hi Dr
l m mother of a 2 month old baby girl. the problem with me is I used to breastfeed my baby directly but due to less production of the milk I started using the pump to express more milk. Now from the last few days I have noticed that my girl is unable to drink milk directly from my breast. I am unable to understand why this is happening ?

Question

Accepted Answer

Your baby might be experiencing what is called "nipple confusion." What happens with nipple confusion is that your baby might have gotten used to the bottle and then struggles with the switch back to the breast.

Breastfeeding and bottle feeding require different tongue and mouth movements. Getting milk from a bottle often requires less effort from the baby than breastfeeding, and as such, it might become a preference over the breast.

Don't fret, mama, as this is a common issue and there are several strategies you can use.

1. **Skin to skin contact**: Spend lots of skin-to-skin time with your baby. This can help your baby re-establish her natural feeding instincts.

2. **Positioning**: Make sure your baby is in a good breastfeeding position. Seek advice from a lactation consultant or nurse if necessary.

3. **Patience**: Try to be patient and relaxed during feedings. Start with the pumped milk from a bottle, then switch to breastfeeding when your baby is calm and not too hungry.

4. **Bottle technique**: If you continue to supplement, use a paced (slow) bottle feeding technique that mimics breastfeeding. This can help ease your baby's transition between bottle and breast.

5. **Lactation Consultant**: A lactation consultant can give you professional guidance and help address any issues you experience.

Remember, it's important to seek advice from professionals such as lactation consultants and pediatricians whenever you are concerned about your baby's feeding. They can provide further guidance and reassurance so you can overcome this hurdle.