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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Baby refusing to breastfeed- nipple confusion/bottle preference?

11 replies

Enidosaurus · 27/05/2014 17:43

Had a terrible experience breastfeeding DC1 so this time decided to mix feed and give a bottle now and then so I didn't end up as miserable as last time.

Managed to get bottle feed down to once a day in the evenings when she wouldn't latch on anyway. DD2 had vaccinations last week and breastfed fine afterwards but since then it's all fine downhill.

She's now 10 weeks old and is arching her back, screaming and most of the time won't latch on. When she does latch she stays on for 5 mins then pulls off and won't go back on.

She feeds really well in the night but has started (last few days) waking every 2 hrs for a feed where she was previously going 5 hrs.
I've tried alternative positions - rugby hold, laying down, skin to skin, leaving her until later, quiet room, catching her just as she wakes.
I've also tried to pump to get the flow going just in case that was the problem. Nothing helps.

I know that after her short feeds she is still really hungry as she's irritable and not napping. Yesterday I decided to top up her feeds and she seemed much happier.

Her poo has been consistently slightly green/yellow and only yesterday/this morning after I've ended up giving her formula top ups has it been yellow.

I'm so upset about this and feel like she's rejecting me. Trying to keep it all in perspective but it's hard when I've really tried and succeeded this time round.

Any ideas on what else I can try? Or is this it? Has she made her decision and I won't be able to persuade her otherwise?

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Original poster

Enidosaurus · 27/05/2014 18:18

Sorry that was an epic post!

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Original poster

Enidosaurus · 27/05/2014 22:15

Does anyone know if nipple shields would help the transition back to breast?

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goshhhhhh · 27/05/2014 22:27

It sounds hard. Not sure how to help. She isn't rejecting you, which you know. I would suggest ringing your HV or the ghost breastfeeding helpline - la leche also good I think. Hopefully someone will come along with better advice - it's ages since I was at your stage & mine wouldn't take a bottle.

goshhhhhh · 27/05/2014 22:30

I do remember green nappies were to do with what I eat - I rather over did the cheese in France once. I do feel for you though....

Original poster

Enidosaurus · 28/05/2014 04:54

Thank you, it's so hard and just really upsets me at every feed. Starting to really wear me down

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springbabydays · 28/05/2014 05:20

Yellow poo is good, green poo means not enough hindmilk. Just means baby needs to feed for longer before moving to the other breast. Which would be fine if she fed longer than 5 minutes! If she's pulling off and seems in pain, could it be colic?

goshhhhhh · 28/05/2014 07:22

Sorry about ghost breastfeeding. If it is colic you could try infacol. My first had it & it was horrible. Let us know how you get on.

Sleepytea · 28/05/2014 07:33

If she's arching her back it could be colic, you may need to speak to your GP and get some ranatidine. In the meantime it may help if you reduce the amount of dairy in your diet. I used to find if I drank fennel tea it would help baby settle easier.
The green poo could indicate something in your diet irritates baby, or that baby is not getting enough fatty milk. I doubt if it's your supply but you may need to do some block feeding ie do a few feeds off one side. The breast contains a watery milk which is the milk baby drains off first. As your breast replenishes (a constant process that happens throughout the feed), milk enters the breast and 'pulls' fat off the ducts as it passes over them. So it may be that your baby is just taking the first milk but not the fatty stuff. By having a few feeds off 1 side, then you can make sure that baby gets the fat. Also you could try breast compressions where you gently squeeze your breast as she feeds.

Original poster

Enidosaurus · 28/05/2014 21:15

Thank you for the replies. I'm sure its not colic DD1 def had it and this one is really chilled out aside from when being put to the breast. I'm also already doing compressions which helps for a teeny amount of time but nothing substantial.

Had some good feeds today but the evening has been crappy.

I've had a little cry and decided to just keep going for as long as I can. I'm pumping now to keep up my supply as she's had 2 bottles this evening.

I'm going to have to wait until next week to get face to face support. Hopefully they'll be able to help

Thanks for the replies. Really appreciate it

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springbabydays · 28/05/2014 22:23

My supply always felt lower in the evenings too. I just let ds feed constantly some evenings. I guess pumping will have the same effect though. Try not to upset yourself as I'm sure you know, stress won't help! Try and relax and enjoy what you are actually doing.

Original poster

Enidosaurus · 28/05/2014 22:39

That's true, DH has been amazing. He basically told me that breastfeeding is going well because although the feeds are heading more towards formula, we still have a happy, content baby and therefore I'm doing fine.

Thing is, I know in a 6 months/ a year it won't be an issue at all. I wish I'd known that first time around when I buried myself in guilt

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