You'll soon be going back to work. This means you'll be less at home and less available for your baby's feedings. But you don't have to stop breastfeeding. Your solution? A breast pump. In fact, you're already prepared. You've bought all the equipment: breast pump, feeding bottles and an adaptor ring to express your milk directly into the bottle. Problem: baby isn't ready and refuses the breast pump outright. Before you panic and rethink your plans, discover our 10 tips to help you change everything.
CONTENTS :
- 4 technical tips to make breast pumping easier
- 2 ways to keep baby busy and breastfeed better
- Mothers, 3 other levers to unlock the breast pump
- 1 bonus: cooking your breast milk
4 technical tips to make breast pumping easier
When breastfeeding is replaced by a bottle of breast milk, baby may not agree and refuse to drink from anything other than your breast. Even so, with patience, kindness and a little trickery, you'll gradually increase your chances of getting him to accept the breast pump.
Gently warm the expressed milk
Breast milk taken from the breast is at the same temperature as your body, i.e. around 36 degrees. So, to help your baby get used to breast pumping, warm up the milk you've pumped, or ask your baby's carer to do so. The easiest way to do this? A bottle warmer.
Offer a bottle of fresh breast milk
If you're new to breast pumping, you may not know it, but expressed breast milk that has been refrigerated or frozen can take on a different smell and taste, causing the pump to reject it. How can you tell if this is the problem? Offer baby a bottle of freshly expressed milk and see if it makes a difference.
Testing different nursing containers
Of course, switching from breast to bottle is a big change for your child. His refusal to use a breast pump may therefore be directly linked to a problem with the container. Whether it ' s a sippy cup, a bottle, a needle-free syringe, a spoon, a cup or a LAD (lactation aid), try different ways of getting your baby to drink.
Did you know? From birth, babies are able to lap up small quantities of milk offered in a cup. The "DAL", on the other hand, takes the form of a thin tube connected on one side to a bottle of breast milk and on the other to the nipple, so that baby can suck at the same time as the breast. This device is proposed in particular to induce lactation, in the event of milk shortage, or for premature babies who have difficulty suckling.
Trust the physiological and sensory bottle
Compared with breastfeeding, most bottles are stiff, smooth and cold. Unpleasant sensations to which your baby is not accustomed.
To counter this problem and for all breastfed, semi-breastfed, pumped or bottle-fed babies, Élhée has taken its inspiration from the mother's breast to develop its physiological bottle. Made from 100% healthy medical silicone, soft and supple like mom's breast, it also features a physiological teat equipped with an anti-colic valve.
Compatible with Medela and Avent breast pumps, as well aswith the same brand'sbottle warmers thanks to its two adapter rings, BibROND reproduces the sensations of breastfeeding as closely as possible for a smooth adaptation.
2 ways to keep baby busy and breastfeed better
If reheating frozen breast milk or offering freshly expressed milk doesn't help, try to draw your baby's attention away from his milk meal.
Breast pump in motion
As you've no doubt noticed, babies love to be carried, rocked and cuddled... In fact, when you're waiting, you may have the reflex of rocking slightly to keep your little one waiting. Soothing movement can also help with delicate breast-pulling. For example, try giving the bottle while walking or rocking back and forth, while you settle into the change.
Moving around alsooffers your childother points of view, and sometimes helps to focus his attention away from his meal.
Melodic breast pump
Reading aloud, listening to music, telling a story or simply talking to your baby can also help. Babies are very sensitive to soft, melodious sounds and musicality, which capture their attention and often soothe them in times of upset.
Once you've made the switch to the breast pump together, baby will also have to adapt to the person looking after him. So pass on all the tips you've tried (especially the ones that work) to your dad, nanny or grandparents, so that they feel less helpless in the face of your child and his bottle.
Mothers, 3 other levers to unlock the breast pump
When breast pumping gets really complicated, outside help can be salutary. That's normal. Taking a step back is often essential to understanding the situation as a parent.
Delegate meals temporarily
If your baby refuses the breast pump, it may be even more difficult for you, who have always breastfed him, to get him used to it. To ease the transition from breast > mixed feeding to exclusive breast pumping, delegate bottle-feeding as early as possible, so that you can differentiate between the different stages. Once you've installed the breast pump, you'll be able to resume feeding your baby.
Sharing your emotions with your child
Even when he's still small, your baby understands you. Facial expressions, the musicality of his voice and even his emotions: in his own way, he understands everything. If you're feeling overwhelmed by the situation, if you don't really know what trick to try, choose a quiet moment, when your child is receptive, and talk to him about your difficulties. It's not a magic trick, but it's always beneficial.
Open up to those around you too. Tell them about your difficulties in refusing to use a breast pump, about your fears and doubts about your choice. Your parents, partner or friends can give you support, ideas and a few moments' respite.
Letting go
Letting go is often the most difficult piece of advice to follow. Pressed for time and outside imperatives, you want to be sure that your child eats enough in your absence, and we understand. That's why we've developed physiological bottle-feeding to replace breast-feeding, for the benefit of all babies and their parents.
If your baby refuses the breast pump, one or other of our tips should eventually unblock the situation. You'll probably need a little time to find your own rhythm, and your baby's new way of working. Weaning a baby from breastfeeding is not something that can be done in a few days, and requires patience, understanding and gentleness. In any case, during this transition, try to let go of the amount of milk taken in or mealtimes. Simply look after your baby's well-being.
1 bonus: cooking your breast milk
Finally, if the breast-to-bottle transition coincides with the start of dietary diversification, or if your child is already diversified, try yoghurts, cakes or even pancakes prepared with breast milk. It's a great way to continue breast-feeding for a while.
By the way, for children who are eating or starting to eat like grown-ups, did you know that BibROND Élhée can also be used as a potty? And that the learning cup is just as healthy as the bottle for learning to drink water?
Les biberons Élhée accompagneront votre bébé de la naissance jusqu'à 24 mois et plus, pour lui permettre une parfaite autonomie, sans risque de casse.
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