Overcoming jaundice, nipple confusion and other interruptions in early breastfeeding relationships

My son had jaundice and the nursery gave him formula from a bottle without ever even telling us.  Breastfeeding had started out great, and then after a few days he just refused to breastfeed at all.  I had no idea why until we figured out what had happened.  I tried everything, but he never wanted to latch on after that, so I pumped for several months.  I think hospitals need to work with moms on this rather than make decisions without their input.  I deserved more help.

Katherine Stone Postpartum Progress http://postpartumprogress.typepad.com ( http://postpartumprogress.typepad.com/ )

I gave birth to my beautiful daughter 5 weeks ago, and except for some latch problems when my milk first came in, she is doing great!  I did have an issue with the pediatrician when we went in for a visit the day after coming home from the hospital.  She showed signs of being hungry when we were at the office, so with out really asking he automatically when and got a small bottle of formula- like you get at the hospital- and gave her some. As a first time mom- I kind of just stood there and went along with it since he is the doctor and knows best- even though my gut told me otherwise.   He told me to nurse her for 15 minutes and then offer the formula.  I took a breastfeeding class while pregnant and knew that this was not a good idea.  Most babies will take a bottle after nursing if offered to them for this reason: they suck for comfort and bottle unlike breast will give then formula which they end up spitting up.  I did not end up giving her the formula at all and at our 2wk appointment she had gained back her birth weight and an additonal 12ozs.  The pediatrician did not mention the formula, but did mentioned what a great job I was doing exclusively breastfeeding. 

I understand why some doctors like FF babies, you know exactly how much they are eating at each feeding and can ensure they are getting enough and growing.  The problem though is that this decision should be left up to the parents, not the doctor.  Unless the baby is showing signs of dehydration or so forth, breastfeeding should be continued if the parents want to.  I will still continue to go the same ped because he is such a great doctor, but I know with my next baby , or if it happens again with this one, to assert myself and tell him "no thanks" if he tries to offer formula. 

I think knowledge is the key- the more as moms we know about breastfeeding the better equiped we are to address situations like this and the ones you mentioned.

~The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams- Eleanor Roosevelt~

I had the same experience and my DH had to give my son what amounted to 2 ounces of formula.  I HATED it and to this day feel upset when I think about it.  It was a slap in the face and felt as if I wasn't good enough for my son.  If I had to do it all over again, I would assert myself and pump and have my DH give him my milk as a supplement.  I don't get how advanced medicine is in a lot of areas but not in breast feeding support.  It's ridiculous  a national disgrace, really.

I know so many people with similar situations and no one thinks to start getting these mothers pumping or to use alternative feeding techniques, like cup or spoon feeding, which helps them adjust to breastfeeding.  With more nurses receiving breastfeeding education, I hope this culture changes.  Moms need options and offering their baby expressed breast milk and feeding at the breast with a supplementer should be the #1 options.  Great job!  Anyway, colustrum will get things moving out from their system faster than formula.

However, as some posters mentions, we still need to be aware that bilirubin can be very dangerous, especially as it spreads down their body and can lean to kernicterus, so treatment is necessary (so long as its not "breastfeeding jaundice") 

Debra

www.BeyondPrenatals.com ( http://www.BeyondPrenatals.com )

while most cases of jaundice in the first few days of life is newborn or breastfeeding  jaundice, you should always see your doctor if your newborn's jaundice continues past a week. especially if it is accompanied by loose, pale coloured stools, dark urine or slow growth. there are a number of pediatric liver diseases for which jaundice is the first symptom. my son has one of them. one of the most common diseases needs to be diagnosed early to take advantage of a procedure that can correct it.

so, yes, continue to breastfeed. but see your doctor too. jaundice is NOT normal. it is a sign of the liver not working properly.

So glad your Ped encouraged you to breastfeed on demand. From what I understand, as long as the mom's milk has come in and the baby is producing an adequate number of pee/poop diapers,there should be no need for formula supplementation.

I'm right there with you. Nipple confusion is the last thing postpartum moms need to deal with. 

Amy
Crunchy Domestic Goddess ( http://crunchydomesticgoddess.com )
BlogHers Act contributing editor ( http://www.blogher.com/special-events/bloghers-act )

We all do the best we can with the information we have at the time. I think it's great that you were able to educate yourself and get a better start with your second son. And I admire you for volunteering at WIC offic. What a wonderful service you are providing to the community. :)

Amy
Crunchy Domestic Goddess ( http://crunchydomesticgoddess.com )
BlogHers Act contributing editor ( http://www.blogher.com/special-events/bloghers-act )

My son was born eight years ago and had jaundice that required time in the lighted bilibed. Never did my doctor suggest that he be supplemented with formula and I am forever grateful for that. The pediatrician just told me to continue to breastfeed on demand. There's enough worry about the jaundice, especially with a first-born, to introduce worries about nipple confusion. Hopefully this trend will continue.

My son did have trouble at first at daycare with taking breastmilk from a bottle, but eventually he was fine.

Angela at mommy bytes ( http://www.mommybytes.com )

20 years ago, I gave birth to my firstborn son. I had a difficult labor, we had Rh incompatibility, I had gestational diabetes, yet was determined to give birth to him in the most natural environment possible.    We hired the services of the local birth center with the knowledge that if anything went wrong during the birth process, we would be transferred to the closest hospital.

Well, things did start to go downhill when my water broke and was in labor for days with no resolution.  Finally, after a very long and difficult labor, my son was born.  He was immediately tested for blood sugar, among other things.  Soon after that, I was told to feed him a bottle of sugar water to get his blood sugar up, which of course, I did, as I trusted my midwife.  My son was yellow, but my midwife assured me that all would be fine in a few days.  She told me to let him sleep next to a window in the sunlight, which we complied with.  A few days passed and we received literally NO help from any member of the birth center.  My son wasn't latching on correctly, but I didn't know what breastfeeding should or shouldn't feel like.  I didn't know what was normal.  When my midwife came by to check on us a few days later, she noticed that he was still yellow and told me to call our pediatrician right away.  I brought him in and he was immediately admitted to the hospital.  My son had sky-high bilirubin levels plus dehydration. 

He spent the next 2 days under the lights.  My pediatrician told me to start feeding him formula and my milk, which never seemed to amount to anything anyway, eventually dried up. 

I was happy that my son was discharged from the hospital healthy and somewhat relieved that I was now bottle feeding him,thereby eliminating any further problems.  I realized later on that my son and I were let down by so many different people who just didn't care about the breastfeeding relationship. 

4 years later, when son #2 came along, I was better educated.  I gave birth in a hospital with a midwife.  After he was born, a lactation consultant came to see us to show me how to acheive the all-important latching on.  I was also given helpful hints when I went to several LLL meetings.  He nursed well for 2 years. 

I decided to dedicate myself to helping other women and took some classes so that I could volunteer at our local WIC office to help low-income women succeed with breastfeeding.

I would not argue with the pediatrician or hospital's decision to admit my son to use the bilirubin lights.  My son might not be alive today had it not been for his hospital stay.  However, I would definitely encourage other mothers to start pumping if they find themselves in a similar situation.