Transition from bottle to breast

[Joyce6275]

I had a premature baby at 29 weeks....His hospital stay was 2 months...we came home on Dec 29th on bottle, I've been pumping and putting it in bottle...Trying to get him to switch over to breast, but he's not wanting to accept it.  I don't want to give up, but at times it seems as if he's never going to nurse.   How long does it usually take to get them switched completely over to breast....He's 5 1/2 lbs now and has a very strong suck.  My pediatrician tells me he'll probably never nurse...just to start giving him formula if my supply diminishes. Does anyone have any advise?  


This discussion is related to micropreemie grandson.

[babypooh]

I agree with the above posts, but if for some reason, it doesn't work out, you can continue to pump your milk out every couple of hours and feed it to your baby in a bottle :) Good luck!

[ashiepooh]

I had to do this with my daughter and son, because in the hospital while in nicu they wanted to know how much they were drinking.  

If you express some milk by squeezing, and get him to latch on, and take some milk and drip it down your breast to get him to suck, he should start to do it.  It should only take a day or two.  But I do also know some ladies who pumped exclusively and fed their babies through bottle that way for an entire year!!  With their milk supply still staying strong!  =)  Good luck!

Also, Joy's advice is really great, a lactation specialist can help wonders

[JoyRenee]

Call your local La Leche League. Unfortunately your doctor might not know as much about breastfeeding so it's important to contact a lactation consultant (find one via La Leche League or through the hospital your birthed at). They also have support groups.

It's definitely possible. He's still very little but I think he'll be able to switch back over! It's just going to take time and consistency.