HELP!!! j is refusing to feed from me this morning.its upsetting me.why would he do that

[CvQ]

anyone?

[Seeline]

CvQ - I have only just found your postings. I just wanted to say I'm another who really can't comprehend what you've been through, but you have my total admiration and support. Forgive me, are you BFing and how old is J? Maybe he's just not hungry?

[HuwEdwards]

what you eat can 'flavour' your milk - did you have anything out of the ordinary yesterday? curry or something v.spicy?

How is J otherwise?

[CvQ]

yes breastfeeding him.hes 8months.he did this once before and he had thrush.ive checked and he hasnt.or at least i cant see anything.
he fed from me early hours of this morning.but this morning when he woke he refused and was thrashing around and pulling away.so i reluctantly made a bottle which he tooki normally feed him to sleep and the same is happening.i dont want him to have another bottle.what might be making him do this

[Seeline]

Does J seem well? temperature, teething, wind etc Has he had any solids - he may just be needing less milk. Try not to get too anxious when you are trying to feed him (hard I know), but he may pick up on it and that will make him anxious too.

[EffiePerine]

Could just be a nursing strike, or teething?

maybe he's jsut out of sorts

more info here

www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/baby/back-to-breast.html

I'd give one of the helplines a ring as well

[CvQ]

i havent had anything spicy or out of the norm.no temp.hes well as far as i can see.he had a weetabix this morning but nothing has changed.hes had no more than usual.
is there ANYTHING i can do to get him to feed from me.i really dont want to have to do another bottle.why will he take a bottle.oh mummy is upset now

[EffiePerine]

It isn;t your fault, babies can be funny buggers

try ringing one of the helplines, I haven't had any experience of a nursingstrike but I know it's pretty common

[Seeline]

Don't get too anxious yet. He's had two feeds and weetabix so he is not going to starve. You could try some cooled boiled water in a bottle if you are worried he might be thirsty. Just carry on as normal and try again when he is next due a feed. EP is right - babies have very few ways of expressing themselves. Refusing feeds is one way. Keep calm.

[CvQ]

he doesnt go to sleep unless hes feeding
ok ive been advised to get into bed with him and strip offwith him laying on me.ill try anything.

[ib]

Sorry if this seems inappropriate, but are you about to get your period? Ds gets funny about feeding just before my period.

[EffiePerine]

Having a bath together is also supposed to be good (not the best idea in hot weather though )

[CvQ]

no period due.
gaarrrrrhhh i give up.not interested in laying on or with me.more interested in crawling round the bed pulling my hair and poking me in the eye

lunch then i will see what happens from there

[LittleMyDancingForJoy]

has he got a tooth coming through? DS always used to go funny when he was teething, I think it hurt to feed.

[MrsJamin]

DS did exactly this when teething, try rubbing a bit of bonjela into his gums then feed 5 mins later?

[CvQ]

he is still not happy to feed.ive had to resort to another bottle and expressing.ive given him calpol incase it is his teeth but he seems perfectly happy until i try to feed him.aaarrrrgggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[2point4kids]

Could you just feed him his solids and no bottle and when he is ready to feed again he will have milk from you?
Giving a bottle might prolong the strike if thats what it is...
Hope he gets back to normal feeding soon and has a sleep!

[ILikeToMoveItMoveIt]

Another personal question (sorry!) - are you ovulating? This can affect the taste of your milk.

Keep offering lots of skin to skin cuddles in bed and playing around, when he starts to get sleepy move him near to you (take of your bra) but don't push him to the breast.

It may take a few days (or not!) but hopefuly this will work. Don't worry about your supply, it will be ok for a few days.

[Caz10]

Hiya, my dd is almost 8mths, just had a couple of days of refusing most feeds and then lo and behold I got my period

so it might be that?

i would second what 2point4kids has said, offer breast when you normally would (and more often than that too), solids with water when you normally would, and he should come back.

i found dd had a terrible couple of days but then always had a massive feed right before bed, i think she is teething too

good luck!

[CvQ]

so you think i shouldnt give him a bottle?i already gave him one and hes gone to sleep!if he wont feed later think i should call my hv.

[CvQ]

ive already had my period and i dont think im ovulating.how would i know
he doesnt really drink water.will he get dehydrated?

[Caz10]

Sorry if TMI, but I had some discharge when I THINK I was ovulating. This was my 1st period since having dd though so might be different if you've already had one.

I'm scared to say definitely do x y or z in case I give the wrong advice!! Did you try the helplines?

He won't starve, but I'm unsure as to how long you should wait before going with the bottle. The day before yesterday dd barely took anything from me until a big tea time feed, but she had a yoghurt, some fruit etc during the day and a bit of water too so I wasn't TOO worried.

When did he last feed?

[CvQ]

he last fed about 2am this morning and he was fine.i know he wont starve because he ate his lunch but im more worried about his fluid intake tbh.and the fact that my boobs ache

[noonki]

my DS's wouldn't feed when teething -

but also once (for three days) because I had a cyst .. i didn't know at the time, but the second time it happened I tasted my milk and it was vile Sorry uggh

have a little squueeze and taste!

good luck

ps if it is a cyst best to go to doctor's but it was harmless

[CvQ]

ive had a good feel and i cant feel anything different in my breasts.they arent sore apart from the needing to feed type ache.when he has his tea ill offer water and hope he wants to feed later.

[CvQ]

tea is done.gave him water which predictably he spat out.he hasnt fed from me since early this morning.
if hes on strike i want to speak to his union repcome on who are you?stand up now!!