Patient's question:
My baby is 10 days old. He doesn't suckle my nipple anymore; he used to, but after two days, he stopped. When I put the nipple in his mouth, he avoids it. He sucks on the bottle but not on anything else, not even my nipple. What should I do? I usually take it out and put it in the bottle for him to eat.Doctor's answer:
Compared to breastfeeding, using a bottle is much easier, so the baby is more likely to take the bottle. You can start by not giving the baby formula, and when the baby is hungry, it might be easier for them to breastfeed. The baby may or may not suck the nipple; you need to teach the baby to put the nipple and areola fully into their mouth and learn to suck it. If that doesn’t work, just like you, express the breast milk beforehand and put it in a bottle for the baby to drink.