Not able to continue orientation, feel terrible.

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I started general orientation for my new job on the telemetry floor today. It seems like a really good place to work, but I have a major issue: my 2.5 month old refuses to have anything to do with a bottle. Today went "okay" but he wouldn't eat. I was gone for 12 hrs. and so he went that long without drinking, my husband managed to get a few spoonfuls of applesauce in him but he can't just eat that all day. I am supposed to work mostly at night only the first few months I will be training five days a week all day. I feel like it would not be good for the baby's well-being to continue but I am scared to approach the NM over this.

Has anyone ever had a similar situation where they had to quit? I would like to think I would be able to try again when the baby is older but if I was to back out now would the NM be angry and would I be a no rehire at this hospital system? I know this would be a good opportunity to learn skills but I don't feel like it would be right to do it at the baby's expense. He just needs me too much right now.

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Specializes in ICU/PCU/Infusion.

hey mama, before you hang it up because of this issue, have you tried feeding the baby a bottle yourself? it might be good for YOU to feed the baby with a bottle to encourage its use. try the avent series. they most replicate the suckling of nursing. trust me, when the baby is hungry, he will eat! one night does not a habit make. ;)

again, i encourage you to try to get baby to adapt before you quit. i know how hard this must be for you and baby and husband, but i certainly wouldn't let one bad day deter you from your new position. lots and lots of new moms return to working fulltime when their babes are exactly your kiddo's age! you can do this! :)

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When he gets hungry enough, he'll eat. Trust me on this.

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The baby will eat EVENTUALLY. This is a new thing and the baby is rebelling. I would not suggest quitting a job. A baby will not starve itself. it will however let its caretaker know that they are not happy, but they will get the hang of the bottle. Not to be morbid but if you died that baby wouldn't have a choice, if you were hospitalized and had to be on a stron antibiotic (happened to me but I had already weaned) the baby wouldn't have a choice. Don't quite just because of this though. Well that is just my two cents. I know it pulls on your heart strings. Also a 2.5 month old needs formula or breast milk not applesauce. You can spoon feel or cup feed (1 ounce medicine cup or dropper) babies formula or breast milk as well.

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Specializes in Geriatrics/Family Practice.

Be patient with baby. He will eat. I remember when I went back to work I pumped breast milk for my son to be given in a bottle. Well he decided that in order to eat, mommy had to go and buy every type of nipple on the market to find the perfect one for him, even though when I supplemented I used only one type. After trial and error and lots of money spent, he found his perfect nipple and ate fine. Your little guy is going through just as big as an adjustment as you. If you really need to work for financial reasons, continue too. Call your pediatrician and see what advice he has to offer. As you know from being a nurse babies are not only stubborn, but very resiliant (sp). Ultimately your probably having a harder time adapting than he is. I wish you the best of luck and I know this is hard on you but hang in there as long as you can, and if it doesn't work than atleast you can say you and baby gave it your all.

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Specializes in NICU.

Can Dad bring baby to you to nurse once or twice during a shift? I don't know how far the commute is, but that's worked for me before.

It's hard when they only like the breast; some of mine have been that way, while others have have been happy with whatever swings by their open mouth :rolleyes:.

I'd keep trying with the bottle, though. Les is right; while a baby may be willing to hold out for a shift, eventually he's going to be hungry enough to be willing to try a bottle. Wear a blanket next to you (if some of your milk happens to get on it, so much the better) and have Dad put the unwashed blanket on his shirt-front when he feeds your little one. That way, at least the smell is the same.

Good luck, these little guys always have a way of throwing curves at you, don't they ;).

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Specializes in ER, Outpatient PACU and School Nursing.

keep trying the bottle- he will eat eventually not applesauce though. I went back to work after 8 weeks PP and my son wanted nothing to do with the bottle- we tried every type that was out there. avent was my choice with DD but with my son- he rebelled. so there were some rough nights in this house per dh. I would come home at 4am and put him right to my breast and after awhile of me working 3p-3a he finally took the bottle.. hang in there it will get better- dont quit your job though.. I was able to pump on my breaks at work also and that helped also..

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Specializes in NICU.

You know what else? One of mine only liked breast milk from the source, but our days were so chaotic (I had a lot of other little ones around) that sitting down to nurse every couple of hours was difficult. The baby found her own solution; she would nurse most of the night--easy enough for me to sleep through, LOL, then during the day just nurse a couple of times. My ped felt like she she should be sleeping, not nursing, through the night, but this worked well for both of us and she got plenty of milk. Your little guy may just stoke up on feedings when you're around and sleep for Dad.

I will say the AAP does not approve of co-sleeping and that's what I stick to when I'm talking to parents about baby safety, but for US, it worked well.

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i really hope you don't quit, and listen to the very sound advice you've received.

but why oh why, do i get this nagging feeling you're going to quit anyway?

this is an opportunity for you and your children.

you have a chance of providing something solid and gainful, something they deserve.

and if the situation between you and hubby is precarious at best, this will buy you some independence.

best of everything.

leslie

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Does your hospital have a lactation consultant? Perhaps they could give you advice.

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Specializes in geriatric, hospice, med/surg.

Oh, MotorcycleMama! If you're having a difficult period of readjusting to the strains of a hospital facility after giving birth not so long ago, please please please consider staying and give yourself the break you so terribly need to return to a profession that you love and that so badly needs you. I know you've got a whole heapin' helpin' of stuff on your plate as I am online nearly every day/night to either lurk or ask for help myself here, but oh, please, do yourself a huge "solid"...!

Take it one hour, one block of one shift, or one day, whichever of these periods of time that you can manage per gulp...and STAY at that new facility training you in telemetry nursing. It is another feather in your nurse's cap, another trick in your bag of nursing skills, etc. You may regret leaving so soon before you try every imaginable practical bit of these other wise nurse-mom's advice regarding the breastfeeding vs bottlefeeding program...and I have tried to breastfeed my own in decades gone by, always had to bottle feed them and always felt bittersweetly wrong about not being able to breastfeed! So, again, I can empathize, and totally get it about your not wanting little one as well as your husband, to be going thru the trials and tribulations at home while you're at work. But, oh well. He's got to buck up and ride this rough ride with you and lit'l one. The dear fathers of our worlds should be more than willing to wade thru difficult times with babes at home while we're off making the bacon money!

Stay. Be strong. Continue to be stronger still.

And....good luck!

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I just want to know if it will make me look really bad to the NM and if she wouldn't take me back later when he is older?

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