is it just as healthy?

So I had my baby boy on the 6th and I've been strictly breastfeeding, the first three days he was nursing but by the end of the first night my nipples were about to crack and now on day five I cry when he nurses it hurts so bad and I have been trying to alternate between pumping and nursing, my question is does feeding him from a bottle instead of nursing have a down side other than loss of that bonding:(

[logigirl]

Decreases your supply since pump can't get everything out.

[smashNsawyer]

So would that affect nursing if I did both?

[freya25]

Hello,

Breastfeeding shouldn't be painful-sometimes just sighty changing position can tremendously. Your other option is just before you feed pump for about 2 minutes that way baby won't have to suck as hard.
Then after feeding you could try warm wet tea bags-some find this soothing or a rather strange idea I know but after feeding try rubbing some breast milk over the nipples-contains vitamin e which is great for healing & moisture.

It may decrease your supply To pump but not hugely.

Give it a try-like I said bf should never be painful & I'm sad for you it's nt a great experience but I can be, I promise!
Maybe go see a breast-feeding advisor?
Hope this helps lovely & I have my fingers crossed for you x

[freya25]

I meant *help tremendously

[mature_enough]

Actaul breastfeeding does have extra benefits. It promotes proper jaw allignment and better speech development, but if you stictly pump it is still tremendously better than formula feeding.

Lift his tounge. Does he have a short frenulum?
Coax him into sticking it out. Is it heart shaped?
Is he taking in plenty of areola as well as nipple?
Is his chest facing yours and are his shoulders, hips, and ears all alligned?

[Cycl3Chick]

I had horrible cracked nipples when I first started bfing as well and used nipple shields most of the time for the first 6 weeks which helped tremendously. Medela makes the best ones from thin silicone.

[sencopeer]

I would work on fixing your latch.  As others have commented, breastfeeding should not be painful.  If you know for a fact that the baby doesn't have any problems such as tounge-tie, the problem is most likely your latch.  If you do not have a personal lactition consultant then I would suggest either contacting the hospital's LC or getting a hold of a peer helper at your local WIC.  You don't have to be on WIC to recieve advice from their breastfeeding assistants, they simply cannot issue you a breast pump.  Make sure you are expressing breastmilk and rubbing it on your nipple and ariola then letting them air dry after each feeding.  You can also purchase lanolin to apply to your nipple.  I would not suggest resorting to a nipple shield unless you have no other options.  They have been found to reduce milk supply due to decreased nipple stimulation, and they MAY cause more issues with your baby's latch after you begin weaning the baby off the shield.  

[mature_enough]

:)

[AndiJ78]

I always cracked during the first week or so, but mine were doing double duty on one nipple. Once my skin toughened up, it eased tremendously. However, beyond that initial toughening period, if you are still having pain your latch should be evaluated. It is always good to start off having it checked in the hospital and follow up frequently until you get the hang of it. My boys were voracious eaters, during that break-in period with each, I would be in tears by about day 4, but by day 7 it eased and then was gone. It was about 15-20 seconds of agony before it stopped but psyching myself up for that was tough even by the third baby. I just kept setting small goals; I can get through this day, I can get through this day, every day I said this to myself. I could look down and see that they were perfectly cozy, doing what nature intended them to do, and the memory of the pain faded.

[zazou]

I also had latching problems at first and wanted to use a nipple shield, my midwwife told me that should be a last resort. She did give me lanolin adn that helped ALOT, as I was in pain and tears as well. Try and see a lactation consultant / nurse and let her see how you latch your little one. But I do recommended Lansinoh, worked wonders on my nipples.

http://www.breastfeeding-mom.com/lanolin-cream.html