Baby wont take breast

[Cantfindausername1]

I have been breastfeeding since birth he was straight on the nipple when he came out. Went well for a couple of weeks but then kept falling asleep and wasn't getting enough I expressed and he was fine on the bottle but refusing nipple more and more. Now he seems to be teething and will put everything in his mouth but now will not go near my nipple. He pulls at my top and bra but as soon as I get it out he turns away. So I'm now expressing all the milk. I've tried nipple shields hours of skin on skin he just will not put it in his mouth. Anyone have any tips. TIA

Thanks for all you help

It's a very long time since I breast fed but my understanding is that it's easier to get the milk from a bottle; harder work from the breast. So maybe he likes the smell of milk from you but would rather get the quicker fix from the bottle.

Are you happy expressing? Is it easier all round to just continue with that or are you finding it a pain? I think you should be kind to yourself and do whatever is easiest.

It is no shame to give up trying to get him to latch on - one of my babies wanted nothing to do with it - there was nothing I could do about it.

Find a breast feeding support group in your local area. The help they gave me was second to none and free. If you do a google search you should find something!

Take to your bed with him. Loads of skin to skin all day. Just be all naked!

Give him a couple of minutes on the bottle to settle him then sneak a nipple into his mouth.

Nipple shields can help transition back to boob.

Remain calm. Loads of babies do this. As long as he's got plenty wet and dirty nappies keep preserving with the boob. It's so much easier in the long run. If you get flustered and upset stop and try again another time.

Best of luck!

Expressing every couple of hrs but can't go out for to long. I always take a bottle but have had to buy ready made formula a couple of times. Was just hoping I can get him to latch for ease but yeah it doesn't come quick enough for the greedy little monster. I'll have a look for breastfeeding groups. I'll try and have a day in bed aswell got nothing planned for tomorrow so will just have cuddles all day and try that. Thanks

Like anything with babies, keep at it. At the end of the day, babies wont starve, they will be fed either way, you have to look at what you're happy doing. If you want to keep trying or expressing, go for it, if its not making you happy, go for bottle. Baby wont remember hard times, but you will, so do what you need to do xxxx