Breastfeeding after Being Bottle-Fed?

by Rasha
(Cairo, Egypt)

Visitor Question: My baby is 6 weeks old I tried to breastfeed him but there wasn't enough milk so I gave him formula milk and pumped for him 60 ml every day. Is it to late to try breastfeed him now that he has got used to the bottle?

Breastfeeding Magazine Response:There are two things that you will need to do to be able to breastfeed your child:

• 1. Teach your baby to latch on and nurse from your breast again, and



• 2. Increase your breast milk supply.

Since you have been pumping, you do not need to re-establish your breast milk supply, but you will need to increase it to compensate for the formula that you give him each day.

The more difficult thing, however, will be to teach your baby to take the breast again. Some children learn quickly, while others will continue to refuse anything but the bottle that they are used to eating from.

Try offering your breast frequently and always BEFORE offering a bottle. Even offer "snacks" of breast milk from your breasts throughout the day to give many opportunities for you baby to 'practice.' This stimulation will also help signal your body to make more milk.

For more tips, visit our relactation page here.

Good luck!