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Ask A Lactation Consultant

Q. Dear Stephanie,

I have a 2 year old who was born at 35 weeks. She was my first so I didn't know about preemies, nipple confusion, etc. The NICU nurses bottlefed her and gave her a pacifier during her 9 days in hospital. I was not allowed to attempt nursing while she was being fed through the gavage tube and was given minimal assistance with breastfeeding after the tube was removed. My midwife thought we'd be able to get her nursing once she was home, but it never happened.

She'd scream, push the breast away and finally fall asleep each time I attempted to nurse. She was in love with the bottle! When the post-partum depression hit, I just couldn't deal with the constant rejection of the breast. I pumped my milk for 5 weeks until I faced a bout of mastitis. After that I just couldn't continue and went to formula.

Sorry for the long preamble ... here's my question. I've heard from many sources about the positive health benefits of breastfeeding to the mother, like a reduced likelihood of various cancers. Are these health benefits directly related to the baby being at the breast or are they simply due to lactating? I lactated for 5 weeks but never had the baby at the breast. I'm curious to know whether any of the breastfeeding benefits apply to me.

Thanks!

Lisa

A. Dear Lisa,

I'm so sorry that your breastfeeding experience wasn't ideal - it is so hard to want to do something and have it not work out. But you gave your baby a precious gift that she never could have gotten anywhere else - your breastmilk. There are many studies that show all the health benefits for both mothers and babies and someone always feels the need to attach a time line to them - for example Babies who are breastfed for longer than 6 months have an x% greater chance of y...Truth be told - no one knows for sure what is the "optimal" length of time. ANY amount of breast milk that you produced and was given to your daughter gave you both health benefits - maybe not as many as if you'd have nursed longer but still some. Some studies say that one must nurse for a combined total of (I'm approximating) 2.5 years to decrease their risks of certain cancers, but nursing some is better than not nursing at all. Nursing at the breast or pumping, you both received some benefits from your experience. Nipple confusion is unfortunately a common occurance. Good for you for sticking with the pumping for 5 weeks. It's very difficult to adjust to motherhood and try to breastfeed a frustrated baby who won't take the breast and then give her her beloved bottle and then pump - it's triple feeding . It can be very difficult. But remember, you efforts benefitted both you and your daughter.

Stephanie

Stephanie Ryan, RN, BSN, ICCE, IBCLC answers your breastfeeding questions.