I definitely doubt it has anything todo with your milk. If you would like more info, you can google questions on kellymom.com or drjacknewman.ca has great info sheets under "bf help". IMO, you have to bf on demand, so that means, try to bf at the earliest sign of hunger...eg smacking of lips, eating his hands, etc. And there are times when they go thru growth spurts, typically 2-3wks, 6 wks, 3 mths, and 6 mths, and just before they do start to grow a lot, they need to nurse extra often, to help stimulate your breasts to make more milk for when that happens.

Unless there is a medical reason, then I would never give a baby under 6 wks a pacifier OR a bottle. Personally, I do not think the risk is worth it.

They are know to cause nipple confusion. Not all babies, but a large number. OF course, you will always get one person who tells you they started bottles at x days, and had no problems, but the thing is, you never know ahead of time if your baby is one of those who will have nipple confusion.

Nipple confusion happens when the baby learns it is less work to drink from a bottle.

Pacis can also interfere with bf because they can mask your baby's signs for hunger, and hence interfere with supply.

Could it be if you gave bottles or pacis, or if you tried to put your baby on any set schedule, either your milk supply was not the same as it was in the beginning, and-or if you waited too long to feed your baby, by then he was truly hungry and impatient, and became agitated waiting for your let-down.

This in turn made you understandably concerned and a bit panicked...so you gave even more bottles, which further diminished your supply and increased the nipple confusion?

I am sure that this time around, because you are getting informed ahead of time, you will do just great!

Here is a link on starting out right:
http://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=45:breastfeeding-starting-out-right&catid=5:information&Itemid=17

If you have any other questions, any one here would be happy to help!

All 3 of my babies were HORRIBLY gassy from weeks 2 or 3 until weeks 6 or 8. It didn't start at birth, but it didn't last far beyond 8 weeks either. I have no idea why. With my oldest I tried all sorts of dietary changes, kept a food journal, and went to great lengths to stop his gas pains - none of it worked, but then he just seemed to outgrow it. I do think some babies are sensitive to things you eat, but in my case, I think it was just an immature baby tummy adjusting. If your baby was like mine were, you probably did notice a change for the better when you switched to formula because their his body had matured. My thought would be to stick it out with this one, even if his tummy seems unhappy - and you can always try cutting out things like dairy that could cause problems, but I bet it will pass as your baby gets older. Good luck!

Thanks! We did bf on demand, no schedule. I figure I eat when I am hungry not when someone tells me to. He very rarely took a paci while bf. I am hoping we can just stick with it this next time. Willilam still gets bellyaches now quite often so I am just thinking he is gonna be like his daddy, he has tummy aches often too. Hopefully the next baby will not have tummy troubles and stick it out. THanks again for the advice. I'm sure I will be back with many more questions and concerns by April when this baby gets here.

DS became very fussy and gassy around 3-4 weeks. As soon as I called ped he recommended cutting all dairy from my diet. Turns out that ds is very cows milk intolerant and the slightest bit of dairy in my diet causes a reaction in him. This is common (although not as common as some people are led to believe). Still, if you have the same problem trying the Sears elimination diet can't hurt!

My older son had reflux problems. I tried cutting out milk, citrus fruit, caffeine, spicy food - nothing helped. He was put on Zantac which helped some. We switched to Prevacid when Zantac stopped working (4 m) but it wasn't doing much for us. He outgrew reflux around 5 mo. I sincerely doubt your milk can do anything but good :) We bf until 17 mo.

BTW reflux is usually due to immature sphincter between esophagus and stomach. Some babies may also have some food sensitivities but if you and your DH don't have food allergies I think it's unlikely that baby would have them. I would stay away from very spicy foods.

You may also look into taking a class on bf, finding some lactation support groups in your region, like La Leche League, asking at your birthing centre about any LC's available, and eventually finding an LC even before the birth, one who you will know and trust, to support you in your endeavours. It may cost you a few bucks for a consult, BUT it will save you 1000 -1500$ per year in formula!

EBM from a bottle is always likely to create more gas. I would suggest that you continue exactly like you did with the first. Your bm is perfectly fine! Just continue to feed on demand...indeed, some babies will have some reflux or colic, and often, it is not apparent immediately, but a few weeks later...

However, even if it is reflux or colic, the Rx is stil the same: continue to bf on demand! :)

If you send me a pm with an e-mail, I can get you the articles I have on this subject in pdf...I cannot send them to you over DS. it makes for fascinating reading. :)

Also, I commend yo for not giving up, and for even willing to give it a second shot. I can tell you that most second and third babies are much easier to handle with the bf, perhaps in part because us moms know a bit more!