Nipple confusion in baby is a breastfeeding-related problem that often makes mother feel worried since every mother certainly wants to give all the best for their baby. Mother’s breast milk is the best food for babies, because breast milk contains immunity cell and anti-infection, does not cause allergies and also safe from germs. Breast milk is a perfect natural food with nutrients content that are suited to the needs of the growth and development of baby.
The process of breastfeeding is a pleasant activity for a great mother. The correct of breastfeeding techniques will extend the period of mother breastfeeding baby, and it can be up to 2 years. In addition, the process of breastfeeding can stimulate jawbone growth and baby’s teeth. However, sometimes after the birth a mother can’t give breast milk directly to the baby. Breast milk that has not come out yet after a few days after the birth or the baby who can’t duck their mouth into mother’s breast in order to suck breast milk, will force mother to give formulae milk through nipple-artificial. This will hamper the process of breastfeeding next, because when introduced with breast mother, the baby will be confused (nipple confusion in baby).
Babies who experience nipple confusion tend to select the nipple-artificial in getting the breast milk from their mother and tend to refuse to suck the breast milk directly from their mother’s breast since it is more easy getting breast milk through nipple-artificial. In principle, the suckle technique from the nipple-artificial is very different from the breast mother. On the bottle with nipple artificial, baby only put their mouth to the ends of the nipple and the milk will flow by itself without strong suck needed. Meanwhile, if baby suck the milk directly from breast mother, the baby’s mouth shall open wide in order to reach the areola (not just the hilt) and baby should be pumping harder to get the breast milk. If there is no stimulus from the movement of jaw, tongue & mouth, the breast can’t come out.
According to Cynthia Howard, MD, MPH, the president of the Academy of Breast Feeding Medicine, thing which makes baby reluctant to suckle directly from mother is because they are prior introduced to nipple artificial than the mother’s nipple. So, how to avoid this nipple confusion in baby? The answer lies in the confidence and patience of mother. When the baby is born, mother must be sure to directly breastfeed their baby even though the breast milk has not come out yet. It should have done, because baby’s suck on the breast will stimulate the secretion of mother’s breast milk. If you really have not been able yet to breastfeed directly, you have to be extra patient to give your expressed breast milk or formula milk by using spoon or a tiny cup.
What if the baby has already had nipple confusion? Again, the successful key still comes from mother’s patience. See these following tips that may be help:
- Mother must be patient and do not give up when baby cries desiring to suckle via nipple-artificial. In order to give your milk you can use spoon or tiny cup.
- Do not too often using nipple-artificial in giving breast milk or formulae milk to your baby.
- Try to breastfeed your baby when he has not been too hungry yet, because in the condition in which your baby has been too hungry, he will be difficult to be trained in suckling breast milk from mother’s breast.
- Try to be often in conducting skin-to-skin contact between breast’s skin and baby’s mouth so that your baby can feel the warming sensation of direct breastfeed that doesn’t available from suckling through nipple-artificial.
- Try to breastfeed your baby when he is sleeping, because when he in his sleeping time he may forget with his nipple-artificial.
The successful of breastfeeding is a satisfaction itself for a mother. Therefore, keep trying to breastfeed the baby since breastfeeding is a very wonderful opportunity for a mother to be near to their beloved baby. Hopefully your baby doesn’t have to experience nipple confusion in acquiring breast-milk from your breast.
Regards and happy breastfeeding.
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