6mo losing interest in breastfeeding

[Sunrise888]

LO is mostly formula fed as trying to get him to latch was so stressful from birth and my milk production suffered. So we did as much breastfeeding as he would allow, balance is about 80:20.

At months 4-5 he seemed to be much calmer about breastfeeding, especially when lying down. He even started refusing the bottle and greeting my boobs with arms open and rolling towards them for a feed when hungry or for comfort - I was elated and felt we'd found a happy rhythm.

The last few weeks he's lost interest completely. He looks enthusiastic initially, had a couple sucks and then rolls in the opposite direction onto his tummy to play! He'll then reuse to latch on. Trying to feed him in my arms results in lots crying and back arching, pretty much as he used to from birth, which is very dispiriting. But he'll take a bottle, he's clearly hungry.

I'm not sure what to do. I'd hoped to breastfeed exclusively for 2 years, then had to adjust my expectations. I didn't expect he would lose interest so early. I can't express much. It's worsened this last week because of a bad cold we've both shared so he's fed even less and I think my milk is the lowest is ever been.

Does anyone have any advice? Is there any way back from this? We did about 4 months of pumping/fenugreek/domperidone - I don't know if I can go back to all that. I've tried to pump again but let night I couldn't get more than 5ml from both breasts. 😪 Could the cold be affecting my milk supply too?

Stop putting so much pressure on yourself. We all have ideas about the perfect way we are going to parent and it rarely matches reality. Be proud of what you have achieved and move forward. If your baby is happy that is the important thing.

It's his age! Honestly! At 6 months DS was a nightmare to feed. I had to lie in a dark room, with him lying on his side, take away all distractions (no toys), put on white noise to mask any sounds that might interest him....it was a nightmare and he was a bottle refuser so I basically had to stay at home all day to ensure he fed or I'd be up all night feeding to make up for it! Now at 7.5months he is much better. Of course he can have solids which help when out plus he has started to take a bit of formula from a bottle or sippy cup if necessary as he won't latch on if in public. But I can bf downstairs again, when I'm visiting friends/ family and in the car. Just keep offering and hopefully the phase will pass quickly.

*KatnissK thanks that is reassuring to hear it might just be a phase.

*frenchfancy I let go of my expectations a long time ago and I'm fine about being combination fed, but I want to continue breastfeeding him as long as I can.

Arching and crying sounds like reflux. Go to your gp: there are prescription medicines that help.

But also, as katniss says this age is known for being more interested in playing than feeding.

With your history of supply trouble, the risk is that you will doubt your supply and increase formula, which becomes a spiral.

Don't worry about the low amount expressed - your baby gets much more from you than a machine can. I never got more than 60ml from expressing, and actually stopped because it was too stressful and felt counter productive. My lactation consultant told me to put DD to the breast more instead - pretty non-stop at times - and that did work.

If you want to keep breastfeeding, then trust yourself and keep going as you were. It sounds like you've cracked it, and this is just a set back which will pass.

Of course, if this is the last straw and you want to switch to formula, then that is also fine. You've done really, really well to get to 6 months, and you have achieved a lot of the health benefits for your DS.

Supply problems are soul-wrenching. Be kind to yourself. Your DS really will be fine either way.

You know, re-reading your post, it really strikes me that your DS prefers feeding lying down, and won't feed in your arms.

DD - who had reflux - also wouldn't feed in my arms until she was a bit older. We used the rugby ball hold. A bit awkward until you get used to it, but it worked for us! Maybe give it a go. It's easiest in bed, propped up with lots of pillows.

Could it be his cold? My DS had a stinking cold and went through four days where he literally screamed at me every time I tried to latch him, even in the middle of the night. It was horrific for all involved! It passed though (although he's now moving into the "I'm far too busy sbf nosey to feed" phase)

Thanks for your replies.

We thought he might have had reflux in month 4 and we gave him gaviscon, but he seemed to get past it by himself.

We're now having some limited success feeding him in cradled in my arms again but not lying down anymore - he's still flipping onto his front. It's very confusing - I guess he'll go through different phases of feeding. I guess I should keep trying different positions.

The cold isn't helping but he seemed to start losing interest in feeding before the cold started.

Have you taken any decongestants for your cold that could have caused your supply to plummet? I've eyed up the lemsip longingly through my last cold but heard it affects supply

I did take lemsip and strepsils before I read up and realised what it could do. Baby's lack of interest in breastfeeding predated the cold though.