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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

URGENT - PLEASE HELP...

18 replies

brightongirldownunder · 29/04/2011 23:09

DS is almost 3 months and very big - probably 16lbs. He's been a great feeder up until about 48 hours ago demanding up to 10 feeds a day, and has had to contend with my erratic milk flow - mostly too much and huge letdowns. I noticed I wasn't having the usual letdown/engorgement on Tuesday and on weds as we were flying back to the UK after being on holiday he slept for a total of 6 hours without feeding, even though I tried waking him. Yesterday he was showing signs of fussing with the feeds - pulling off, being wriggly and only had a couple of normal feeds. Today he's actually screaming every time I bring him to the breast. He latches on and after a few sucks gets incredibly upset. I'm devastated - infact am now so upset that I can feel the post natal depression, that I've fought so hard to steer clear of after my last birth, returning. He simply will not feed - is it the milk, my nipples? Is it the change in water? My diet hasn't changed...I dont know what to do - he was so hungry I had to buy a bottle and some formula tonight which he gulped down without any problem.
Please help...I can feel myself sinking...

OP posts:

SomebodyNew · 29/04/2011 23:16

Hello, I know how upsetting this can be and definitely understand the depression thing. There's every chance it's just a nursing strike as they're quite common www.llli.org/faq/strike.html

Kellymom.com is great for advice, hang in there xxx

virginiasmonalogue · 29/04/2011 23:16

Firstly, stop panicking (easily said I know). This change in habit could be many things: a growth spurt, teething, disturbed routine, feeling a little off colour..... Maybe his tummy is bigger and he can just go for longer. It could be the change in water???? (since he took a bottle). You know it's not your supply that's a problem so that's one good thing. He will feed when he's ready.

heksie · 29/04/2011 23:18

Hang in there, no advice but try to relax, travelling is tiring and stressful, I am sure it will settle down in a day or so.

Original poster

brightongirldownunder · 29/04/2011 23:39

My main worry is that he wont go back to breastfeeding after taking formula in a bottle. What do I do now? Do I express and use a bottle? Do I persist in breastfeeding? I'm so scared of him losing weight...

OP posts:

Tryharder · 29/04/2011 23:46

I travelled with DS1 a lot when he was a baby and quite often noticed that he was unsettled after a journey.

Can you go back to basics? A baby moon - a weekend in bed with him, lots of skin to skin. Your DH can bring you snacks and drinks.

I don't think he will reject bf after one bottle so don't worry about that.

I would also give the bf helplines a call, hopefully they will have some good advice.

amistillsexy · 29/04/2011 23:56

Don't worry about him losing weight- he's already a good weight and he won't starve himself.

Could the travelling have unsettled him? How long was the flight? Were you somewhere very hot? I think it's probably something to do with this.

I second the idea to have a 'babymoon' with him. I did this regularly with all 3 of my DSs if they were off their food. Just keep on offering the breast rather than the bottle if it concerns you that he might go for the bottle instead. When he's hungry he will take the breast!

Oh! I've just thought! You didn't sample perfumes in the duty free did you? Or change the products you use? If you smell different he could be confused and not want to feed. If it's that, have a shower with no scented products and dress in something you've worn alot (or nothing at all) so that you smell of 'you'. You could also try expressing a little milk and rubbing it around your nipples to get the milky smell onto them.

mercibucket · 30/04/2011 00:02

keep calm and carry on

maybe he has sore ears after the flight and it hurts when he sucks? or he might be teething or a bit under the weather. keep on offering, especially when he's very sleepy and a bit more relaxed, and stay relaxed yourself when trying to bf. you could express a bit to offer in the meantime and also to relieve your discomfort. there's lots of info on the net with more tips on 'nursing strikes'

he's a good weight and not a newborn, no need to worry right now about him losing weight - keep him hydrated and keep on offering the breast

Original poster

brightongirldownunder · 30/04/2011 00:20

I've just realised that I put on perfume yesterday and wore the same top today..could it be that? I haven't worn anything scented for weeks.
I've noticed my breasts aren't filling up like they normally do - which is making me worry about my supply. I'm a real worrier at the best of times but the thought of not being able to lie with my little one and feed him is reducing me to tears...

OP posts:

bluechik · 30/04/2011 00:42

Hi brightongirl,

I also had lots of milk and fast letdowns and I found that after about 3 months my supply settled down and my breasts felt a lot softer (although there is still plenty of milk there - DS has been thriving and is now nearly 8 months old and very healthy.) Soft breasts are a really good sign that everything is going well and your body is adjusting normally to ongoing breastfeeding. Someone else recommended kellymom, it's a great site for breastfeeding info, there is a whole page about breast fullness here that you might find useful.

I would second the recommendation not to panic and to contact breastfeeding support lines if you are worried.

Original poster

brightongirldownunder · 30/04/2011 01:28

i've just tried expressing and after about 6 mins only produced about 40mls from one breast. I've never done it before..Does this mean my milk is drying up? is it because i'm in such a state? Im a complete nervous wreck now..

OP posts:

bluechik · 30/04/2011 01:53

The amount of milk you can express is absolutely not a reliable indication of the amount of milk your baby is getting. This is because your baby is much more efficient at removing milk than a breast pump. For more information, see kellymom or this link: www.mother-2-mother.com/pumping.htm

bluechik · 30/04/2011 01:59

Brightongirl, you sound very stressed and upset. Are you in the UK? If so, it's nearly 2am! I'm about to go to bed before my DS wakes up and you should think about doing the same - maybe have a nice cup of herbal tea first. If your little one wakes up you could consider following advice of the other posters who suggested a babymoon, plenty of skin to skin and calming cuddles with your baby in bed. It will all be OK, he is a lucky little fella to have such a caring mum. Re-think it all in the morning depending on how he is then, and definitely consider calling a bf advice line. Sending you good vibes for tonight :)

libelulle · 30/04/2011 02:09

No it doesn't! How much you express has no bearing on how much yourbaby gets. I used to get over a pint in a session when I expressed full rime, now I'd be lucky to get 30ml. My Ds is doing fine.

Seriously, I think you need to calm down. Breastfeeding is not so fragile and neither is your baby. It won't just suddenly go horribly wrong like you seem to be imagining. You are tired and overwrought, and so is your baby. Youve had good advice here about what might be wrong. Persevere and it will be fine- just don't panic.

ChunkyPickle · 30/04/2011 02:16

40 mls in 6 minutes if you don't normally express is fantastic - I'd be over the moon with that (and I have a healthy EBF 8 month old, so I have enough milk it's just expressing that doesn't work so well)

Please try to calm down, I know you're worried, but he's going to be fine - my little guy was also put into a total spin following a medium flight and time zone change, and he's only settling back into a normal routine 2 weeks later. We all get grumpy after flights - even babies.

heksie · 30/04/2011 11:03

Hi hope you are well rested today after all the late night mums netting!

sanam2010 · 30/04/2011 13:08

It might be your supply regulating, happened to me at 12 weeks. Your body will switch from oversupply to only makin what baby needs, and it might overshoot a bit, so do the same as in a growth spurt, feed a couple of days nonstop and eat a lot and by the end of the second day you should feel your supply back up.

I wouldn't do formula unless you have tried through constant demand to get your supply back up, if your body was producing enough milk before it can def continue to do so.

Original poster

brightongirldownunder · 01/05/2011 11:27

Hello
Just wanted to let you know that my supply is now back to normal (i.e.fountains!!) and DS is feeding pretty well. Thankyou for all the support, as per usual MN has been my saving grace.

I will keep in mind all the advice incase this happens again...

Think I'll go and see someone about PND as I was definitely heading down that rocky road the other night and being stressed seriously affects my milk production.

Cheers!

OP posts:

sanam2010 · 02/05/2011 11:37

great to hear that!! i think if it happens to you once, next time you will just know and not stress out when it happens. enjoy!

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