So just how LITTLE milk can a bfed baby survive on? <<sighs>>

[2Happy]

ds2 (9m) was a little slow to start on solids - didn't get the hang until he was over 7m. But now he's munching happily. Unfortunately, he seems less happy to bfeed and had dropped to 3 feeds a day.
Fair enough, I thought, ds1 was the same at 9m. But the last 4 days he's been refusing feeds all over the place, taking a couple of sucks then fighting me off. And I can't force him - mostly because his idea of saying "no" is to grasp my nipple, stick his fingernails in, and twist. Ow.
So today he only had morning and night milk, and neither was a particularly long feed.
Why is he doing this? Surely he can't manage on so little milk? Am I going to have to introduce formula??! GGGGGGGGRNAAAAAARGHHH

no help I am afraid as dd's were ff but bump for you

Hi, eandh

2happy could this be a "nursing strike"?

Kellymom advice on nursing strikes

That's really useful, thanks. I'd kind of assumed it was self-weaning because he's been dropping feeds left, right and centre since getting into solids. But this week has been a much more sudden, and emotional (from him) refusal that a nursing strike sounds about right. He is teething. And he's had 2 colds in the last month. And he bit me this week - though I don't think I reacted... I would like to baby-moon or something, but with a 2.5 year old that's kind of hard

My baby girl is 6 1/2 months old and formula fed, but acted in a very similar way to your son the week before she cut her first two teeth. She's doing the same this week - it's a struggle to get anything down her, and I don't want to force-feed her (doubt I could if I tried actually). It's a worry. I'm hoping there's two new teeth on the way, or at least that she gets over it soon.

I hope she feels better, too lazyemma. ds2 had a good feed this am, but again at lunchtime took one side then tried to wrench my boob off when I offered him the second side. I'm going to have to get the pump out I think

Hey 2H, have not been around much as started back to work - ds is sort of similar excpet I initiated the reduction in bfs as he was going to go to nursery/looked after by dh 4 days a week and as you know long days - ds has steadfastly refused all forms of liquids in the daytime - has the occasional sip of water to wet his whistle and that is it. he seems fine wet nappy etc and has a feed mornig and night from me. I have tried all bottles cups etc and does not like them so we have gone down the line well if he was thirsty he would drink so not got too worried about it. He has yog yogs and cereal etc during the day and lots of fruit which I think helps. Anyway just to say all are different and all will settle again it may well be his teeth etc we are on number 7 now!!!

Thanks, Loosh, that's pretty reassuring for me. He's taken the lunchtime feed the past 3 days, but hasn't exactly guzzled it down, and I know my supply has been affected - my boobs were like sad sacks on monday! His cold/teething's not so bad this week, so maybe he'll stick where he is, would really rather he didn't drop the lunchtime feed. I'm glad W is surviving/thriving! ds2's been grizzly again today, I'm hoping we're not in for more teething/cold.

Desperate ahhh. Need advice on this situation. Had to go back to work at 8weeks so DS ebm bottle and bf in mornings and evenings. No problem. Tiring for me cos express a day 10 to 12 ounces. DS had no confusion with bf and bottle for 14 weeks until last week Wednesday. DS Refusing bottle feeds and amounts getting less and less. He refuses bottle completely now. Dropped from 25th centile at age 18 weeks to 9th at 22 weeks. Refusing to feed from bottle during the day. Will BF fine in evenings and throughout night with co sleeping.

The weight drop coincides with injections. Off colour, not eating well and continued for more than a week. Took to HV this Wednesday gone AM. Waste of time. Said I should feed him. What do they think I am trying to do?

He is active, alert, babbling etc. But notice when he is held sitting upright he is more wobbly.

DS always interested in food. Will taste lentil soup and suck apples and carrots etc. Sips from a diddy cup. About ounce at a time. Do we need to start weaning? HV recommend not wean until 6months.

Also he still needs bottles to make up difference in the day if weaned.Dilemma???

Teething? sharp gums ouch bf. Dribbly and fist sucks etc. Give calgel, calpol, teething rings and etc from fridge and teething powder.
Wind cos he ain't eating. Infacol given.

Think will take next week off just solely bf to get weight back up but is a temporary soluton. Please advise cos he feels light.

how old is he now? he doesn't necessarily need ebm during the day if he's getting bf morning and through the night. will he take water during the day from a sippy cup/bottle?

Desperate ahhh. Need advice on this situation. Had to go back to work at 8weeks so DS ebm bottle and bf in mornings and evenings. No problem. Tiring for me cos express at week 10 to 12 ounces. DS had no confusion with bf and bottle for 14 weeks until last week Wednesday. DS Refusing bottle feeds and amounts getting less and less. He refuses bottle completely now. Dropped from 25th centile at age 18 weeks to 9th at 22 weeks. Refusing to feed from bottle during the day. Will BF fine in evenings and throughout night with co sleeping.

The weight drop coincides with injections. Off colour, not eating well and continued for more than a week. Took to HV this Wednesday gone AM. Waste of time. Said I should feed him. What do they think I am trying to do?

He is active, alert, babbling etc. But notice when he is held sitting upright he is more wobbly.

DS always interested in food. Will taste lentil soup and suck apples and carrots etc. Sips from a diddy cup. About ounce at a time. Do we need to start weaning? HV recommend not wean until 6months.

Also he still needs bottles to make up difference in the day if weaned.Dilemma???

Teething? sharp gums ouch bf. Dribbly and fist sucks etc. Give calgel, calpol, teething rings and etc from fridge and teething powder.
Wind cos he ain't eating. Infacol given.

Think will take next week off just solely bf to get weight back up but is a temporary soluton. Please advise cos he feels light.

Oops -- I seem to have posted my message twice? sorry

DS1 is only 23 weeks (today) (a little over 5 months) I really don't know why he has changed his feeding habits so drastically. I don't particularly want to wean him before 6 months but I don't know what else to do

Ponkalunk, ds2 dropped his weight gain (and one month actually lost weight) so that he went from 75th at 8w to 25th at about 23w. He was born on the 50th though, so the actual loss was only one centile. I tried cramming more bfeeds into him, but that made him unhappy - except for night feeds, he would accept one of those - meant I was in the weird position of waking my sleeping baby up to feed . Anyway, he stayed on the 25th, for a couple of months but is now nearer the 50th. Comparing with other bfed babies, it seems to be fairly normal for them to plateau somewhat at about this age.

I also found that ds2 was totally disinterested in food until he was 7.5m old, yet in the last 1.5m since he started wolfing food down he hasn't exactly piled weight on - so no help as far as weight is concerned - which is as it should be, weaning should be about tastes, not weight gain etc.

Also, maybe your ds is much more active now? I know mine was at that age, so burning off a lot more energy.

Sorry, that's all a bit disjointed, just trying to offer any advice I can (like I'm in a position to offer advice )

2Happy and anyone. Just need some support. Took DS to HV and he has dropped below 9th centile in a week. He is being referred to hospital. Saw a nutritionist last week and she said all was fine. He refused bf this morning before I went to work at noon. So nothing from 8.45am to 2pm. GM said he has only had 7oz today. last 1 and a half oz was force fed. Started the baby rice. He is taking it fine twice a day from last Friday. It is all very stressful not knowing what else to do? I don't want him to have a drip in hospital.

He seems active enough. He rolled onto his tummy for the first time on Sunday night and this morning. He had quite an active weekend and saw other babies older than him doing a lot more. Maybe he was inspired. But HV says he should be sitting up unaided by now. He can only sit up with a little support. She is seeing him tomorrow to check on him. Still night feeding on demand to try and make up the feeds. He feeds better when he is half asleep or in a sleeping state.

Anyway just wanted to get things off my chest. Feels like I cannot think properly. Boss is on my back at work. DH is stressed and is getting same response at his workplace. Nobody seems to take seriously the fact that my baby is not eating properly and is losing weight quickly.

ponklunck, when I read the bit about 'should be sitting up unaided' I blinked - your baby is 6 mths, and not to be sitting up unaided is perfectly ok. Most babies are sitting up unaided by about 8 mths, true enough, but I would say 6 mths was on the early side....are your sure your HV is clued up? I have just done a web search on this, and I am right!

Weight falls in the chart could be him finding his own level - has he actually lost weight? On scales you can trust? After being weighed naked? If he has lost weight (and not just half an ounce) then it makes sense to look at his diet, I agree, but not in isolation from the rest of him, which you say is healthy and happy and active.

It's horrible to be so confused, and honestly, from what you say here, you will be told he is just fine and to carry on doing what you are doing to encourage him to eat.

looshkin, you seem nice and laid back...can you or anyone else give me some advice on this subject. Want to stop breastfeeding after 6 exclusive months but my son has other ideas...feeding him by boob morning and night but trying to give aptamil at midday and 2.15ish. Trying...he won't have any without a BIG struggle-trying to use a cup as he has had his Doidy for water without a complaint. Really worried today because only managed to get about 60ml down him- under protest and he had a dry nappy at bed-time. Worried that I should be concentrating more on getting the water down him so that he isn't dehydrated. So worried about the milk though, particularly as I keep reading that they should be having 600ml at this age. He is eating 3 good meals a day and had yogurt this morning and babyrice with milk at tea time???? Help somebody!!

Hi tiktok. Thanks for reassuring me. My goodness I didn't know about the eight months. I sit DS between my legs and let him play. I was going to spend £50 on a play nest. Do you think it would be worth it?

He hasn't lost weight but seems to gaining small amounts. I originally thought they level off at this age and the nutritionist at the weaning party did not seem worried. He gets weighed naked on scales at the health centre. Admittedly I do weigh him on the less accurate bathroom scales at home. He is still very active and generally happy otherwise.

He had 45 mls of banana/ breast milk yesterday and has taken apple and pear puree OK a couple of times. He enjoys baby rice. So I don't think he has problems with eating. He takes EBM from a beaker with a concave lid with a hole for the fluid to flow. It has handles for him to grip. He drinks from it himself with less spillage. The HV was more concerned about fluid intake. Therefore I am am bf him what feels like constantly out of paranoia.

He does have wet nappies and had three poos yesterday. He has a cold that has been with him for a week so I am sure that is affecting his eating habits.

Anyway, thanks again I will talk to the H about this hen I see her on tomorrow.