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Suggest An Alternative Way To Breast Feed A Child

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Posted on Thu, 29 Jan 2015
Question: I have a babygirl 9 days old and she could not breast feed directly....we are trying with pigeon peristaltic nipple...is there better nipple in the market like natural fit,etc which should be used as an alternate?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (39 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
No other alternatives suggested.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

Let me first emphasize on the fact that breast milk is the best possible food for an infant and there could be no alternatives for the same. Since you mention that the child is unable to breast feed directly, the cause needs to be evaluated first. If it is due to nipple problems like depressed or cracked nipple, there are simple ways to handle the problem. If you feel that breast milk is inadequate, let me mention that it can take time to come and if external feeds are given, the hunger gets depressed and so does the breast milk production.

Nipples for external bottles do not really matter much. Pigeon Peristaltic nipple is made of silicone and is stretchable simulating the feel of a mother's nipple as closely as could be done artificially. I think that it has the best feel and you need not consider further options if you are looking forward to bottle feeding. Other option could be orthodontic nipples by companies like Nuk and Dr Brown. It should be slow flow.

Frankly speaking, it does not matter much as, if the child is hungry, it will feed irrespective of the feel of the nipple. And whatever the nipple and bottle used, the milk given will never be able to simulate breast milk, which was the more important factor here.

Hope that helps.

Regards
Dr. Diptanshu Das
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Diptanshu Das (1 hour later)
Thanksfor the reply....i was refering to breast feeding through nipple shield and not for exteral bottlea.....Nipples are flat kind of and hence the struggle.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (14 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
simple exercise suggested

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.

Glad to hear that you are moving in favour of breast feeding. Pigeon Peristalsis Nipple is indeed a good option to consider. But I have a simpler solution to offer. Take a 10 ml syringe and using a blade, cut off the front portion leaving behind a hollow cylinder with both ends open if the piston is removed. Now insert the piston from the newly cut end. Place the flat end of the hollow, now at front, such that your nipple lies inside the syringe. Now try to withdraw the piston and the depressed nipple will eventually come out if this exercise is done a few times a day.

Hope that helps.

If you found my answer helpful, please close the thread with a positive review and a 5 star rating.

Regards
Dr. Diptanshu Das


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Diptanshu Das (26 minutes later)
Thanks for the reply!

We had already done this exercise in hospital but nipple still looks flat sort of and hence we are trying breast feeding with nipple shield.

Also, in case we move out for more than 4-5 hours we are thinking for storing the breast-feed in bottle so that baby can be fed every 2-3 hours for sure.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (11 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Breast milk can be stored safely in a refrigerator

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.

Although you have already tried the exercises at hospital, I would insist on continuing it in spite of use of the silicone nipple.

You can safely store breast milk in the wall of a refrigerator door for upto 12 hours and give it after bringing it to normal temperature by thawing (not by putting on a source of heat). Alternatively you can also store breast milk in frozen form upto 6 months but it has to be consumed once it has been thawed, and cannot be stored back again.

Just take care of the sterility during the above process and things would be fine. Avoid giving the milk if curdled.

Hope that helps.

If you found my answer helpful, please close the thread with a positive review and a 5 star rating.

Regards
Dr. Diptanshu Das

Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
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Answered by
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Dr. Diptanshu Das

Pediatrician

Practicing since :2005

Answered : 3875 Questions

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Suggest An Alternative Way To Breast Feed A Child

Brief Answer: No other alternatives suggested. Detailed Answer: Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic. Let me first emphasize on the fact that breast milk is the best possible food for an infant and there could be no alternatives for the same. Since you mention that the child is unable to breast feed directly, the cause needs to be evaluated first. If it is due to nipple problems like depressed or cracked nipple, there are simple ways to handle the problem. If you feel that breast milk is inadequate, let me mention that it can take time to come and if external feeds are given, the hunger gets depressed and so does the breast milk production. Nipples for external bottles do not really matter much. Pigeon Peristaltic nipple is made of silicone and is stretchable simulating the feel of a mother's nipple as closely as could be done artificially. I think that it has the best feel and you need not consider further options if you are looking forward to bottle feeding. Other option could be orthodontic nipples by companies like Nuk and Dr Brown. It should be slow flow. Frankly speaking, it does not matter much as, if the child is hungry, it will feed irrespective of the feel of the nipple. And whatever the nipple and bottle used, the milk given will never be able to simulate breast milk, which was the more important factor here. Hope that helps. Regards Dr. Diptanshu Das