons. If mum wants to AF then she brings her own formula and bottles.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
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.

I did it. Long story, but I started DD on a bottle but after 1 1/2 weeks switched to breastfeeding. Still had milk so that wasn't a problem. I introduced her gradually and after the first full day she had no problems.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
We do things a bit differently here - we've been accredited with the BFHI (Baby Friendly Hospital Inititative). Babes are skin-to-skinned at birth, fed within first hour (not many that dont) and then 'room in' 24/7.

There is no nursery! Even in our bigger hospital, post caesar, they are put to breast in recovery room. (unless of course the babe or mum aren't up to it)

I am incredibility jealous of your hospital policy. All of my pts are on WIC, and they get all the Similac(a brand of formula) they want while they are there. I am not saying there's something dirty going on there, but...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I did it. Long story, but I started DD on a bottle but after 1 1/2 weeks switched to breastfeeding. Still had milk so that wasn't a problem. I introduced her gradually and after the first full day she had no problems.

Thank you for telling me. This gives me a lot of hope, and prevents me from giving up on teaching the mothers.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I did both for the first month. I had no problem with breastfeeding and then I pumped. After the first month I went back to school and my mom helped with the bottle feeding. I didn't pump as often as I should have and I dried up. I think you can do it if you just be sure to pump when you formula feed so you don't dry up.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
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.

Yes, I have seen this very often- which is why I don't accept the "theory" of nipple confusion. Flow preference, definitely I have seen that- and sometimes, some babies just get lazy, lol. My previous hospital serviced a large Indonesian population, and while many of the patients were well educated re: breastfeeding, a good proportion still mostly bottled in the hospital and went on to breastfeed successfully and exclusively at home (lactation followed up on all patients at 6 weeks or so). As I see often now, working in a city with a large Hispanic and mixed African & Asian refugee population- these ladies just shake their heads at the crazy nurses coming in to help them breastfeed, grab or point to their breasts and say "no milk!" :lol2: Most will actually breastfeed then bottle, understanding that putting the baby to breast helps the milk come in faster; once their milk is in, many will breastfeed exclusively until starting baby on solids. There are some cultures who feel colostrum is "dirty" though, and no amount of education prenatally or in the hospital will negate the effects of a lifetime of their grandmothers and aunties telling them so!

Some of my current coworkers have made disparaging statements about breastfeeding difficulties being a "whiny white woman"'s problem. But I feel there's much more to it. Our society, still struggles in places to accept breastfeeding, and 50 years ago bottle-feeding was considered superior. Many of the patients I care for who came to this country as refugees, or immigrated here for whatever reason- in the countries and cultures they left behind, breastfeeding was often necessary for survival- it was never a choice. The women who survived to bear children now in this country, were breastfed themselves, as was every generation before them. They grew up surrounded by their female relatives, all of whom breastfed. Babies were fed a variety of things in the first few days of life (the "no milk!" days)- goat's milk, tea, sugar water, I've heard of all kinds of things, but there was never a question of "if" baby was ever going to breastfeed well. They had too.

I think there are some genetic factors too here- I suspect there's a good bit of Darwinism, survival of the fittest kinds of things, coming into play

For example, one particular culture, 99% of the moms I cared for seem to have these huge nipples that even the sleepiest, fussiest babies can't miss. No flat nipples there. If it's genetic, maybe the gene was bred out long ago? I think between a history of having alternative feeding methods having been in place for so long among women of Euro descent- wet nurses waay back, homemade formulas then commercially made formulas and the social changes that have led to breastfeeding being in & out of fashion, that it's no wonder some women experience the problems they do. Some are social issues, some are biological. It's our job to help them clear whatever hurdles exist for them.

I've gone off on a big tangent and have almost missed my nap time...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy.

Interesting, Palesarah. I'm a pretty committed bf mom and grew up watching my mom bf'ing my younger siblings, but I still had difficulties with latch etc and I don't think it was all in my head.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think babies play a big role too. My first, my dd, was so easy to nurse, I thought people were nuts for having all those 'problems'. Enter child #2, my DS. He was just harder, i think he never really did latch on right, even though I bf'ed him for 12 months ( during which time I had mastitis three times ) I went almost entirely to formula around month 4, just b/c i was having so many probs and then back to exclusive BF ( honestly mostly b/c of guilt :) He never seemed to care, just wanted his dinner thankyouverymuch. Just my exp....Hoping #3 is another 'good' nurser!!

Jen

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.
I am incredibility jealous of your hospital policy. All of my pts are on WIC, and they get all the Similac(a brand of formula) they want while they are there. I am not saying there's something dirty going on there, but...

I thought woman could only get WIC if they breast feed....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Practice Nursing, Postnatal Nursing.

Hi, I'm from NZ, can you tell me what WIC is?? Thx

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment