DD refusing to feed properly and I'm miserable about it!

[whomovedmychocolate]

Following my recent posts - DD is now refusing to feed properly, pulling away and fussing like crazy but clearly very very hungry. She'll eat solids and drink water but apparently mummy milk is not what she wants .

I can't cope with this, I'm spending much of my time feeling or being sick and I still have another week till I can do a pregnancy test.

She keeps waking up at 4am starving because of it (two days running) and so on top of everything else I'm knackered.

And I have really sore norks too!

{sad] We went to Sainsburys at 7am today because I couldn't think what else to do with her and I burst into tears in the milk aisle because there was one carton of milk on it's own and it looked lonely . Which is bloody ridiculous I know.

DH doesn't understand why it's a big deal if she doesn't want my milk. . He says at 7 and a half months I've made such a great start and if I had to quit now it would be okay, which rationally I know is true but I want/wanted to go on till at least a year, but she doesn't seem up for it.

I feel so horribly sad though. I don't want to give DD formula but if this goes on much longer I may have to consider it.

oh poor love, it does sound like your pregnant, crying over the poor milk doesn't it

my LO goes for a whole day sometimes without eating (and he isn't even on solids yet),he just squirms and gets upset every time i put him to the breast. i just figure he must know what he needs and go with it. well, actually what can i do? i can't force him to drink.

how long has dd refused the breast for now?

here are some links about 'nursing strike'. maybe this is what is happening.

www.lalecheleague.org/NB/NBNovDec92p173.html

www.breastfeed-essentials.com/nursingstrike.html

www.lalecheleague.org/FAQ/strike.html

i've also heard that some babies do decide to self wean when you become pregnant due to changes in the taste of the milk .

i don't know what the case is with your LO. but its worth giving the chance to dd to continue if she'll come back to it. otherwise, its completely natural to feel sad about ending nursing, especially if you've intended to feed for much longer.

WMMC I am so sorry to hear this

here's another link for you from Kellymom

and I would suggest phoning LLL if you can to talk it through with someone who will understand the emotional as well as the physical side

Apart from anything else, if dd has stopped breastfeeding cold turkey then your hormones are going to be all over the shop and it is normal to feel depressed while hormone levels adjust

Thanks everyone, for your support and links.

I did get her to feed for half an hour this morning, but we had to do total kangaroo again - her in her nappy on my bare skin - even then she wasn't terribly happy about it though she did go to sleep and nurse in her sleep (which is why I think she fed then).

She is feeding, just not as much as normal and is fussing terribly, pulling away, squirming and being a general ratbag. She's trying and trying to feed but when she gets a mouthful makes a disgusted type face and pulls away. Maybe I should rub chocolate on my nipple or something .

I'm starting to think that rather than being pregnant I might actually be sick because I'm hot too, which will make me doubly sad!

But at least one of the links cheered me up, it said nursing strikes can be caused by mum being under stress - my MiL left after a visit yesterday so I have been under a tad of stress.

I'll keep trying. She sat there at lunchtime eating a tuna mayo panini in the pub quite happily so there is clearly nothing wrong with her appetite. I hope she's just having a bad 48 hours and will spontaneously recover her love of mummy milk.

Bath is another good place to try - you are both relaxed and naked

Hope you are not ill WMMC - were you hoping to be pregnant or is it an unexpected possibility?

I would be wonderful if I was. (Pregnant that is not ill). But DH would also be a bit because we've only had sex about once a quarter.

She's now decided mummy's milk is the best thing in the world (fickle child! ) but is now pinching my boobs when she nurses so I have small red welts on them. How lovely! . Oh well at least she's decided it's worth a go at last.

Could it have been teething? Or a problem with her ears? DS goes through stages of pulling off (he's nearly 8 months) and I'm def not pregnant

Hi Slim

No she has plenty of teeth already and is only waiting for her molars now! Her ears are fine too.

She seems to be coming out of the nursing sulk now (thank goodness) and hurrah I haven't thrown up for six hours!

Oh well I hope

a) breastfeeding continues well
b) you stop feeling nauseous
c) you are pregnant

oh and I also hope you manage to get your oats more often in future

If you are pregnant it apparently can make the milk taste different and takes some babies a while to get used to it. Hope things improve.

Thanks Franny!

Had just started to feel better, and stepped in (note not on) a dead mouse the cat had decided was 'dinner'

Oh god

my cat used to leave me little 'love parcels' all the ruddy time

usually on my bed

Ex DH once got naked, got into bed where I was already sleeping and put his arm round me to cuddle me and put his hand onto something feathery.

It wasn't a pillow

I heard that around this time, babies can get very distracted in the day. mine is like this. She makes up for it by feeding at night (shell only BF lying down on our bed). But I read that you shouldnt see it as a sign that they want to wean, because often its not.

mine is the same. will only eat in dark room lying down or just before i put him down for sleep/naps. is rather inconvenient, but thats just how he is at the moment.