Ok here's a little bit about my situation: Every day at the same time of the day around his 4 p.m.-6 p.m. feeding it just depends on what time he eats but I know its usually around that time because I don't really have him on any sort of schedule he just eats every 4 hours, so he is only eatting 4 times a day and then he is sleeping through the night until 6 or 7 in the morning. This refusal of my breast just started about a week ago and I have been thinking of just putting him on the bottle because the struggle has gotten progressively worse, today for instance I tried for almost 40 minutes to get him to take the breast and he wouldn't so I let him cry until he calmed himself down and tried again and he just wouldn't take it so I had to resort to the bottle.......which I don't like to do but I had to feed him something ya know? But I am really asking for anything that could possibly help! Thanks so much I would love to continue to breast feed but don't know how much longer I can go through this! The other issue I have is I would love to just be able to pump my breast milk that way he is at least getting my milk but when I had the twins I coudln't pump for some reason and I pumped with the hospital grade pump and my milk supply completely deminshed and I am afraid to go that route this time and have the same thing happen again. I even tried Reglan and Fenugreek the last time and neither of them helped so I am looking for some help any help would be nice. Thanks!
Here's somethings I left out:
I give him the first breast with no problems but when I switch him to the second one is when he really starts to fuss and carry on.
I notice that I only have one "let-down" once the one side lets down so does the other side which my cousin has informed me isn't supposed to happen you are supposed to have a "let-down" for each side.
Plus I always have had a problem with him latching on to my left breast for some reason.
I have tried nipple shields and those don't do anything for me.
I don't give him the bottle at all normally I am strictly all breast but the other day he was screaming so hard he was red all over and I didn't know what else to do.
I have actually tasted my breast milk so see if it tasted bad but to me it doesnt taste like anything.
The only change in my diet would be dairy.
I know that I am not drying up because I can squeeze my breast and milk shoots across the room.
My son is 3 1/2 months old.
I just wanted to let everyone know that responded that we figured out what his problem was he has a tight anal spintcher and wasn't having adaquate bowel movements by himself so he wasn't getting hungry because his belly was still full from not having bowel movements!
Hey there, my name is Jen. I don't know if you've ever heard of this company, but they can definitely try to help you with breast feeding. Their website is www.lalecheleague.org I hope this helps!
My daughter started going through a "witching" period around that age. It was horrible. About that time in the evening she would start rufusing the breast. I was worried she was not getting enough milk. I ended up supplementing with a bottle of formula.
I decided I would be a better mom by not being stressed out by fighting her to keep breastfeeding at that time of night. I will say this, I believe from all that I have read, that this is just a phase and if you stick with it he will grow out of it. Do what is right for you. If you need help, call your Pediatician. Mine is Capital Pediatrics they have a lactation consultant on staff. Her name is Beverly she is fantastic!!! Whatever your decision, it will be right.
Congratulations on your new little boy!
Steph
You might be drying up without you knowing it and he is not wanting to work for it. Your milk might not be rich enough for him and he still is hungry afterwards. All I can say is if he isn't taking the breast, you will have to switch him. Also, think about it, he has had breast milk the best months of his life, the beginning, so if you have to stop he will be ok.
S.
My daughter was the breast feeding champ. I fed her on demand I guess. We didn't have a set time. She was hungry,she ate period. Your baby is alot better then pumps,hospital grade included. I hate to say it,but it seems like your teaching your baby that if he fusses and cries he'll get the bottle,which your teaching him to like better. Call the lactation consultant from where you had your little one,they might be of some help. They'll probably just tell you to wait a bit,then try again. I know I panicked a few times when she waited longer for feedings,maybe you should try that. Maybe he's just not hungry yet. Good luck with 3 small ones at home. My daughter only took one breast at a time,and preferred one over the other from what I remember. Maybe it had to do with the positioning,or what I preferred. So I think its normal.
Check for teeth. His gums could be bothering him. Offer the breast more often. Try to be as relaxed as possible. You're probably getting very tense at feeding times and he can sense it.
Call LLL. They can help you face to face. They have tons of experience with nursing strikes and most likely can offer you a solution that works. They have been so helpful to me without being judgmental. They really are a wonderful group of ladies that don't deserve the reputation that most people have given them.
Hey S.,
(My son just turned 4 months yesterday, and he is 18.5 lbs.)
I would just try to feed him on the breast that he takes easily then pump the other side. I know you said that you don't get anything with the pump, but at least the nipple stimulation will make sure your milk supply stays high enough for him. As far as pumps go, I have always been able to get something, but it wasn't until I tried a Medela 2 phase pump that I was really able to get a LOT! For more info:
http://www.medela.com/NewFiles/pumps_personalUseElectric....
Also, I have never experienced 2 let downs. Mine lets down on both sides at the same time. When he latches onto the first breast, I feel both tighten up. I will even start to leak on the side hes not feeding on because I let down so hard.
It could be an issue that the breast you are having trouble with lets down too hard/fast. After he has had to try so hard to get milk out of the breast "he likes", your other side might be choking him a little because the flow is faster. I know I have one side that lets down easier than the other.
In keeping with what other ladies have said, I would definately contact the La Leche League. They have been a real help for me! One other thing, there are other hearbs than Fenugreek. There is a book called The Nursing Mother's Herbal that I actually borrowed from the LLL. My son is allergic to Fenugreek, so that book is wonderful in helping you find other galactagogues that really work. I am using Alfalfa pills...to me they work just as well as Fenugreek.
One last thing, don't let people make you feel bad for using a bottle. I nurse my son and pump generally to the tune of 30 oz. a day. However, most days he takes about 35 to 40. Working full time, I just can't keep up. The other 5 to 10 oz. I use formula. I have spoken to MANY LLL leaders and lactation consults who have helped me try to get the extra 5 to 10 oz. After trying every herb/medicine, pumping/nursing more frequently, using different pumps, etc...nothing worked. You can maintain a working milk supply without soley breastfeeding. Sometimes you just have too. Any is better than none. Make sure you are doing everything you can to breastfeed and then, if you need a little something extra, use it.
Before he started refusing the breast, did you go a long period of time without breast feeding? I suggest tasting your milk and see if it has a bad taste. Have you ate anything different?
I have been breast feeding my son for a year now and I am trying to get him off the breast and he screams and screams until he gets it. So I wish he would refuse it! ahhaha
If you are only feeding a 3 1/2 month old at the breast 4 times a day then you are going to have supply issues. Any time you substitute the breast at a feeding it's going to impact the amount you produce as breastfeeding is based on supply and demand. Your son is probably used to the faster flow of the bottle and is getting tired of working for it at the breast. If you want to convert more feedings to the breast to build up your supply, get a supplemental nursing system or SNS. That way he can get more flow even if it's with formula at the breast while stimulating you to produce more. Eventually you won't need the supplementer. If you want to use dietary aids to increase your supply, Mother's Milk Tea is good, as is fennugreek and blessed thistle. Still, the best thing is to have that good old fashioned demand there to increase your supply. If you're finding yourself giving the baby a bottle to help get more done around the house, invest a few bucks in a ring sling or mei tei carrier (also called the asian baby carrier or ABC) You can nurse the baby on the go and nobody will know what you're doing. Also, if you are eligible for WIC make an appointment with their breastfeeding people for either a home visit or clinic appointment to assess your latch, positioning and if there may be other things you can do that I can't advise you on over the internet. If not, call your local La Leche League leader and see about the same. Some good websites for help in the meantime are www.lalecheleague.org and www.kellymom.com
Good Luck!
How old is the baby now? I would not listen to Shawna's advice! If you are supplementing with formula, then you are causing yourself to lose your milk. If you want to breastfeed, then do NOT supplement. The baby is getting "milk" much easier and faster from a bottle that way, so he knows all he has to do is refuse the breast and then he'll get the easy way out. If you really want to breastfeed, and it is SO much better for him, then stop doing this. Let me know if you need more advice, I've breastfed all of my kids, including one I had to fight for three months after the NICU messed him up.
S., that is young for a baby to refuse the breast, so I would call your local La Leche chapter to get some advice. Here are some of the leaders' numbers in Richmond: Amalie ###-###-####, Jennifer ###-###-####, Jessica ###-###-####, Rebecca ###-###-####. I've called La Leche a few times even though I don't go to their meetings and they're very helpful. Good luck and don't give up yet!
You can't really make him take the breast. I breastfed all three of my girls, so I feel your pain. My first daughter did that too. I know that supplementing with the bottle often confuses them because the milk flow is much different. They really have to work to get the milk from the breast but from the bottle, it drips and is easy. This may be what happened with you baby boy. You may try pumping even though it may lessen your milk. That will happen eventually if he doesn't take your breasts.
Have you talked to a lactation specialist? Our ped has one on staff...if one is available to you she may be able to offer help.
