That's it, really. He had a cold all last week, and I know his feeding reduced, but I wasn't worried overmuch because I knew it'd step up again as soon as he could breathe easier (and I didn't express...) but then he got a nasty virus on the back of that cold which gave him a sore throat and possibly achey shoulders/joints (I know this partly from watching him, and he cried when trying to swallow solids, and partly because I now have the sodding virus, and it's horrible!). His feeds went right down. He was keener on feeding when very sleepy, but if he was alert, he'd resist violently, pushing away, arching and screaming blue murder.
We tried feeding him after his calpol/nurofen, which helped to an extent, and tried all positions known to woman. On the last day he was unwell, he hardly wet a nappy and we were told to get fluids in by any means possible (which we did: juicy strawberries crushed up, offering him boobs from a sitting position, allowing him to 'come across' boobs while he was playing, sippy cups, etc). He is wetting himself more now but still nowhere near enough. Doesn't show any other signs of dehydration.
Now he's better, he still has a residual fear of the boob and is roaring furiously if I bare them in front of him, or get him into his customary sideways position on the Widgey. I have had limited success (2 or 3 mins) feeding him lying down, or sort of semi-supine, but soon enough he realises what's happening and roars. He has also fed better in the middle of the night, while very sleepy.
I'm intending to spend tomorrow bare-boobed and extremely available (t'woud be amusing if I didn't feel so crappy with the virus). I've read the relevant stuff on Kellymom. I'm devastated at his violent refusal, even though I'm telling myself it isn't personal, it's got a much more simple cause.
Does anyone have any other tips or happy stories to give me hope?