Nursing Vacation

Going back to work? Gone back to work? Working through some painful nipples or other small breastfeeding issues?

During these times most moms have to introduce the bottle to their baby. As the days go on and either dad is feeding bottles daycare or even the babysitter, your baby starts to get really comfortable learning this new skill. Sometimes it inevitably feels like your baby no longer wants to nurse and would prefer the bottle.

It’s not uncommon for you little one to eat attached to this new way of feeding but it can become hard mentally and physically on mom as she tries and (feels like she) fails getting there babe ack to the breast.

If you feel like your’e suddenly in the trenches of breastfeeding because your baby has had to start bottle feeding, for any reason, you’re not alone. There are ways to fix this beyond the continuous and never ending battle of working to latch on to the breast during every feeding before giving in and pumping milk for a bottle. If you’re ready to get your baby back to the breast and you’re willing to do whatever it takes, a nursing vacation is just what you need.

What is a Nursing Vacation? This is special time you set aside to spend in bed with your baby doing nothing but resting, nursing and bonding .Preferably this is done skin to skin and you take a weekend or even just a few days in a row.

You May hear moms talking about taking a nursing vacation for many reasons such as boosting their milk supply, reconnection, relearning the cues of their baby and addressing breastfeeding issues. In the case of your baby now preferring the bottle this would be addressing a breastfeeding issue.

When you’re ready to take on a Nursing Vacation you need to be fully prepared to spend all day cuddled up to your baby in your bed sunuggling, sleeping and nursing as much as possible. If you’re having trouble getting your baby to latch, don’t be willing to give in to th bottle before you put in your best effort to rewatch. As long as our milk supply is still there, your baby CAN breastfeed still! If he/she isn’t willing to latch on their own, hand express some milk and let it sit on your nipple and encourage baby towards it, it might be what they need to understand that is still where their milk supply comes from. If that doesn’t work, sometimes hand expressing into a bowl until just before your letdown and then bringing baby to your breast can also help stimulate their suckle reflex enough to convince them to latch.

Not introducing a bottle or pacifier until absolutely necessary is very important to avoid nipple confusion and extend your breastfeeding journey. Although going back to work leaves you with no other option, giving yourself grace and being persistent with your nursing journey and allowing as much time for breastfeeding when you’re home with babe can help avoid many issues.

XOXO,

Chelyn McCain, Certifie Lactation Counselor