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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

mixed fed baby wont take bottle anymore

40 replies

Raynasmum2015 · 11/05/2015 22:46

My DD is 12 weeks old and has been mixed fed from birth. However since about 9 weeks she has refused point blank to take a bottle. She took FF and BF fine up until then but now if I try to give her a bottle she screams blue murder and just won't take it. I don't mind BF but she feeds every hour and a half and I just can't cope anymore. I can't even express and ask someone else to give it to her because I'm a single mum (please don't judge me) and I don't have anyone around who can help, I have not slept in weeks and I just can't manage anymore. Please help!

OP posts:

InterOuta · 11/05/2015 22:55

Yanbu to want to mix feed, it must be very tough for you.

I'm not sure what you could do. I had a bottle refuser and didn't budge at all. Have you tried different teats?

Chatty987 · 12/05/2015 00:23

Perhaps worth posting in infant feeding forum for some good advice on this.

TwoLittleTerrors · 12/05/2015 00:32

It's completely normal. Some babies will grow to refuse the breast and other the bottle.

DD1 had a bottle a day until 3mo or so. Then she refused it. She retook it at 7mo but she was sitting up and feeding herself the bottle in a high chair.

I know my post doesn't help, but just letting you know it is a phase.

amarmai · 12/05/2015 01:05

maybe you can get some sleep if you keep the baby in the same bed with you.

Original poster

Raynasmum2015 · 12/05/2015 01:27

I tried that but it doesn't work because I'm small breasted so I have to literally hold my boob and point it into her mouth, if I fall asleep she comes off and starts crying and fussing. It was ok when she was a newborn but now she's got bigger it doesn't work anymore

OP posts:

madwomanbackintheattic · 12/05/2015 01:29

Have you adjusted the teats to give her a faster flow? If she is used to getting fast milk from you now that bf is established, she won't be impressed with a newborn bottle teat.

Original poster

Raynasmum2015 · 12/05/2015 01:29

I've tried different teats but she knows the difference, I don't really think it's the teats or the bottles itself, more what's in them

OP posts:

madwomanbackintheattic · 12/05/2015 01:32

Surely bf is easier if you are single mum btw? Milk ready whenever, no sterilizing or messing about? Most people choose to mixed feed so that someone else can have a go and the mum can get a rest (complete rest, away from the baby, asleep). In the various times I have been alone with a baby, I know bottle feeding would have made it much much harder.

Original poster

Raynasmum2015 · 12/05/2015 01:32

Faster flowing teats just seem to make things worse, she just spits out the milk and it gets in her eyes

OP posts:

madwomanbackintheattic · 12/05/2015 01:33

Oh, well in that case try giving her expressed milk in the bottle as an interim step?

Original poster

Raynasmum2015 · 12/05/2015 01:35

Not really, because breastmilk is quickly digested, when she was taking formula she would sleep between 4 and 6 hour stretches at night, now I'm lucky if she goes 2 hours. And it takes me about that long to fall asleep at the best of times, so no, it's not easier for me

OP posts:

Original poster

Raynasmum2015 · 12/05/2015 01:40

It also doesn't help that I'm not able to pump very much, it's painful pumping as well

OP posts:

madwomanbackintheattic · 12/05/2015 01:47

Good luck then, I'm afraid I can't offer anything else. Ds refused bottles from 11 weeks as he contracted RSV and we had to nebulise him five times a day. He wouldn't have plastic next to his face at all, as it made him completely hysterical. In the end I had to give up bf completely at 10 mos and let him go cold turkey, as I had tried everything (every bottle, test and cup known to boots and mothercare, every neighbour, vague neighbour, acquaintance and HV trying to feed him - including with a teaspoon lol, every type of formula, expressed milk etc). And as he was feeding every two hours 24/7 I was pretty dead on my feet too.

I had to wait until I knew he was big enough to take a few days to get used to the idea, and watch him for dehydration. I wouldn't do it with a younger baby.

I would caution against assuming that if she will take formula again it will definitely mean longer sleeps, though...

Hope she changes her mind soon!

passthewineplz · 12/05/2015 02:09

Has your DD always gone 1 1/2 hours between BF, or is this a resent thing? My DD was similar, and would take an hour to feed..... when she got to about 3 months, she would cluster feed on an evening (practically from tea time to midnight) and then would sleep from about 12pm/1am until about 8am/9am.

Not sure if you're aware there's several growth spurts that babies and infants have, and they're more noticeable when you BF as all you seem to do is feed feed feed, there's one around 3 months, 4 months and 6 months. (Google Kelly mom growth spurts).

What I would also try is offering both breasts twice if needs be, to see if she'll go a little longer between feeds. If she falls asleep try and wake her by tickling her feet, and swap sides.

Also have you tried lying down to feed her, that way you get a bit of a rest.

I know you're exhausted, it's horrible I know - hopefully in a few weeks she starts going a bit longer between feeds.

Greenstone · 12/05/2015 02:13

Hi Rayna, I have small boobs too so I get it. Also the non sleeping baby thing. The only thing I can think of as a shirt term solution is the pantley pull -off. ..Google it. So if you're feeding dd lying down try to stay awake until she is falling asleep and very gently remove nipple
If she roots put it back and repeat till she stays asleep. Once she's asleep you can scoot a tiny bit away in bed so she gets used to nor having the nipple in her mouth but still senses you're near.
I say short term solution because you sound like you need to catch up on some sleep first and foremost.
The other suggestion would be to swaddle her (with or without a dummy ) and rock to sleep. Might help stretch her a bit longer between feeds.

Greenstone · 12/05/2015 02:14

But sadly two hours or less is annoyingly normal at that age, they're becoming more alert etc.

FastWindow · 12/05/2015 02:15

Sounds like she hates the bottle because it gives her wind maybe. Infacol is pretty handy. You can syringe it in before a feed or actually mix it in. There's another really effective wind medication (it's green) and I cannot for the life of me think what it's called... Too long ago. Euthanox?

FastWindow · 12/05/2015 02:28

Dentinox. Genius stuff. Had to Google it, but it's worth having some on hand.

EuphemiaCoxton · 12/05/2015 07:36

She's decided warm comfy soft boobs are the best.
Unfortunately there's not that much you can do other than know others (like myself) have been through it.
I agree with the poster about pantley pull off.
My sympathies, it is so hard. Prop your eyes open with matchsticks and know that this phase does come to and end and you will sleep again. You will get through this.

Original poster

Raynasmum2015 · 12/05/2015 09:55

Swaddling doesn't work either - she absolutely hates it. In fact she hates blankets altogether so I have to put another layer of thin clothing on her to keep her warm at night. It's not because it gives her wind because up until she was about 8 weeks old she used to take a bottle with no problems. She's always BF this frequently, she also has reflux and brings up most of her feeds so she has to feed more frequently to replace what's been lost. I just don't know what to do anymore. HV can't really help

OP posts:

Greenstone · 12/05/2015 09:58

Hm, if she has reflux I wouldn't discount the wind issue. My baby has it too and wind seemed to become a big problem around that age. They're distressed by it so feed more and the cycle continues. Is she on any meds? We didn't do any meds but in hindsight perhaps we should have.

Original poster

Raynasmum2015 · 12/05/2015 10:08

Yes, she's on ranitidine and Domperidone, the reflux started when she was about a week old, what I don't understand is why she took bottles ok before, she actually seemed more content after feeds then as well. She's never had any problems getting rid of wind either as she's a good burper and I wind her often.

OP posts:

passthewineplz · 12/05/2015 10:09

There's some useful advise about breastfeeding a baby with reflux on this link.

www.lalecheleague.org/nb/nbnovdec98p175.html

Morelikeguidelines · 12/05/2015 10:12

Have you checked out things like tongue tie, as this case be a reason why babies want to feed very often? It can also present a bit like reflux because babies get air in their tummies.

passthewineplz · 12/05/2015 10:15

Theres some useful tips on this link too. With it being an American site please ignore the advice around thickening feeds unless you consult with your GP/health visitor ect.

kellymom.com/health/baby-health/reflux/

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