Ask RN
Barbara Dehn, RN, MS, NP is an award-winning author and women's health nurse practitioner with over 20 years experience listening to and caring for women of all ages. She has helped countless new moms through their pregnancies and with breastfeeding. Barbara's years of experience helping her patients find the best way to feed and nurture their babies while taking care of themselves has given her an honest, practical, unbiased, and realistic approach that her patients value. Her decision to act as the health expert for Moms Feeding Freedom grew from her desire to support and encourage all women in all situations in a "Guilt Free Zone" of acceptance and understanding.
Barbara's most recent publication, Your Personal Guide to Breastfeeding, has proven techniques to help you get your baby latched on as well as helpful information and practical tips about the most common challenges moms and baby's face. This guide is jam packed with effective strategies for crying and colic, how to pump and store your milk and what to do for mastitis and plugged ducts. The Breastfeeding Guide has simple illustrations and helpful To Do lists that help mom and baby enjoy this magical time.
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Questions/Answers
Rachel
From Uk
Hi , I gave birth to my son 9 weeks ago and and have furmular fed him from birth but realy wanted to breast feed, is it to late to start the production of my breast milk? We are also contimplating emergrating to Oz an ime worried they won't have the same formular over there an I won't no were sells formular if I was to start expressing before we go I won't have the problem, I regret not giving my baby breast milk from birth so if I could express now I would be so happy! Hope you can help thanks
Hi Rachel, sorry for the delay in responding. After 9 weeks, it can be very difficult to initiate breastfeeding. If you want to start, then start pumping every 2-3 hours if possible. You may also want to see a lactation consultant to help. It takes at least 3 days for your body to respond to the demand of pumping and make milk. You probably will not be able to exclusively breastfeed, but you may be able to provide your baby with a little breast milk. Since he's 9 weeks old, you can try putting him on the breast, but he may only be interested in pumped milk in a bottle. Good luck and let me know how it goes.
soha
From UK
My son is 4 months old. Right from the birth is is breast fed along with some top-up with formula milk . Later after 1 month I could produce enough milk and he was breast fed during the whole day and was given 3 ottles in the night each 3 OZ as to make him sleep for a longer time i.e atleast 2 and half hrs bcoz he demands breast milk evry 1 1/2 hr otherwise. I continued the same pattern till he is 4 months and now that I've returned to work and could not manage to express my milk and store it .I have chosen to fees him with formula and give him breast milk after return from work. but gradually the milk supply has diminished and now I could only give him breast milk for just one or 2 feeds either in the evening or in the middle of the night. My qustion is does he really benefit from that 1 feed (1 or 2 oZ) and get required nutrition . Iam ready to feed him after i come back from work but i dont have enough milk for that I could i maintain that ? Is it possible for me to continue breast feeding atleast with some amount like this till he is 1 year. he easily accepts breast and the bottle.
Dear Soha,
Sorry for the delay in response. Yes, continue to breastfeed as long as he's interested. Even a little bit of breastmilk and time spent with you is beneficial. Many women are only able to breastfeed before and after work. Keep up the good work.
Desta Tushune
describe me about a Factors contributing to bootle feeding practice in your region in the age range 0-6 month?
There are many reasons why moms choose to bottle feed in the first 6 months. Some moms aren't able to produce enough milk, some are on medication, some must return to work to name just a few. What is your experience in your region like?
Gemma
From Texas
Hi Barbara,
I have inverted nipples and while my daughter latches on to the breast she does not have success at getting a lot of milk out. I have seen a lactation consultant who says her latch is correct but I am concerned as my nipples appear lipstick shaped sometimes when she comes off. I know she is not getting a lot (maybe 1oz per feed) as we weigh her before and after. I have been feeding her mainly expressed breast milk for the past 10 weeks and occasionally supplementing with formula. For the past 3 days she has not been eating well, we have been feeding her when she is very sleepy to make sure we get at least 20oz into her. I have also come off the 3 hour schedule we were on and am feeding her as soon as she appears hungry. She now seems to take formula better than breast milk. I think it may be the warm temperature that we give the formula to her. I have tried to warm the breast milk using the warm water from the tap but she still pushes the bottle away after a couple of sucks. Any advice on how to get her to take more breast milk? She was taking 4oz per feeding and now it is more like 1.5oz.
Thanks
Hi Gemma,
You didn't say how old your baby is. I would continue to try putting her to the breast and ask your lactation consultant for a nipple shield to make it easier for you baby to latch on. I would also continue to pump as much as possible, and use Fenugreek to help increase your supply. You may have to pump more frequently and for longer each pump session, then you can add that extra breastmilk to the formula so that she gets more breastmilk.
It takes at least 3 days for the breasts to respond to the stimulation of pumping and produce milk. If she prefers formula then mix breastmilk into the formula so that she gets used to the taste. Good luck,
mwale
From GP
what feeding options newly born babies are available to HIV postive mothers and types of supplements for their babies
The best advice I can give you is to talk to your pediatrician. It depends on where you live. If a woman is HIV positive and lives in a developed country where there is access to safe infant formulas, then the recommendation is to use formula to decrease the chance of transmitting the virus to her baby through breast milk. When women live in places where the incidence of diarrheal diseases is high, then the mother must weigh the risk of transmitting HIV to her baby with the reality of trying to obtain infant formula and mix it with water that could possibly be contaminated. Good luck and I hope this helps.
Danielle | Q. about pumping breast milk, baby formula when on trips
From utah
I am going on vacation for 5 days and have not been able to pump as much breast milk as i would have liked. My baby is 5 weeks old and has had little formula but has been primarily breast fed. Is it ok to give her more formula for these five days when we will be on the road a lot and really busy?
Hi, sorry for the delay in responding. It's ok to give your baby more formula if you don't have as much breast milk pumped and then when you return from vacation, increase the number of feedings at the breast and times that you pump. Good luck.
Tamaro McLean-Domanski | Q. re: from breastfeeding to cereal
From NC
My daughter will be turning 4 months and the 26th of May. The daycare provider said that its time for her to be introduced to cereal. This is my first child and I want whats best for her. With me breastfeeding her I was wondering why I need to start her on cereal? She is a very good eater and has been since birth ( she drinking about 5 to 6oz every three hours). I want to continue breastfeeding until shes 18months. So when is a good time to introduce her to cereal or rice?
Hi Tamaro, I'm so glad you asked. I think the best person to give advice about when to start solids is your pediatrician, not the day care provider. I would call them and see what they advise. In general, many babies don't start cereal until 6 months, Let me know what your pediatrician advises. good luck.
Espe Cano | Q. re: producing breastmilk
From arizona
i had my son 1 and a half months ago and i have been bottle feeding him but i want to start breastfeeding him. will my body still produce breastmilk after a month and a half? and if so what can i do?
Hi, Since your baby is about 6 weeks old, you can absolutely try to breast feed him. I'd recommend that you put him to the breast when he is just starting to get hungry, but not ravenous. You might also try putting him to the breast at the end of bottle feedings. You'll also want to buy or rent a breast pump so that you can work on getting your milk supply to increase. I'd also advise you to find a lactation consultant to help you. Check out www.ilca.org. Good Luck,.
Jennifer Soder | Concern for baby's nutrition
From Iowa
am friends with a young Amish woman who has had her first babies.Twins.Not gaining weight and girl cries continually. Breast milk seems abundant for both. Mother mentioned that little girl seems to have a distended belly now. I wasn't offered a chance to see this. Am wondering if malnutrition could be the problem? Babies are approx. 3 months old now.
Hi Jennifer, you're right to be concerned. I would advise the young mother to talk to her health care provider and get the babies weighed. It could just be colic that's causing the continuous crying, but the poor weight gain does need to be evaluated. I'm not sure what the customs are for the Amish in Iowa, but please do share your concerns and encourage the mother to seek medical care. Good luck, and let me know what happens.
Noah | Q. about when breast milk "comes in"
From ghana
my baby is 3 days old, but the mother don't have breast milk can i feed him with formula
Most moms find that their milk doesn't "come in" until day 4-5. I would suggest that you continue to put the baby to the breast every 2 1/2 to 3 hours around the clock. If the baby is making wet diapers (5-7) day, then they are getting nourishment. If there aren't wet diapers, then by all means supplement with properly prepared formula and talk to your baby's doctor or midwife.