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When Breastfeeding Doesn't Come Easy
Tips for Sticking With It
By Melinda Copp
Just because you can't get your baby latched on to nurse doesn't mean formula is your only other option. "If we've told you that breastfeeding is the best food for your baby and that it's superior to formula, then what about all those women who can't get their baby latched on?" says Holland. "Do they have to feed their babies substandard food?" If medical professionals are going to sell breastfeeding to American culture, then there has to be another way to achieve success than putting baby to breast.
"So much of the literature written about breastfeeding says that it can only be done one way," says Holland. "But there are many ways to achieve breastfeeding success." What's most important is that you and your baby find a way that works for you, and that may mean pumping for an extended period of time.
Pumping and feeding the expressed milk from a bottle is breastfeeding success if it works for you and your baby. With the right pump, you can realistically keep this up for an extended period of time. If you can't get your baby latched on for whatever reason, that doesn't necessarily mean that you can't feed your baby breast milk.
If you do end up bottle-feeding your baby, you can still use it as an opportunity to bond. Hold your baby close, and use skin-to-skin contact. Make eye contact and groom your baby. "All those things are important about breastfeeding, not just the breast milk," says Holland.
If breastfeeding your baby is important to you, then chances are you'll be able to make it work. "A highly motivated mother will overcome all obstacles," says Spangler. Just stick with it, and realize that any amount of breast milk for any amount of time puts your baby at an advantage.
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