Mainly breast fed baby refusing boob

[Sheera1]

I was exclusively breastfeeding until at one week I had to top up feeds due to weight loss. This was a combination of expressed milk and formula.

After 2 weeks or so we dropped the top ups but kept one bottle usually for last feed before night sleep.

Baby is now 11 weeks old tomorrow.

He has started to refuse my breast at different points in the day. Night is always fine but late afternoon or early evening he will refuse to latch and get very distressed and then gulp down a bottle. He did it again this morning when normally a feed from me is fine. There seems no pattern to it, but it is total refusal. I am not giving in to easily or anything like that.

I do feel he is quite a lazy feeder and at times will stop feeding when he is not full but enough to stop feeling hungry. His feeds can be quite short but he is gulping and swallowing lots and the latch is fine.

Yesterday he fed from both sides (a rare occurrence as he usually refuses the offer of the other side) and seemed still hungry but refused both breasts and then drank 3 oz from a bottle.

I don't think there is a problem with my supply unless it does maybe dip towards the afternoon/evening if that is possible?

When I express, unless it has been a long time between feeds and my breasts feel very full when expressing is easy from one side, expressing can be hit or miss. I can usually get 2/3 oz from one side, but my right side has always been hard to express and get next to nothing or one oz.

Any ideas?

I did breastfeed ds1 till he was 18 months and he was a hungry constant feeder and 95th centile.

DS2 is tracking 25th centile and does not seem to eat as much or feed as long.

I think he is maybe a bit lazy or sometimes struggles and he is not having full feeds so by the next feed he is ravenous and wants a bottle to get it quickly.

He is not interested in latching on at all. But there are times he does and sucks for a few seconds and then comes off the breast. There is milk there as I can hand express and some comes out.

I would prefer to breastfeed and use breastmilk a much larger portion of a days feed than formula but I can't express enough to keep up with what he is currently taking a day by bottle. I will do what is necessary though.

Any advice or ideas would be appreciated. He is such a different feeder to DS1.

Sucking a breast is a lot more hard work than a bottle teat. Once you discover there is an easy and quick way to get what you want without hassle, you prefer the easy way.
Try to stay away from the bottle, and offer the breast before he starts howling in hunger and several time during the day,
Keep eye contact while he feeds, so no reading a book, tv, or phone, stroke his hand, make it more than just food.

You have milk, drink plenty, eat the best food quality you can and persevere, even if he isn't happy. IF top up is needed , have it done by your DH

Thank you for your advice.

I have sorted it out. It was definitely a bottle preference for easiness.

He had got to even putting him into position for a breastfeed he would scream the place down never mind get my breast near his mouth.

I got advice to do skin to skin which I did in the night wakes and just spent the time settling him in position and using his dummy to get him there calmly and then offering my breast and repeating that over and over. It was tough but he took it eventually. Did the same with the second side which took a bit less fuss. Breast fed all yesterday with him quickly latching without a fuss and have not given a bottle. He cluster fed most of the evening which was to be expected but just happy he would. Going to stop any bottles for a while as do not want to stop breastfeeding and he would refuse if it was an option.

I was worried he seemed hungry and a bit unhappy with the cluster feeding but he eventually just stayed on for ages and I am sure he is getting enough or he would be more upset and cranky.

Will try a bottle again in a few weeks and like you say DH doing it.

Did what you said about eye contact and making it an experience not just a feed. X

Well done!