Breastfeeding coming to unwanted end and I can't seem to stop it

[Nobhobs]

I just feel devastated and like I'm not getting much help so if anyone has any advice it would be greatly appreciated.

My 3mo has been ebf until the last few days. About two weeks ago he started randomly being really fussy when I tried to feed him and just wouldn't latch. He'd scream and scream when I tried to latch him. Every now and then he'd latch but would have a few sucks then scream. I battled on trying to ebf but it got to the point he just wasn't feeding. I went to see a midwife who checked everything and all seemed fine with how I was trying to latch, he just didn't want to. I pumped a bottle and he downed it like he was absolutely starving.

This continued for the past week, and I went to see my health visitor and his weight has dropped from the 50th centile to the 9th. Overall in himself he's fine, he just won't breastfeed. Got sent to GP who ruled out illness and said it was a feeding issue. I've been trying to continue with the breast, and it's offered at every feed but if he won't take it I have to pump a bottle which he downs.

With him barely feeding my supply has dropped dramatically, I used to be able to pump quite well and now it's like getting blood out of a stone. Went back to see HV who showed me how to have express and again, bare minimum. She said I'll have to start supplementing with formula as he can't afford to lose any more weight.

What can I do now? Now formulas involved it's just a matter of time. It took months to establish breastfeeding and I wanted to atleast make it to 6 months, not just 3

Could be silent reflux?

@JamesonCask Sorry should of mentioned he has quite bad reflux (not silent) he's on ranitidine for. He's definitely on the correct dose and had been improving steadily for two months now

I'm really really sorry for you and can understand how upsetting this must be. The same thing happened to two very close friends of mine who were determined to breast feed and absolutely devastated when it didn't work out. It sounds to me as though you'll have to accept that your son just prefers his bottle, hard though that is. You won't start producing more milk if you deprive your son of formula! So just pump what you can but his main diet now is going to have to be formula - and there is nothing wrong with that!

I have no experience of this particular problem with bf ing but IME midwives don’t give great bf advice. If you can I’d pay for a private lactation consultant (IBLC), if not join bf ing/ la leche league group and read Kelly Mom. You obv want to make sure he doesn’t lose more weight but formula doesn’t necessarily need to spell the end of bf ing if you don’t want it to and you get the right advice. I know quite a few people who successfully combi fed formula and breastmilk. Lots of skin to skin, breast out and available, bath together. If you want to maintain milk can you get better hospital grade pump and do a pumping schedule - if pumping demand goes up will supply? Hopefully you’ll get good advice soon but I remember the panic of problems and thinking it spelt the end. Fingers crossed. You’ve done really well so far, sorry it’s got so difficult and worrying again after establishing supply.

No advice, but that sounds devastating. Could you afford to go and see a local IBLC? Otherwise, my local la leche group has a Facebook group that offers support with qualified leaders, could you see if yours does? Otherwise the National Facebook Group Breastfeeding Yummy Mummies has admin who are qualified breastfeeding support and might be able to help?

Did you up the dose to the maximum for his weight, his weight is going up so the dose has to go up?

What weight is he NOW? There is a way of working it out, go back to the paediatrician.

Sorry I know this is stressful.