Combo fed 4 month old refusing bottle!

[dreamerkr]

I’ve been combo feeding my 4 month old DS and it’s been working out really well for both of us. However, he’s been sick with a viral infection over the last few days and he’s still recovering from that. He’s had a low grade fever, a sore throat and a cough. Since the last 2-3 days he hasn’t been drinking well with the bottle. Today, he’s totally refusing the bottle and isn’t drinking from it at all. From last night actually. I don’t mind exclusively breastfeeding him but I really don’t think that he would get full enough as my milk supply isn’t thaattt high. I want to continue combo feeding but I don’t know why he starts thrashing around and crying whenever I offer the bottle. Any advice?

Try ebf? He’ll either feed constantly for the next few days until your supply catches up, or he’ll start looking for the bottle when he’s hungry.

what do you mean by supply isn’t that high? It won’t be at the minute because you’ve been combo feeding, but it should be able to get back up there after a day or so.

how do you know a 4m old has a sore throat btw? 😁

I’m trying but he doesn’t get full so he definitely needs some formula too. I will feed constantly for hours and I hope my supply catches up, I’m so worried right now.

We took him to the GP and they checked his throat and chest, his throat was red and inflamed 😩 like me and DH.

How do you know he's not full?

If he's feeding a lot now it's likely that he's 1) upping your supply and 2) getting lots of comfort and immunity from your milk.

When babies are poorly they can feed a lot as it makes them feel better, especially if they have a sore throat.

He doesn’t seem satisfied after a feed, even if he feeds for hours

Four month regression time too? Mine was combi-fed and, no, I'd never have had enough supply to EBF as I have medical reasons for low supply.

She went through fussy patches with feeding and the four month one was particularly gruesome as it affected sleep too. She returned to 'normal' within about 3 weeks. I just used to keep latching her on, then offering formula and she eventually settled back at about 50/50 BF/FF.

Oh and mine also got grumpy and frustrated with bottles when she needed to go up a teat size - it solved the problem both times so might be worth a try.

Might be worth calling the NCT infant feeding line or going to a breastfeeding group.

They can ask the right questions to see what's going on and how to support.

Changing teat size can be hit or miss for combi fed babies. Our nipple holes don't change so I was always told to keep them on newborn teats.

Not seeming satisfied after a feed could be cluster feeding. Normal if you're changing supply or they've been unwell, could also be other stuff so best to chat to a professional.

Yes, but they get a lot more efficient at sucking so BFs tend to get much quicker, then they get frustrated with the slow flow teats as bottles then take ages. Anyway worth a try as either it'll solve the problem or you'll know it's not that!