9 month old suddenly refusing boob!

[BabyBobbins32]

Hi All, just after any advice or experience of this...my 9month old has suddenly (since yesterday afternoon) decided she does not want to take milk from my boob. Point blank refuses it, gets really upset and screams. Oddly she takes it from a bottle, something she's never been that keen on before!

The only problem is I can't pump enough to sustain her on bottles...in fact I can't seem to get much off at all (could be rubbish pump, although have previously got a lot more off!) Am worried I am drying up already and she is going to get dehydrated.

She does have a stinking cold at the moment but is eating food fine. She also seems to be teething. I guess both of these could be the problem but I'm worried I'll dry up before she decides she wants it again.

The other big problem is she has a suspected milk protein allergy so only substitute I can use at the moment is baby soya milk and tried that earlier and she took a bit and then refused to take any more.

Not sure what to do to keep her hydrated, she drinks a bit of water from a sippy cup but not a lot. I've also been adding more water to her food but again not the equivalent of a bottle.

I don't really know how much she's been having previously as bf but was feeding her 3 times a day (only cut out 4th feed about 2 weeks ago)

Any advice or experience of this would be good to know. Thanks

[BabyBobbins32]

Can anyone offer any advice on this? Am feeling so helpless and upset.
Thanks

[babyboomersrock]

Hi OP, I suggest you post on the feeding section

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/breast_and_bottle_feeding

I'm sure you'll get advice there

[VerbenaGirl]

My daughter did this when she was 9 months old too! Totally out of the blue, and right before we were leaving to go on holiday - which was rather stressful! I phoned the Health Visitor, and she reassured me that it would probably sort itself out, and that my daughter would be okay while it did. Keep offering to breastfeed and keep up with the water from the sippy cup, plus plenty of suitable fruit, salad & veg - that will help with hydration. My daughter started breast feeding again 4 days later, as suddenly as she had stopped. I think it was probably teething related with my little one. But if yours has a cold it may be because she's finding it difficult to breath while feeding, or maybe has gone off milk a bit if she feels unwell. Pump and feed as much as you can, try not to worry (as that can affect milk production), and hopefully your case will be short term too.

[figginz]

Could be her cold; could you try feeding in a different position? I remember feeding her by dangling my boobs over her as she lay on her back on my bed. Not my most glamorous moment.

I also had this when my periods came back. Which might be you too, if its been 9 months?

Keep offering and I'm sure she'll perk up soon! Hope you're ok. It's a stressful time.

[BabyBobbins32]

Thanks for your messages all. Ah ok I'll post on that thread. Thanks