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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Baby refusing breast all of a sudden

9 replies

yelyahyoung · 14/04/2020 21:16

Posted in wrong category before I found this one...

My baby girl is 6 weeks old and breastfeeding has been going really well and no problems yet. However over the last couple of days she has been hungry but not taking my breast at first? Like she’ll cry and fuss and have it in her mouth but won’t latch until I’ve left it there for a minute to encourage her and then all of a sudden she’s fine and will latch and carry on as normal? Not sure why she could be doing this... I’ve not had a change in soap or change in diet or anything really. The only thing I’ve changed is my deodorant as I found I was having a little trouble with light BO due to BF hormonesblush so that could be a possibility? She does have bottles (maybe 1 a day of expressed milk, but no more than 2) but has been having both since perhaps 2 weeks old so I don’t see bottle/breast confusion could be an issue at this stage? Idk...has anyone else experienced this and could offer some advice? Thank you!

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Original poster
yelyahyoung · 14/04/2020 21:17

The blush was actually supposed to be a Blush face! Lol oops

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Original poster
yelyahyoung · 15/04/2020 06:13

Anyone? I don’t want her to start refusing my breasts altogether :(

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borntobequiet · 15/04/2020 06:17

Goodness knows why I’m posting here (well past my breastfeeding days) - but you’ve changed your smell with your new deodorant. Smell matters to babies. Ditch the deodorant.

userabcname · 15/04/2020 06:45

6 weeks old is a growth spurt/ key development time to it's probably just linked to that. If you're worried try lots of skin-to-skin, feeding in a quiet room, maybe switching positions to see if she settles better feeding in a different way and rhythmically patting her back as she feeds. My second is a fussy feeder and I've found feeding in a rocking chair really helpful as the motion keeps him calm. If she does start refusing the breast that would be a nursing strike - have a look on the kellymom website for tips to overcome it. Good luck.

PigInASlanket · 15/04/2020 07:13

Is she just fussing to up your supply? They're growing so rapidly at that age, it's prime time for fussy and cluster feeding.

homeschoolchaos · 15/04/2020 07:23

I agree smell could be an issue. Your baby doesn’t care if you have BO and we are on lockdown so neither does anyone else!

Is there a reason for the bottles? Are you topping up? If it’s just EBM and there is no other reason than you feel like it I would probably get rid of those tbh. Babies have to work much harder at the breast than the bottle which is why they sometimes refuse the breast. The fuss could also be waiting for your letdown, so you can help by hand expressing a drop onto your nipple.

Original poster
yelyahyoung · 15/04/2020 22:19

Thank you all. Today I didn’t wear any deodorant and I thought when it was time for her first feed after I’d showered that that was it because she didn’t really fuss, but then she did throughout the day. So I don’t think it’s the deodorant. And yes I’ve tried patting her back etc to settle her but it’s not even anything to do with my actual milk I don’t think as she doesn’t even have it in her mouth. She’ll just cry and won’t even attempt to latch, as if she doesn’t recognise it’s there if you know what I mean?? And then she’ll just stop and be fine and latch and have a good feed as if nothing has happened lol it is boggling my mind, so confusing! I have been reading Kellymom about nursing strike, that’s good to know, so thank you for that. I don’t think it’s to do with my supply either as I have quite a big supply, although I could be wrong as she has been cluster feeding. And my let down is definitely not slow lol which can be quite embarrassing when I am letting down and she is not on my boobGrin Oh and I am ditching the bottles, at least for a few days or until we are both comfortable and breastfeeding is back to how it normally is! I guess it really could just be random fussing and/or growth spurt. Who knows. I just hope she won’t get too upset about it bless her little heart. I’ll mention it to the health visitor. Thanks for your help ladies

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homeschoolchaos · 16/04/2020 08:26

This actually sounds sort of normal - babies do this, especially if they’re very hungry. Get all in a panic, and then suddenly realise and latch. If the letdown is fast that could be the problem though. You can let the ‘fire hydrant’ off into a muslin and relatch if she doesn’t like it. That’s not an uncommon problem. It will settle as she grows

Original poster
yelyahyoung · 16/04/2020 10:26

Alright thank you @homeschoolchaos Smile fire hydrant😂😂

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