Talk to me about early paci intro and BF

[ENMS]

DD2 was born yesterday. I plan to exclusively BF for as long as possible.

She's been quite uncomfortable in the last 12 hours and has had a strong need to suck since birth.

BF is going well, she is latching on well so far, although my milk has not come in yet.

She's been sucking our finger but I am considering introducing a paci given she has such a strong need to suck.

What are your experiences about early paci intro and whether it affected BF?

[Martini~]

Paci was introduced here on day1, mainly for settling after feeding. DS was a sucky baby but also had a strong latch from the beginning. We throw away paci after 3mo as he started to be addicted and he is now addicted to his thumb ... it just confirms he needs something to suck.

No problem with BF, no problem with bottle acceptance (we tried bottle with EBM at 2wo).

[grace annes mommy]

We introduced on day 2.  No issues with bf or later bottles.  She's was really sucky and is still just a really oral kid.

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

Day 1 for all 3 (except DD2 hated it anyways and DD3 was particular about the type so took 10 days to find the right one!).  No impact to bf at all that I could tell.

[lily_layne]

Congratulations!

Both of mine got a paci on day 1. It didn't impact BFing in either case. If she has a strong need to suck, I would give her one. I find it's easier to introduce it sooner rather than later.

[anna*]

^^ same experience as these ladies. Two sucky babies, dummy introduced on day 3 (DS), and day 2 (DD). No problems BFing, whatsoever.

[zeri]

no advice, just big congratulations! xx

[becj86]

Same experience, the midwife told me to get DH to bring a dummy to hospital! DS was just a very sucky baby. I found the dummy also helped him move his gut along and get the gas out without quite so much discomfort.

[*Ali*]

I waited a few weeks to introduce a paci to DS2. The other two didn't get one at all.

I think the worry is it can delay milk coming in if LO is not nursing enough and it can result in more difficulty with sore nipples as baby can get used to sucking the wrong way. It won't definitely happen but it could. Also if there were any issues with milk transfer it can be difficult to know if LO is getting enough if you are going by how long/often they have fed and decide they have enough and mask the signs by offering the dummy.

I think I would definitely want to get through the second night which is typically when LO wakes up after a sleepy first night and feeds loads to stimulate your supply and then the milk comes in as a result.

[lily_layne]

mask the signs by offering the dummy.

IME the paci was flatly (and loudly) refused if LO was still hungry.

[*Ali*]

In the early days though they often fall asleep feeding or sucking even if still hungry precisely because they are not getting enough milk and don't have enough energy to stay awake. That's why mothers are encouraged to wake sleepy babies to eat in the early days and weeks.

[ZacsMumme]

Omg CONGRATS! We introduced the paci day 3 for T mainly because after Zs struggles I was more worried if he didn't take one and had reflux how the crying might destroy me. 😣 I had no problems at all with latch and never offered it if I thought he could be remotely hungry

[jessmum46]

No btdt but congratulations Elise!!!

[ENMS]

Thank you so much everyone! She is slightly less sucky for the past few hours so I will try to hold off until I get my milk in. Hopefully the milk comes in soon and then I think I will introduce it. She's been gassy too but again slightly better today.

[shivi]

introduced with both while still in the hospital so they had to be less than 36-48 hrs...but again, with an "expert" hat on I recommend waiting till milk comes in. Easier said than done when you have a sucky baby hanging off you!

Best wishes,

S x