HELP!! Why won't he drink it?

[Nosnik]

I have just given in and given DS 3 oz of formula just cos I can't take the crying any more. I have milk in my breasts but he won't drink it. He sucks well for 5 minutes, sometimes he is flooded then he just starts bouncing back and forth and crying as if he's in pain or something but he drank 3 oz of expressed milk straight off. Whats going on, is he lazy?

Tough one, could be several reasons, how old is he? has he drunk from a bottle many times? does he have a favourite side? if so, does it help to start him on that side? Is he getting distracted by something? just thinking out loud here...

he had a bottle 3 times in first week then nothing til yesterday.

How old is he now?

Any of this info help?

Wondering if it sounds like you have a fast let down?? Perhaps drinking from a bottle means that he isn't getting 'flooded'. It sounds like my DD. There are lots of things you can do to help with this, iirc you could tyr lying down to feed?
There is lots about this on Kellymom.com, have a proper look, but just found this, which may help.

None of the strategies worked 100% for me, but it got a lot better as DD got used to it.

remembered whilst we were out that one sided feeding worked well for us. try this thread for more info if it is infact too fast let-down.

Good luck, keep bumping because someone more knowledgable may come along later

How are you getting on Nosnik?

Nosnik - need more info:

• age of your baby
• growth
• health
• when the problem began

Hello tiktok, DS is 5 1/2 weeks old. He weighed 13 lbs 2 oz last Thurs. He was 12 lbs 5 oz at birth. I used 1 0z of formula three times in first week until my milk came in.

In the last week he has cried alot more than usual and has taken ages to settle. He was feeding every hour during the day. The morning feeds start off fine but then at lunchtime feed around 1 o clock he starts to feed erratically. He never sleeps for longer than 40 mins during the day. He goes 4 hours at night and then feeds and sleeps another two hours and thats it, hour and half to hour feeds after that.

Today I woke up early and expressed 5 oz (6 am). He woke up 1 hr later (7 am) and fed for about 7-8 mins on each breast (sleepily) then he had the expressed milk. He dozed for 30 mins on way to school. (after a screamy journey to school yesterday following unsuccessful sleepy feed).

By the time I got to school (0840) he had woken up and was screaming again. I got home by 910 (he cried all the way home) and surprise surprise he wouldn't settle. It took half an hour to settle him enough for him to get any milk. He was doing what I described in original post. After all that he just fell asleep after 4 mins so I woke him up, changed his nappy which led to more crying and beginning the whole thing again. By the time he had finished both breasts he slept for 40 mins and woke up screaming again . I tried winding and rocking for half hour but he was just hungry and I had no milk left. I gave him formula. I can't type any more I'm too upset, it won't get anywhere anyway I'll just have to give up.

I've just read that, prob has changed from original post to include me not producing enough milk. Sorry its just an emotional rant that doesn't make sense.

Thank you minky and dalrymps btw.

Nosnik - sounds exhausting and demoralising....still not sure what's going on. When you say 'but he was just hungry and I had no milk left', what made you think you had no milk left?

I am not sure how often he is feeding over 24 hours.

I'm wondering if simply feeding more often over the weekend, perhaps taking him to bed if you have help with the other children, and chilling with him skin to skin all cuddled up would help? Have you tried calling one of the bf helplines?

If he is crying in pain whilst feeding could he have reflux? Babies can have silent reflux which means they aren't actually sick but swallow the regurgitated milk back down - it can be very painful. Babies with reflux can also find it hard to sleep as they are uncomfortable. There is medication available if he does have reflux - might be worth running by your hv or gp?

I guess it looks like it's not the case, but I have to say that he sounds just like my DD was. I hope you start to feel a bit better soon, it can be so hard. Good luck.