My gorgeous son was born premature and after a couple of weeks of hospital care we successfully established breast feeding and came home. At the start of the week his weight was increasing and he was feeding long and often.
The last couple of days however he has been refusing to latch or fussing and coming on and off with only short feeds and as a result has lost weight which means they are considering taking him back into hospital. Today we spent skin to skin in bed to try and increase feeds and weight but he was sleepy, uninterested and when offered breast fussy. His latch is fine and I am producing plenty of milk he is offered a feed at any sign of interest and has not been left to become upset before feeding.
I do have mastitis and am on antibiotics which may or may not have an impact but am still offering both sides.
As a last resort we offered him a bottle and he wolfed it down which has left me distraught as I really want to breastfeed and give him the best start. How do I balance keeping his weight up and him at home with breastfeeding when he is not interested? Do I persevere and keep offering him the breast and give him bottles too? I just want to do what is best for him.