DD refusing bottle again, where do we go now?

[WantAnOrange]

DD has had a horrible horrible day. I went to college, as I have been for a few weeks now. She usually dislikes the bottle but will take it eventually for DH, but today she refused completely.

She had a feed from me at 7am then refused to feed again until I got back, DH had to call me and get me to come home, and I didnt get there until about 3.15pm, so she went hungry all that time .

She screamed pretty much all day. DH took her to baby clinic this afternoon while I was on my way back and they basically said not to worry, she wont starve herself. Well obviously she was doing exactly that so wtf do I do now?! I never want to leave her again but know I have to and I feel so guilty. I dont understand why she wont take it.

We've followed the advice on kelleymom, we've tried different teats, it doesnt seem to matter whether Im there or not.

Yesturday she took 2oz from me bottle feeding no trouble at all. Usually she refuses if I'm there but relents after an hour if I'm not there.

She has now being feeding since I got home and is un-put-down-able.

Poor you and poor DD
Depending on how old she is you could try giving her solids and water or diluted juice while you're away. Have you tried offering a drink from a baby cup or even just a regular cup that you drink from? Sometimes they'll refuse the bottle but drink a little from a cup.
Of course if she's really little then you can't so that

She's only 9 weeks. DH offered her a cup and said she was going for it but getting more upset because it's so slow.

Canyour DH hang around near the college and you feed her during breaks? 9 weeks is tiny to be going so long.

Some babies just don't like bottles.

She might be coming down with something, sometimes this can have an impact.

A bit "out there" but is she content enough to sit in a sling whilst you go to lectures?

I've been on a 8 course, 3 hours each week with new mothers and several newborns who were in slings, breastfed on demand and there was rarely an upset baby.

At that age, they want their mum, perhaps you could take her with you for a couple of weeks just until she's a little older? Even just for a couple of hours, and then husband takes her off you from lunch time for the afternoon.

Tips for trying to get her to take milk:
Milk warmer than normal (dd liked it v warm!)
Feed in position similar to bf'ing with you top or item of clothing wrapped around the bottle.
Feed in position completely different to bf'ing, on the floor for example.
Use the lid of a bottle as a cup and let her lap it up.
Spoon feed her milk or syringe.
Don't force it on her, when upset stop.

Good luck OP - mine was a bottle taker for about 1 week at 3 weeks old then refused from 7 weeks and didn't pick it up again regularly despite attempts. By 4 months, she would take a drink (not I say drink, not milk!) out of an open cup!

%23 8 week course

Thankyou for the replies I can't take her with me I'm afraid. I'm doing a degree at a partner college so it's not a large Uni with big lecture halls, it's a small college in a class room situation that just wouldnt work. DH doesnt drive so it's to far for him to pop to college for feeds with her and I'm there 9-4 so he cant hang around all day, plus he needs to be at home to do school runs for DS.

Today I'm only in for a couple of hours so we have arranged for FIL to pick DS up at 7:15 and do school run, so we can all get the bus to college. DH is going to sit in cafe and drink coffee for a while!

That will buy us another week to get something sorted.

And the hv is sort of right, babies can go that long once a day without food so she isn't going to starve as long as you sit up all night feeding her (rather than her getting the hang of sleeping through).

At 9 Weeks I'd just try some different bottles and if you are currently using foothills, try expressing some milk in case is the taste she doesn't like.

Currently using formula. Obviously.

Can you delay the course?

If she keeps refusing then you'll have to let her catch up at night. Which means no sleep for you - not ideal when you've got a little one and have to study.

Sometimes plans have to change a little?

can totally relate to you. went back to college with 6 wk old baby who refused to take bottle. eventually i began to pump which was easier for DD to digest then formula. do you have a breast pump? try that. maybe your DD doesnt like formula.

otherwise, try finding daycare near your college so that you can go feed her during breaks.

college is hard work coupled with newborn. but you CAN make it work. i have completed MA in SLP with newborn. its possible with the right support and daycare.

She is already having expressed milk, I've never given her formula. I'm so close to the end of this degree and tbh its only 4 months until weaning, and I'm only in 2 days a week so it seems extreme to stop now. Once we factor in Christmas holidays, half term, easter holidays, independent study day etc, it's not many full days that I actually have to leave her.

They have a nursery on site but we cant afford it and I am much more comfortable with her being with her daddy. I do not like nurseries (not a critisim of other parents choices there, it's just not for us). I dont think a nursery could (or would) ever give my velcro baby the time she demands (we are pretty much attachment parenting, although I hate the term!)

TBH DH isn't doing anything else so he can at least bring her to me for a feed at lunch time, he'd just have to leave sharpish to get back in time for DS.

She fed a lot last night but we co-sleep and feed lying down so it didnt leave me too tired.

The HV advice was to try a 'flat' teat (not sure what she meant by that) rather than a breast shaped one and to persevere. As she has taken the bottle before we know that she is capable of getting the milk out. She said that some babies will hold out until they feel so hungry they have to give in, but she will not starve herself. I hate the thought of putting her through that stress.

DH and I discussed it and have agreed to offer two bottle feeds a day so she gets very familiar with it and at consistent times. We will also happily encourage reverse cycling, I dont mind feeding at night at all. I hope we figure this out soon, my attendence is currently at 58% .

I did however pass my presentation today, with DH and DD sat in the cafe!

We have tested my milk for lipase and it tastes vile after its been defrosted, like soap!

So she has been given fresh milk that I expressed at 6:30 this morning today but she is still refusing. Maybe she is now wary of the taste? Or maybe she is still going to refuse it anyway! Everytime I think I've found a solution it doest work .