Baby Ill? SOS with new bottle feeding issues - HELP

[OpheliasWeepingWillow]

Background

DD has taken a bottle in the past.

Over the last week she has been incredibly fussy and has only been able to get half way through a breastfeed without screaming for ages afterwards.

She seems to be in pain and we think it's her stomach. Colief and Infacol help a little.

This morning I started taking drugs which are category X for breastfeeding for had to stop immediately.

She's been crying for 6 hours and has not had any milk in that time - flatly refuses bottle. Cup feeding choked her :(

Cannot call NHS as do not live in Britain.

Do we:

Take her to the hospital?
Try a bottle again if she gets calmer
Try cup feeding again?
Wait and see?

Or my current solution which is Panic.

Anyone? She still won't take a bottle and it's been a very long time...

:(

How old is she?

You say cup feeding choked her, with a little baby cup feeding should be tipping the cup gently to her mouth sp she can lap it up like a kitten so shouldn't choke her.

Keep calm. Try to soothe her, walk her round, get both of you calm.

Can you walk her to sleep then when she is asleep hold her close as you would to bf and slip the bottle in?

Keep calm. 6 hours is a long time but not terrible, you wouldn't panic about 6 hours at night.

Oh how horrid.

Sorry no experience of this but just so someone is answering & it will keep you bumped......

You haven't said how old dd is?

Clutching at straws maybe... recheck that your meds are def no no for taking when bf. I know lots of people who have been told this & found out later that they could have continued. Racking my brains to think of the link with drug database of contradictions for bf If you tell us the name someone may come on with knowledge.

Have you tried someone else feeding with the bottle ie not you as she'll still be able to smell your milk. Maybe try a different teat/ bottle, some are closer to the bf experience I think.

Hug

thanks. Meds a massive bf no no so no hope there... Have looked at all options unfortunately.

Will have to try cup feeding again but she is so distressed at lack of bf.

Have tried Advent and Nuk nipples... she has taken 1oz of breast milk but that's all in 9 hours

sorry should have added she's 8 weeks

I'd try cup feeding again. Mainly though try to keep calm, get her calm and don't keep trying constantly and pissing her off, space your attempts a little.

Can you phone your dr for a chat and advice on how long to leave it without her taking anything?

At a pinch is there a friend who could bf her so at least she has had a feed?

Keep an eye open for signs of dehydration (lack of wet nappies, dry eyes and lips, sunken soft spot). If you suspect she is getting dehydrated then she will need medical help.

How are you doing?

She just took 4oz of the last breast milk in the fridge thank god. Will try formula again in the night but bottle then cup.

Poor confused baby!

That's great, hope she continues to take it. I'd try to stick to one method to avoid too much confusion but whatever works go for it, the main thing is to keep her fed and hydrated, I'm sure she will take it better once she has it worked out.

So anxiety and panic took over and I have hired a post partum doula who came today and assessed the situation.

DD has taken 16oz of formula today which I think hope is good but every feed is a struggle and I have had to delegate the task to DH as I am dripping with milk, literally which is upsetting both DD and me horribly.

Hope she takes a little more every day until she is comfortable with it. In the meantime I can't stop sobbing / crying / generally behaving like a madwoman...

Sounds promising for her anyway :)

You make sure you take care of yourself too. If you dh happens to look over your shoulder while you are reading this then MrOphelia take care of your DW! Look after your breasts, don't let yourself get mastitis, hopefully your doula will have given you advice on that but express in decreasing amounts so you come to a stop gradually. Your hormones will be everywhere with having a newborn anyway so adding on stopping bf will not be helping so be kin to yourself and remember that your are doing a great job raising your baby no matter how you are feeding her.