We are still in the hospital and my baby isn't latching well. The nurse suggested formula, but I want to breastfeed! What are my options?
There are a number of reasons why babies may have difficulty latching. It can take some time to learn how to breastfeed, but with patience, baby will learn to achieve a good, deep latch.
Why is my nurse suggesting formula?
Most people are in the hospital only 24-48 hours after delivery. Hospital staff need to pay attention to your baby's dirty diapers, feeding amounts, and weight. They want to make sure your baby is eating enough, so they might encourage pumping or formula. But the first few days are so important for getting a good start to breastfeeding. Share your desire to breastfeed with hospital staff and work together to come up with solutions that do not interfere with breastfeeding. Ask for a lactation consultant to assess breastfeeding too.
Keep Trying!
Continue offering the breast to your baby at least every 2-3 hours. This will help your baby get used to breastfeeding and get a strong milk supply started. Skin-to-skin contact and experimenting with breastfeeding positions will help! The "magic" nursing position can be especially helpful for babies who are having difficulty latching.
If Baby Will Not Latch:
If baby is not latching at all or is not staying latched long enough to get a good feeding, hand express your colostrum and consider offering it to baby using an alternative feeding method with the help of hospital staff. Often, tasting colostrum (which provides countless benefits to baby) encourages latching in future attempts.
Remember — you are the parent. Follow your intuition to make the right decision for you and your baby. Click here for more information on breastfeeding during your hospital stay.
SOURCE: https://www.msbfc.org/supplementing-just-one-bottle.html