Lactation Success Story #2: Bottle Preference
I recently worked with a mom in the hospital who let me know right off the bat that she wanted to avoid bottles at all costs in the first few weeks. This is a general recommendation that I offer to all my clients since introducing the bottle before breastfeeding is well established can lead to a bottle preference and issues latching at the breast. This mama was already well aware of this as she explained that her first child never latched after being offered a bottle in the hospital. She went on to exclusively pump and bottle feed for a year, which in itself is a major victory since she was able to meet 100% of her baby’s needs with her breast milk!
However, this mama had such a strong desire to experience the bonding and special connection that latching directly at the breast can bring. She told me it was something she thought about all the time when pregnant and was the thing she was most excited about when thinking about having a baby. She felt like she missed out on that experience the first time around, so it was something she deeply wanted to achieve this time.
The family left the hospital with their baby breastfeeding well and with a plan to breastfeed exclusively. This plan didn’t last long, though- mom called me a few days later in tears; she said that the baby had lost a lot of weight over the next couple of days, and the doctor recommended supplementing with bottles (which is a valid recommendation if weight loss reaches a concerning level). After just one night of offering bottles to her baby, he was refusing the breast and not latching, just like her first! Mom was devastated and desperate for help.
They came in to see me the next day, and together we worked on trying to get baby back to the breast. Since he was searching for the bottle's faster flow and instant gratification, he would become super fussy with our latching attempts. That’s when I used my favorite lactation trick- we used what is called an SNS (supplemental nursing system) to offer some of mom’s pumped milk through a little tube in the corner of baby’s mouth when he went to latch to the breast. This gave him the flow and gratification he was searching for and inspired him to feed from the breast. All he needed was a little ‘kickstart’ to motivate him to feed.
The supplemental nursing system is a great option for families that may need to supplement their baby with pumped milk, donor milk, or formula but want to avoid bottles in the early weeks so that a bottle preference doesn’t form. It’s a wonderful tool that helps to inspire breastfeeding while still getting the babies the extra nutrients they need. I encouraged the parents to continue using this method at home until their baby established a healthy weight gain pattern.
The next week they came to see me again, baby’s weight was on track, and best of all, he was exclusively breastfeeding! No more pumping or bottles! Mom was overjoyed. I love cases like these because they teach us that even if things seem to be derailed in the moment, with the right support and a few helpful hints, things can get back on track.
