Exclusively pumping breast milk

[takers]

Two thoughts. One: Maybe try using a shield when you're breastfeeding. It might trick your baby into thinking they're at the bottle and therefore don't need to get upset. Once you've got feeding from the breast down then work to feed without the shield. Two: See if there's a La Leche League meeting in your area. They're a GREAT source of advice.

[Sillara]

My second daughter was a preemie and in the NICU for a month. I pumped for her that entire time, too. For a while after her release from the hospital, she had to have special supplemental formula to help make up some of her vitamin deficiencies, so she had bottles and breast milk for another couple of months. It was hard, but we slogged through it, and by three months, when they finally let her stop taking supplemental vitamin formula, things had evened out. Hang in there! It shouldn't last too much longer.

[RedSoxWife]

Originally Posted by takers

Two thoughts. One: Maybe try using a shield when you're breastfeeding. It might trick your baby into thinking they're at the bottle and therefore don't need to get upset. Once you've got feeding from the breast down then work to feed without the shield. Two: See if there's a La Leche League meeting in your area. They're a GREAT source of advice.

This is what I was thinking. Maybe you could help her transition from a bottle to the breast with a nipple shield, since it's closer in shape to a bottle and then once she's gotten the hang of it for a few weeks start removing the shield and seeing how it goes.

I had to use a shield to get through a month and a half with DD1 because even though all the lactation consultants said her latch was great my nipples were mangled after a few weeks from nursing so constantly (in hindsight I think she had reflux, she'd nurse and spit up and want to nurse again instantly...). I know a lot of people don't like them but in some situations they can be a lifesaver.

[triumphguy]

Apologies ladies - man here again

The nipple shields worked great for my wife too. They helped her heal from the cracks, and they helped the babies suck too.

[Kelfa28]

Alright, thank you everyone for the suggestions. Look like I'm gonna try the nipple shields, they sound promising.

[GracedUpon]

A couple thoughts as to the reason your LO fusses at the breast may be, as other posters suggested, due to the fact that she doesn't want to work harder to get the milk out. If that's the case, then perhaps it would help to do breast compressions (basically use your hand to help squeeze the milk out faster) while she nurses.

Another possibility is that your letdown is stronger than she can comfortably handle, especially since you say your supply is very good. Is she sputtering when she pulls off, with milk spraying her in the face? If so, that is more likely your problem and a good way to work around that is to stimulate your nipple to letdown before placing the baby on the breast. Let the excess, forceful milk go into a burp cloth, or pump and store it for later.

Another tip I've read is to take the baby into the bath with you and try nursing there. It's supposed to help bring back the baby's instinct to latch and nurse, or something. I think it's more for babies who have trouble latching, but it wouldn't hurt to try.

Nipple shields have both pros and cons, so make sure to read up on them before using them.

Here are some more good links from a fabulous website:
http://kellymom.com/bf/concerns/child/back-to-breast/
http://kellymom.com/bf/concerns/chil...while-nursing/

This is the site that I first turn to when I have a breastfeeding-related issue. It's full of good info that's written by IBCLCs. Other good sites are Dr. Jack Newman and La Leche League.

You can do this!

[jawgee]

I had to use nipple shields for a few weeks when my oldest was first born. It helped him latch when otherwise he couldn't. Every time I nursed I tried to latch without the shield first. Within two weeks he was nursing exclusively without the shield.

Prayers for you!