Now he's stopped sodding feeding...

[blackcurrants]

19wk old DS has just started to sleep for longer than 50 minutes (thank fuck that's over) and that's LOVELY except that he now won't nurse to sleep (usual tactic for the last 19 weeks) but instead arches his back away from the boob, wails, and rubs his eyes, and yawns.

He's SO tired. And he's only eaten today at 6am, 11am, and 3.30pm. I've been pumping a bit cos of engorgement, so I think he's eating a bit less than usual. At nursery yesterday he only ate 3/4 of his bottles, too.

I know we're supposed to trust the boob, and trust that yes, they ARE hungry when they say so, and I've always fed on cue - so am I supposed to trust the refusal? Is he just not that fussed about food and will it pass?

It feels oddly personal and rejecting, when he rejects the breast. Specially at 4am when he's woken and won't let me feed him to settle, and instead cries cos he's so tired.

I've been marching him around our v. small flat in a sling, then crying and getting DH to do it as he'll settle better with him - but this can't go on. What on earth is happening?

Is he unwell? Teething? My DD is the same age as your DS and she's been a bit unsettled in the last week or so - crying but not wanting feeding, waking up loads in the night to feed, not wanting to be put down at all etc etc; she's full of cold which doesn't help.

No practical help, sorry. Hopefully someone will be along soon to offer some advice.

Thanks tryharder - he is teething, yes, and also has a cold plus a cough that wakes him up - but actually, I think I've found the answer he just did the world's biggest poo (up to his armpits - we were hosing him down - it was horrific/hilarious!) and perhaps he wasn't eating cos he felt really, really full?

I'm not sure. We just gave him a bath and put a wash on, then he had a LONG feed. It might be that we've got the answer ... I suppose it's been four or five days since he last did a poo, and WOW that was a big'un. He must be hungry now, cos he's basically empty!