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Infant feeding

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

Breast refusal advice

6 replies

localbunny · 03/07/2025 08:01

FTM to my 4 week old LO. Latched well at first in the hospital, thought things were going well and I was merrily sent home only to be readmitted the next day by my community midwife as baby had low blood sugar from not enough food. Then spent three days in hosp topping up with formula and keeping up with trying to latch (he'd have a go then give up really quickly). Had minor posterior tongue tie addressed in the days after we got out of hospital and I pumped to increase supply whilst continuing FF, but LO still struggled to stay on the boob (seemed to get tired?) and began to develop a bottle preference. Now at four weeks he refuses to even try to latch and just cries at the boob. I'm devastated as I really wanted to BF, even if not able to exclusively. Is there anything I can try? The only thing midwives and LCs seem to say is 'skin to skin' but we've done absolutely tonnes of it. Feel really down about it all.

OP posts:
MrsSlocombesCat · 03/07/2025 12:26

It's not the end of the world. I had to stop bf at 4 weeks the first time because I had really bad mastitis and I couldn't stand the pain. The second time I lasted 9 weeks, the third time three months.There is no discernible health difference between the three of them. Some people can't bf for whatever reason, the important thing is that you wanted to. Maybe it's best for your baby to be bottle fed, and for you to feel relaxed.

graceinc22 · 03/07/2025 17:51

My baby has real difficulties latching at first, it was so upsetting. 4 weeks is still very young. It sounds like you want to continue bf and haven't had much help - fight fight fight for proper support. Look up la leche league, they do meetings with experienced breastfeeding counsellors as leaders and other breastfeeding mums. Also if you can afford to pay for help, look into a session with an IBCLC (international board certified lactation consultant). If you want to keep on going then I advise you developing a thick skin for all the unwanted advice are likely to get to stop trying!!

graceinc22 · 03/07/2025 17:52

The la leche league website has lots of helpful articles like this one laleche.org.uk/getting-breastfeeding-on-track-after-a-difficult-start-the-3-keeps/

Superscientist · 03/07/2025 20:11

My daughter developed feeding aversions due to silent reflux and allergies. Feeding was causing pain so she only fed the bare minimum and pulled on and off every few seconds

Dfjackson · 08/07/2025 14:57

Try lots of sleepy feeding at night x

My baby fed much better sleepy and my milk supply really went through the roof! Ended up with an over supply in the end!

But yeah maybe spend a few nights snug up late at night just cuddling and trying to sleepy feed x

Keggles36 · 10/07/2025 20:22

As someone else has said try and look up local la Leche league group - they saved my breastfeeding! Also google "flipple" as that seemed to help my little one latch.

I'm sending you so much love as this bit is really hard, but it does get better whatever happens with feeding I promise xxx

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