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Infant feeding

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

Breast refusal/baby eating less

3 replies

clingon1012 · 13/11/2023 04:03

Hi, my 7 week old has been combo fed from birth - trying to exclusively breast feed but not producing enough milk for him. He was 4.4kg at exactly 6 weeks, which means a gain of 1.2kg since birth.

He has been taking breast fine, but a nursing session takes up to an hour or more. The past week or so he will sometimes refuse breast and start crying. It can either be a few minutes into nursing or when switched to another boob (doesn't matter which one), but recently he's already crying before even latching on! Is there any reason for this? I don't think it's to do with the letdown because he cries before he has even started nursing. And one side has a much faster letdown than the other, but he refuses both.

Another issue is the past few days other than boob refusal, he's been taking much less milk. Last week he could take up to 120ml per session, but the past few days its been 90ml give or take and very distracted when eating meaning it takes a while. He also seems to be more tired - he's never been a great napper and he's still not, but he seems to be tired when it comes to feeding time and he does fall asleep more but only for short bursts. When awake he is very happy and his normal self, a tad more fussy but I put this down to the 6 week fussiness. Still getting the same amount of wet and dirty nappies as before. No fever. Had his vaccines at the 6 week mark.

Is there any correlation to loss of appetite from the vaccines? Its been almost a week since though. And anyone have any ideas on the breast refusal?

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Guibhyl · 13/11/2023 04:36

What makes you think you’re not making enough milk? He’s a qualified lactation consultants told you this?

Also Google the top up trap - breastmilk is made based on supply/demand so if you’re using formula as well it can be tricky because your body will only make what it thinks it needs to make. It doesn’t know your baby is also having formula. So it doesn’t produce more than it thinks baby needs.

Guibhyl · 13/11/2023 04:37

Ps. Yes babies often have a fair few days of fussiness after jabs.

I know it’s hard but if baby is already well over birth weight then I don’t think you need to worry. He make be taking fewer ml because he’s having more milk on the boob. It sounds like he’s doing fine.

clingon1012 · 14/11/2023 04:18

@Guibhyl The reason why I'm pretty sure I have a low supply is because he was always still hungry after a (long) nursing session 😔 I saw a lactation consultant and I had a lot of blocked ducts and my letdowns were almost non existent, so he probably wasn't getting enough milk! I do know about the cycle, so I pump as well in hopes to at least stimulate breasts and to give baby breast milk as top up if needed.

Due to breast refusal (literally crying when he senses the breast near him, before he even tries to latch!) the past couple of days, I haven't been able to breastfeed him much (only a couple of minutes to 5 mins if I'm lucky before he cries), so he isn't getting milk there - unless 5 mins is all he needs to be full which I somehow doubt as it has never taken such little time before... but he really isn't drinking much milk from a bottle either, yet producing wet nappies and seems generally happy otherwise, I just don't know what's happening 😔

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