Expert: ruth kraft - 4/9/2010

Question
Hello!
I will have my first baby in about 2 weeks and I am planning on breastfeeding her. I recently read about nipple confusion in newborns if they are being fed by breast and by bottle. It recommends that you feed the baby ONLY from your breast for the first 4-6 weeks, so it does not get nipple confusion. Supposedly bottles require a different sucking technique. I was just wondering how serious this actually is. My husband is very involved and can't wait to hold the little girl and feed her and he wants to help out a lot and take turns feeding at night. Of course that's not possible if I only give her my breast for the first month or so. I want to be able to pump some milk and let my husband feed her, but at the same time I don't want my baby to end up rejecting my breast for the bottles.
I heard that breastfeeding is very important for bonding, so I don't want this to be taken away from me.
What do you suggest?

Answer
I completely agree with what you have read. nipple confusion can be a HUGE issue that can take weeks to fix and for some babies it only takes one bottle to send the experience down hill :( So what I suggest, is that for that first 4 weeks, at least, Dad connect with the baby through many other ways. Cudding, eye contact, dancing, singing , swaying, taking her for walks, taking naps together, reading her books, changing her clothes and diapers, wearing her in a sling or back pack and holding her as much as possible. Breastfeeding is good for bonding because it requires that you HOLD the baby, see her eyes, get close and love all over her. Dad can do that even if he isnt nursing. Being PRESENT in her life and a part of it will help them bond. :) If after 4 weeks, nursing is going well, you can introduce a bottle or two a week, if its not been good for the whole 4 weeks then wait until 6 weeks.  

I hope that helped :)
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