Reintroducing Breastfeeding After Exclusively Pumping

Babies are naturally drawn to breastfeeding. However, if, for some unavoidable reasons, you were not able to breastfeed the baby and had to opt for bottle feeding, then reintroducing breastfeeding after exclusively pumping can be challenging.

Initially, it may seem impossible, but the baby will start latching on to the breast with consistent effort. With time, and sometimes with professional assistance from a lactation specialist, for example, the baby will start sucking the breast to get more milk. The more frequently the baby empties the breast, the more milk will be produced, and the better and easier the subsequent breastfeeding sessions will be.

Keep reading to find the most effective ways to reintroduce breastfeeding after bottle feeding.

3 Things to Consider Before Reintroducing Breastfeeding

Motherhood is an intimidating experience, and everything seems complicated and confusing initially. Breastfeeding is one of a new mother’s most laborious yet rewarding tasks. Especially when you have not breastfed your baby right from the start and are trying to reintroduce breastfeeding, your body and baby will need time to adjust to the new feeding system.

Here are a few tips to help you come back to breastfeeding after exclusively pumping.

• Be Patient: Reintroducing breastfeeding after exclusive pumping is an overwhelming experience, and mothers become impatient and lose their calm. Your baby will reflect your feelings and behavior; and will also behave in the same manner. Hence, making the whole practice counterproductive. Therefore, you must stay calm and patient.

The entire process may seem impossible and difficult initially, as babies take time to get used to latching on to the breast after being bottle-fed. However, give it some time, and you will see positive results.

• Increase Your Breast Milk: The most important phase of returning to breastfeeding is increasing the mother’s breast milk supply or relactation. You can increase your milk supply through pumping or hand expressing, and doing any of these methods at least 8 to 12 times a day for 20 to 30 minutes per sitting is essential.

Notably, only use a premium quality breast pump from reliable and trustworthy brands. Both of these methods are great for relaxation. However, when your baby sucks the milk from the empty breast, the milk supply comes in more quickly than pumping or hand expressing.

After following these relactation methods, if there is still not enough milk for the baby, then take advice from a lactation consultant. 

• Don’t Let Your Baby go hungry: When you try to breastfeed a hungry baby, the baby will associate the annoyance of hunger with the breast. Therefore, keep your baby well fed while practicing breastfeeding.

3 Reasons Why Baby is resisting Latching to Breast After Bottle Feeding

Before diving into the strategies you can follow to introduce breast milk to your baby, it is essential to understand why your baby prefers the bottle over the breast. Many mothers start worrying that there is some issue with their breast milk for baby’s resistance, whereas, in reality, any of the following can be the reason for the baby’s preference for the bottle.

• First, the first-ever method of sucking the milk for the baby was via bottle, and they got used to it. Transitioning from the set feeding method is annoying and frustrating for the babies. Therefore, they resist breast milk.
• Secondly, it is easier for the baby to suck the milk from the bottle than from the breast. The main reason behind this is the milk supply in the breast only increases after proper suction.
• Thirdly, the nipple used on the bottle was either wrong or unusually shaped, and when reintroduced to the breast milk, the nipple seemed unfamiliar.

11 Effective Ways to Reintroduce Breastfeeding

• Skin-to-Skin Contact

Babies have a natural craving for breastfeeding, and this pull gets stronger by letting them feel skin-to-skin contact with the breast. The fewer layers of clothing between the mother and the baby during breastfeeding, the better the nursing session will be. So, it is advisable to hold the baby on your naked breast and avoid putting pressure on the baby to latch on the breast. However, don’t panic if the baby does not latch at the first attempt of skin-to-skin contact. Give the baby some time to remember your skin touch.

• Wear a Sling

Try to make the baby’s contact with your breast as easy as possible. One of the simplest ways of giving easy access to your breast to the baby is through a sling. Sling improves skin-to-skin contact between you and the baby as well. Thus making the baby feel relaxed and in tune with your body’s natural rhythm.

You may also like: The Awesome benefits of babywearing

• Breast Compression

Breast compression during breastfeeding is one of the simplest and the most effective ways of increasing the milk flow. Squeezing your breast puts pressure on the milk glands, and they start releasing milk. The baby will actively suck the nipple during squeezing as he will get more milk supply.

• Avoid Using a Pacifier

Regardless of the pacifier’s premium quality or excellent shape, its suction and feel are nowhere near the breast. Babies who used to latch on the pacifier find it difficult to latch on the breast. Therefore, avoid using a pacifier when the baby is crying, or you need to soothe them. Instead, offer him comfort through skin-to-skin contact.

• Use Nipple Shields

The nipple shields are made with high-quality silicon soft and flexible silicon. These nipple shields are a slight hat-shaped covering for your nipple. The nipple shield has numerous tiny holes through which the baby sucks the breast milk. This nipple shield seems similar to bottle feeding in feel and taste, thus offering a great way of reintroducing breastfeeding after exclusive pumping. It is best to breastfeed the baby via a nipple shield when your breast is full, and the baby is half asleep. Squeeze your breast to give a handful of milk in the nipple shield for the baby to suck.

• Different Breastfeeding Positions

Reintroducing breastfeeding after pumping exclusively will take being flexible. You have to try different breastfeeding positions. Indeed, there are no rules to follow regarding the correct breastfeeding position. You learn new things every day by observing your baby’s reactions. In the beginning, try different breastfeeding positions to help the baby easily latch on your breast without much effort. It is preferable to relax your body as the baby will respond to your baby’s comfort level. The main goal is to let the baby self latch to the breast. For this purpose, sit in a reclining position or lay back with the baby on top.

• Create a Calm and Fun Environment

Make breastfeeding a calming and fun activity for both yourself and the baby. When the baby is a little older, you can try breastfeeding in different relaxing and unusual places. For instance, you can hold your baby to your breast while walking in the soothing natural environment of a garden. The surroundings will help you relax and reduce anxiety and tension. You can also bring your breast near him while the baby is playing and in a fun and relaxed mood.

Another way of improving the breastfeeding experience is by having a soothing bath with your baby in the dim lights. This bathing experience will help the baby become familiar with the body and associate calmness and tranquility with being latched with your breast.

• Nurse When Your Breasts Are Full

A full breast will guarantee an instant and plentiful milk supply to the baby with a bit of suction. Thus, the bay will instantly latch on the full breast without missing the bottle feeding. Typically, a full breast feels hard and difficult to latch on for the baby. So, try to meet in the middle and bring a slightly soft breast with enough milk to encourage the baby to start feeding.

• Sleepy Baby May Get a Good Latch

The best time to reintroduce breastfeeding is when your baby is not crazy hungry and is a little sleepy. Introduce skin-to-skin contact with a sleepy and calm baby, and they may latch during sleep. Keep holding the baby on your breast as it may start latching during sleep. This activity will also help the babies remember how their skin feels. 

• Switch Between Bottle and the Breast During the Nursing Session

Switch from the bottle to the breast while feeding your baby midway through the feeding session. Quickly replace the bottle teat from the baby’s mouth with your nipple without letting them notice the break. The baby will start sucking at the same pace, and may improve the milk supply. If the baby notices the difference of being in contact with the skin, gently rock them and tenderly push them to latch and start feeding.

• Be Around Other Breastfeeding Mothers

Try spending time with other nursing mothers to learn what works for them and does not. Share your breastfeeding experience and where you can improve. There are other moms who have gone through reintroducing breastfeeding after exclusively pumping too and it will help to speak with them about their experiences.

In Conclusion

That’s a wrap! We have gone through some of the simplest yet the most fruitful methods for reintroducing breastfeeding after exclusively pumping. Indeed, some of these methods may be more successful than others. It depends on your baby and what makes them comfortable to have a good latch on your breast. Give these methods a try; be patient, and you will observe improvement in your milk supply and better nursing sessions in no time.