9 week old refusing breast over bottle

[jan08]

Hi

My little girl is nine weeks tomorrow - we started off exclusively breastfeeding and then introduced expressed bottles fairly early on for the night feed and then went on to do some bottle feeding during the day for ease (regretting now) - for which i expressed heavily to try and keep my supply up. I then found days when I didn't have enough and did the odd formula feed - the number of which is now increasing as she is refusing to breastfeed at any time except during the night (although still a struggle!) and when she does breastfeed it is for only 5-10 minutes. I really wanted to breastfeed for longer but have been struggling to get her to breastfeed for way over a week now and am beginning to resign myself to giving up as no matter how much I express I think the amount is decreasing....

She is very calm and contented - putting on weight (as guzzles bottles both of breastmilk and formula) and sleeps very very well at night...

Does anyone have any ideas on how to get her back to breastfeeding? I have triedoffering breast but she just often screams at the sight so I end up giving her a bottle to placate her and even breastfeeding while walking (some success but shattering!)

I want to do a few days of nothing but breast being offered but she has her immunisations tomorrow and think its important she eat without issue for a few days - but am worried waiting a fe w days will be too late for my supply as it is quickly going down. Should I wait or do it anyway?

really sorry for the epic - but I don't know why this has suddenly happend - any help or advice would be really appreciated. thanks.

[lackaDAISYcal]

I think the only way to get her back to being exclusively BF is by offering the breast as often as possible.

Can you do a babymoon, and take to bed with her and just let her feed when she wants to? Try to keep things as relaxed as possible as well.

I wish you all the luck; I'm sure it's possible to turn things around

[lackaDAISYcal]

there are also some herbal remedies (galactogogues?) that you can buy which help to increase supply. Oats are supposed to good for this too, so lots of porridge, and of course, flapjacks .

Some good advice here on Kellymom

[jan08]

Thankyou for the quick answer! Reassuring to get advice back!

Although I reckon that will be very exhausting with her crying I think I might need to - the question is how long I should try it for - is there a limit of a couple of days - am worried she will lose weight and if she's really frantic can i give her a bottle or do I really have to go cold turkey on the bottles for it to be effective?

Deep down I think I am putting off the inevitable - I agree that I should try that - i just hate to see her cry when she is normally soo soo happy - the idea of insisting on breastfeeding when she is upset breaks my heart....

Also - how long after the immunisations do i wait to start - can I do it immediately or should I wait a few days so I know she has handled the jabs ok?

[tiktok]

jan08 - really sad for you

This happens - give bottles, and formula, and it creeps up on you. I wish people were aware of the risks to breastfeeding of giving bottles. Any bottle - ebm or formula - interferes with the production of breastmilk, and babies may start to lose interest when the supply drops. Then you can get struggles at the breast, when the mum feels the baby should try a bit harder to breastfeed...and the baby is put off even more.

The baby starts to prefer the productive and predictable bottle, to the less productive, less predictable breast, especially if there has been any sort of 'fighting' over the breast

The dwindling can be gradual, and then there can be a sudden drop....what has happened to you is not a surprise at all, or a mystery. It's biology!

You can rescue it, though, and understanding what has happened will help you.

You need to speak to a breastfeeding counsellor abou relactation, and to help your baby take the breast on her terms - no fighting. Express like crazy - at least 8 x in 24 hours inc at least 1 x at night - to safeguard your supply, and keep your baby skin to skin with you as much as you can, responding to early feeding cues when you can. You will not be able to turn on the milk like a tap, but it will come back

[jan08]

and Kellymom looks really useful! Thanks

[pukkapatch]

this is why it is NEVER a good idea to give bottle if you are trying to breastfeed exclusively.
i suggest you think about what you want to do? if youreally truly want to breastfeed exclusively, then ditch the bottles, and cope with a few very very difficult days. the immunisations can always be postponed for a ouple of weeks.
but, if you are happy carrying on, then just bottle feed.

[jan08]

I postponed the immunisations and am trying to breastfeed her exclusively- am having some success but it is very gradual so I think there is light at the end of the tunnel - am seeing a breastfeeding counsellor too to try and help.

Will see how this week goes - fingers crossed..

[weasle]

oh good luck Jan08. Thisis what happened with my ds1. pressure from dh and family to give bottle to 'help' and lots of 'so-and-so gave a night-time bottle with no ill effects'. it really messed up my supply, and with poor wt gain, ended up ff. with ds2 i have been very stubborn, no bottles, and my supply is i think, better. good luck with baby moon.