refusing one breast

[Lee1]

HELP can anybody help me-my 6 month old is weaned and is full of cold and now starting to refuse 1 breast and the bottle he had at bed time.
I breast feed him at 7 and then give breaskfast an hour later, then TRY to breast feed at 11ish (he can refuse). Then give solid at 11.45 and then TRY to give water from a variety of containers in bid to see if he will take as scared dehydrating as nappies aren't too wet as before. Then try to give water later at 2pm or 3pm. Then give tea at 5.oo and then attempt to give either bottle or breast at 6.30. He screams. He refuses whether tired, well rested, isolated , in front room. HELP am scared the refused breast will dry up. Am aware he is snotty so might not want to feed and is eating solid well (have sneaked some milk into his food). But am anxious he will become dehydrated and is obviously not taking the recommenrded minimum amount of milk.
Thank yiu for reading this!!!!!

Maybe your flow is a bit faster on that side and that is hard for him as he is so blocked up? Try feeding him as upright as possible,(or maybe using one of those snot extractors!)Or maybe pump a bit off first so he gets a less forceful flow .probably be back to normal v.soon .My dd went on a total nursing strike for few days at 7m,her teeth were hurting I think,but she hasn't done it since.

hey thanks for quick reply and for wading through my typos!!!
Am turning neurotic with tthe constant worry re. his feeding.
how long did your lil girl refuse to feed?

Have you tried holding DS as if you were feeding off the left breast but putting him on the right? My DS has refused the breast on and off for weeks now (fast flow, world is too exciting, so many reasons!) but is getting back on. SOmetimes he gets upset with the right boob because it's much faster and makes him choke, so I trick him by holding him so he's on his right hand side as if on the left boob. It works!

I shall try that...am unsure whether to feed him at 10ish before I go to bed just so he has had some milk (although I haven't done this feed for ages).

Hi Lee1

My ds has had a preference for my left breast since five months old. He always has to have the left breast first, and then when less frantic I transfer him to the other breast which he sometimes take.

Have you tried dreamfeeding? My ds will take the left breast without complaint when really tired.

Also try side lying position; if your ds is objecting to being on one side because he is bunged up, he can feed from both breasts on his favourite side just by altering your position; in the morning I lie on my side in bed and my ds will take his favourite brest first then just by leaning forward slightly, he can reach the second (though I do have big boobs!).

Also try the rugby hold and get him under your arm. He will be lying on his favourite side. This foxes my son.

Your milk supply shouldn't dry up though as long as he is still taking some milk from the neglected breast

Just re-read - he's refusing the bottle as well? Can you get him in a steamy room to see if that helps clear his nose? e.g. in the bathroom run a hot shower and get it nice and steamy. I know when I have a cold, it's worse in the evenings/at night so maybe that's it?

Lee1 could you try feeding him in his sleep as fluffy says? Babies tend to instinctively feed when asleep so worth a shot.

I shall try all the above...hoping it is just a phase cos of cold but the refusal of night time milk has been goin on and off for a fortnight or more. Think I may be scarring him for life with my boob being thrust at him!!!
thanks again.

She refused to breastfeed for nearly three days,it was horrible as I was engorged,trying to pump and it sent my hormones haywire so I was crying all the time.My GP said "had you thought that maybe she wants to stop ?" (she was feeding every 2-3hours at the time and only just eating small amounts of solids Grr)eventually I was back in the GP's surgery for the 2nd day running getting her ears checked (which were inflamed) and the GP suggested I try again and she latched on.Prior to that she would latch on,try to feed cry,turn away,and start screaming and then she'd just refused to latch on at all.She cut a tooth shortly after and I have had no probs since,still feeding her and she is 2.9

Good luck. I spoke to NCT about this and they said not to force feeds - if DS gets upset, stop trying and comfort him. Offer the boob at other times of the day (casually and don't get upset or don't show that you're upset if he refuses). Also don't put him in the breastfeeding position if he's grumpy.
Also play with your DS loads so he doesn't just associate you with boob which he clearly doesn't get on with at the moment. Try not to take it personally! It is hard, but you'll find a way.

He is constantly dribbling and did cut a tooth at 5 months! Hoping it is another tooth somewhere trying to get out. My family think I over feed him but I only give the solid that he wants and then leave off. Have tried to reduce the amount in case that was his problem. Way to go with the nursing at 2+.

Cheers Igglybuff for that.

no worries hope it sorts itself out!

it is probably a combination of snotty nose and teething,it is really stressful i know but persevere and it should all go back to normal pretty soon .good luck!

Lets hope that is the case- cheers everyone- feel loads better.