only wants bottles, won't nurse

[christina_bc]

I have a 2 week old baby who is happy to drink bottles of pumped breast milk but will not nurse from me. She was never great at latching on but would nurse successfully at least once a day. Now she won't at all, either crying, staring at me, or falling asleep. Am so frustrated by t5his whole 'nipple confusion' that some say exists and some say does not. Either way, I can't change the past two weeks. I would love if she would nurse at least once a day . . . help!

[annieversteeg]

OK.... she is ONLY 2 weeks. Give her some more time. The term 'nipple confusion' is all about the baby recognizing food sources. Right now your baby thinks the only place her milk comes from is a hard nipple, she has no clue what to do with a nice soft fleshy nipple... but she WILL! The best time to offer her the breast is AFTER she has eaten and she is 'fat and happy' if she is stressed and hungry she will then be stressed and mad! Try using the 'breastflow' bottle as it really does make them work a little harder.

Also, is she by chance a 37 weeker? Have you tried a nipple shield AFTER the bottle or during the bottle? Sometimes this can trick them!

Most of all, I wouldn't throw in the towel yet but just be OK that she is doing as well as she is and with the more weight she gains and the older she gets, the more willing she will be to try new things! Don't dispair, I have seen you situation MANY times. Yes, it is frustrating, YES, it does resolve!!!