Soothing baby question

[orangeglow]

Baby boy is 11 days old.  As of yesterday, he has decided he either needs a boob or a finger in his mouth to fall asleep.

We didn't want to rely on a paci.  And we were told not to use one until 3-4 weeks.  But... 

What do we do?  Stories, recommendations, anything.  I'm just tired and want to keep my baby happy.

[circa1978]

We used a paci but I didn't breast feed.

[orangeglow]

Dec 21, 2014 11:08:20 GMT -5 circa1978 said:

We used a paci but I didn't breast feed.

I am breastfeeding, and supplementing (he lost a bunch of weight at birth).  So he is using a couple different nipples (free sample bottles) and hasn't had any issues breastfeeding so far.

[hymen]

If you don't mind being a human pacifier, I would just stick with the boob. It's good for your supply anyway.

[orangeglow]

This whole being responsible for someone else is hard.  I don't want to make the wrong decision or screw up my child already!  I already hurt him trying trim a nail.  Ugh.

[hbear]

Dec 21, 2014 11:12:29 GMT -5 hymen said:

If you don't mind being a human pacifier, I would just stick with the boob. It's good for your supply anyway.

This is my theory, and what I do. It's temporary.

[circa1978]

If you are already giving him different nipples, I'd keep your sanity and get a paci. We liked the Avent Soothie.

[gretchenindisguise]

We use a paci. Did for both kids. They both had a strong need to suck for comfort and neither had any issue going back and forth between nipple, soothie and bottle. We started both on soothies in the hospital.

[CurlyQ284]

I was breastfeeding, supplementing with formula and using a paci. He had no problems switching.

[gretchenindisguise]

White noise has been our other savior with A. We both have apps on our phone and with the soothie it really helps calm him down.

[EmilieMadison]

Dec 21, 2014 11:12:29 GMT -5 hymen said:

If you don't mind being a human pacifier, I would just stick with the boob. It's good for your supply anyway.

Absolutely. There's no reason not to let him fall asleep while nursing or comfort nursing. And yes, it's very good for your supply. 

[ElizabethBennet]

I EBF D and she got a pacifier the first night in the hospital, and never had any issues switching between the two. Have him on the boob as much as you can, but when you need a break, a paci is fine.

Keep in mind it might take a couple of tries to get one he likes.

[jaycee]

I'd give him the pacifier.

Both of my boys had pacifiers in the hospital. I breastfed both of them a little past a year and neither had any problem going between the boob and pacifier. One of my boys decided he hated the paci at about 3 or 4 months and the other had to be forced off of it near his 3rd birthday.

You're doing a great job.

[orangeglow]

I am having to use a nipple shield currently.  I saw the LC's 3 times and although his latch is good, he rubs my nipples raw with his tongue.  I am missing skin at this point.  :-(

So I hate to leave him on forever.  

Sorry.  I am just kind of all over the place and trying to figure this all out.  I really appreciate all the advice!!

[jaycee]

Dec 21, 2014 11:28:49 GMT -5 orangeglow said:

I am having to use a nipple shield currently. 

I needed a nipple shield for about 3 months with my first and I was really shamed for using it from nurses and LCs that I saw.  It didn't have any negative impact on my supply and I don't think I would have been able to continue bf-ing without it.

[smock]

I EBF and used a paci from day 3. Our pedi actually encouraged us to use a paci because it strengthens the baby's jaw and there's evidence that paci use can decrease the risk of SIDS.

She loved the paci for the first three months, and has voluntarily stopped using it now at 6.5 mo, so you don't necessarily have to worry that your baby will be a paci addict for life.

[Jalapeñomel]

The NICU nurses gave my son a paci, and we've used it ever since. And he was was EBF.

[kellykapowski]

We used a paci and I breastfed both girls. Still breastfeeding dd2 actually. No issues with nipple confusion at all. But being a human paci does do wonders for your supply.

[mandymay]

Dec 21, 2014 11:14:42 GMT -5 orangeglow said:

 I already hurt him trying trim a nail.  Ugh.

I'm pretty sure this is a right of passage. I did it with my daughter too and was pretty traumatized. You should get the hang of it soon though!

We use a pacifier, breastfeed and bottle feed. My seven week old doesn't seem to have nipple confusion. I am sorry that you're having such a stressful time The swaddle has been amazing for us (and was for my daughter too). When he gets really irritable (like he did after his first shots) I swaddle him, put him on his side, rock him, pat his back and 'shh shh shh' him. I also sometimes give him a pacifier. It seems to help. Also, getting out and going for a walk calms him down and usually causes him to pass out.

[thebreakfastclub]

You had major surgery less than 2 weeks ago. Your rest and recovery are important too.

I never succeeded at BF so I can't speak to that, but the pacifier and swaddle were life savers. I liked mam pacifiers and halo swaddle sacks.

[robinsbff]

Give him a pacifier. We gave one on night two and he's had no problems switching between it, nursing and later a bottle. He just turned 5 months and is nursing while I type this.

[MrsAggie]

The no paci rule is BS. Pacis have been around for a long time and people have been successfully breastfeeding. In fact, I use pacifiers as tools to help babies coordinate and strengthen their suck.

[phdprocrastinator]

Dd is ebf but had several bottles in the hospital (10 lb baby was hungry and colostrum was not cutting it) and started pacifier on day 3. She gets pissed if I thy to give her the boob if she's not hungry (reflux issues). Our challenge is keeping it in her mouth.

[KaraOrNot]

Dec 21, 2014 13:05:02 GMT -5 MrsAggie said:

The no paci rule is BS. Pacis have been around for a long time and people have been successfully breastfeeding. In fact, I use pacifiers as tools to help babies coordinate and strengthen their suck.

Yep. The NICU gave Ollie a pacifier immediately and the speech therapist encouraged us to use one for a few minutes before eating, to get him ready for the sucking motion, as well as to improve/strengthen his suck. 

[cbwm1]

Swaddle him up tightly, stick a paci in his mouth, put him on his side in your arms so he's facing out, sway or swing back and forth, and either shush loudly, or download a white noise app for your phone and keep it near his head.

Those are basically the 5 Ss from Happiest Baby on the Block

[cville]

Pa.ci.fi.er.

Pacifier.

[flamingeaux]

Don't feel bad about using the nipple shield. I got frustrated because the edges kept flipping down, when he would latch, so I decided to wean off it. My lactation consultant suggested weaning off one feeding at a time. However, I found a different way easier for me. I would start each feeding with it, and then take it off at some point during the feeding, gradually increasing the time without it.

[orangeglow]

Thanks everyone! We have a soothie (well wubanub) that we gave him. Amazing. I really needed it. Well I guess he did, but me too!

[karinothing]

Dec 21, 2014 11:15:27 GMT -5 hbear said:

Dec 21, 2014 11:12:29 GMT -5 hymen said:

If you don't mind being a human pacifier, I would just stick with the boob. It's good for your supply anyway.

This is my theory, and what I do. It's temporary.

Ditto. Good for baby, good for milk supply.

[daisybuchannan]

Pacis can be such a sanity saver.

I've had to use a nipple shield w both kids, but I think it was more if a small baby/mouth and sleepy jaundice baby thing, not bc we used a paci.