Cutting out day time BFing, want to compare notes

[eenysugarplumfairy]

I have posted about this in the past and also called NCT and LaLeche about it - for some reason my baby (almost 14 weeks old) does this thing where he kicks and screams RANDOMLY during BFing. Its as if there is no milk. So I take him of the breast, give it a little squeeze and it squirts across the room!! So I know there is at least SOME milk! So I put him back on and the same thing happens again. He gets SO distressed and really cries and twists around and squirms. So I have broken down and given him a bottle (formula, not EBM) and he takes it like he is STARVING to death. It is so horrible and upsetting to see him so distressed like that.

This started many weeks ago but now it is a daily event. Usually only in the day time feeds.

So today after yet another distressing feed I made the decision to cut out his day time breast feeds. I will BF him for his first feed of the day and also his bedtime feed because I cant bear to let it go altogether and so far he has never kicked off during THOSE feeds. The rest of the day he will have formula as I cant possibly express all that it takes me about 30 mins to get 2 ounces out.

I am trying to console myself that he has been primarily BF for over 3 months AND he will still have 2 breast feeds a day. Anyone have a similar experience to me? I plan on BFing him til he is about a year old if I can.

Sorry so long!

[eenysugarplumfairy]

meant to say all the times I have phoned NCT etc about this no one has been able to offer me an explanation or solution.

[eenysugarplumfairy]

bump

[melsy]

hey eenyn, Im doing just that , mix feeds , have your seen this thread \link{http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=1364&threadid=239078&stamp=061112091923 mix feeding and supply}???. I also do the odd feed during the day here and there if shes not taken much formula.

I had the same a couple of weeks ago as she was fussing and fussing at me , Pink suggested that it was due to the natural suckling reflex going and them having to learn how to do it themselves.

I may have mentioend it on post natal , but it may have got lost in my mile long essays !

[melsy]

Trying link again soreeeeeeeeee

Mix feeding and supply ???. I also do the odd feed during the day here and there if shes not taken much formula.

[eenysugarplumfairy]

thanks for the link melsy. I just dont know what to do. Its horrible watching him so upset when a bottle calms him straight away.

[Papillon]

A friend´s baby preferred the instant result that the bottle gave him over having to wait for bf milk - tell him patience

[eenysugarplumfairy]

I'm so upset, he wont even take my breast in the morning and at night now. I desperately want to BF him even if its only a few times a day. I planned on feeding til he was a year and now its slipping away from me when he is 3 1/2 months and I dont know why.

[funnypeculiar]

SuagePlumFairy - don't have any answers for you - a friend's baby did the same thing at about the same age, and she (regretfully) found he moved over very quickly to fully bottle which he just seemed to find much easier .... Feel sure there should be someone out there who can give you some helpful advice so bumping for you - sounds like you're doing a fab job and doing everything you can ... well done for getting to 3 1/2 months - that's a still great start for you lo!

[Parsnipillon]

How upsetting for you! Where do you feed him? Perhaps try to set a scene for him... somewhere quiet, don´t bf him straight away... hold him in your arms and talk soothingly, rock in alittle then see if he is interested in a feed.

x

[eenysugarplumfairy]

thanks for the kind words. I am worried there isnt enough milk for him so I may start pumping every hour or so to build it up. The problem with that is he is a very high maintenance baby and I am always holding him, even when he is asleep. So I very rarely have my hands free to pump! I just dont know if I can do it enough to make a difference.

[funnypeculiar]

I THINK the mn b/f experts would say it's unusual for there not to be enough milk ... essentially works on a supply & demand basis, I think!

Have you been able to see a b/f councillor - I have a couple of mates who've just qualified, & say that a really small adjustment to the latch can make an amazing difference, but obviously difficult to assess over the phone (olr indeed, online!) - does your local NCT/h/v have anyone who could watch a feed? (LLL less likely to have someone local, I suspect, but could always try...)

You're a MUCH stronger woman that me to even be thinking about pumping every hour or so !!

[eenysugarplumfairy]

I'm going to speak to my HV about it today, maybe she will know about a BFing councellor I could speak to.

[kbaby]

is you lo still managing 3 hrs or so between feeds, happy and gaining weight. if so i would assume that they are now more interested in whats going on and just dont want to feed. a ff baby can see whats going on even when feeding whereas a bf baby gets to look at your armpit!
my ds at 15 weeks is too busy pulling awake, ralking etc to feed but still seems happy enough on what he is getting.

if the lo is fine and gaining weight i would persavere with bf.

[Parsnipillon]

you might think ot start a new thread in the title put... HELP ds refusing the breast. Might get more responses.

hope the hv is supportive

[Parsnipillon]

bump

this woman needs some advice and support!!!!!!!!!!!

[2labs]

Did the NCT/LLL rule out a fast let-down? It was just your squirting across the room comment... I know that can cause a lot of distress. My friend has a fast let-down and had terrible problems... now she hand expresses a bit first before feeding him to take the initial speed off!