Nursing strike at 7 weeks- please help

[trixgus]

My seven week old daughter has been exclusively breast fed apart from the first 5 days when we had difficulties. She has been gaining weight and I have had no concerns with her feeding. I have been occassionally expressing and giving a bottle but only once or twice a week.
She fed as usual at 1930 last night, and slept through until 3am- her longest ever stint. When she woke to feed my breasts did feel engorged, and after 30 minutes of failing to get her latched on I expressed 4 ounces and fed her via the bottle assuming engorgement was to blame. Then at 0730 she again would not latch, so I expressed an ounce and then tried to latch her again with no success, so ended up expressing and bottle feeding again. So what do I do now, I am worried that the more bottles I give the less she will be inclined to latch on, and I really want to continue breast feeding. Please help!

Why not try expressing some to take the edge off the engorgement and then feed her as normal (i.e don't give her the expressed milk in a bottle)?

I have tried that but she will not latch on at all - tried nipple shields at last feed but that did not work either. She looks like she tries to latch on but there is no suction at all. She is not unwell and is taking a feed from the bottle with no problem.

Does she try and suck? Does she suck on the bottle or does the milk just flow in and she swallows?

To be honest, if it's bottle preference I think the advice is to ditch the bottles and feed another way. You can use a syringe for example. Then offer the breast. Try offering when she's drowsy or asleep as she'll go with her instinct then.

Is it both boobs she's rejecting? What happens - does she look upset? Has she ever had previous incidents on the breast like choking or being scared during a feed?

Even if she doesn't look ill, you should rule out thrush and ear infections - so see the GP.

I would keep trying every half hour or so but do it casually. Try not to let her sense any upset and give her lots of cuddles etc inbetween.

My DS went on strike at 12 weeks and now at 21 weeks he still won't feed unless drowsy. Or if he's hungry but not tired. And only where there are few distractions!! Mine is an extreme case - I have an over supply problem so he chokes and gets upsets.

Igglybuff's offered some good advice. Would definitely see GP to rule out any problems

0845 120 2918 is the number for the La Leche League helpline. They are fantastic and hopefully should be able to offer some help.