3 months, breast rejection. ..

[ithappened]

First time mom here. Could use some advice.

My DS has been a champion BFer from day one however the last few days sometimes (maybe 2 out of every 8 feedings) he rejects my nipple and we have to pump to get him to eat. It happens typically in the afternoon or evening when my supply is lower (usually its like yellowstone but in the evenings its often really low- i assume due to stress)..

He will latch, pull off, latch, pull off and after this happens for a few minutes my DH will step in and give DS a bottle.

Any suggestions on what to do? Im afraid giving him a bottle just reinforces the habit but he's so hungry and so mad I'm not sure what else to do.

[Tattooed Hand]

I am having a similar problem. Is it accompanied with signs of teething?

Anyway here are the responses I got...

http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1202431

[Anna Phor]

My guy did this at just about the same age--wanted nothing to do with the breast at around 5-6pm. We were doing a weight check every week at our BF center, so my response was in the context of a kid who nurses well and was steadily gaining weight. So we were never worried that he wasn't getting enough to eat.

I would just pass him over to his dad who would soothe him to sleep (not easy!!). Once he'd managed to snooze for about 45 mins, he seemed to "reset' and would nurse happily again.

I think though, that I'd want to be careful trying this strategy with a kid who isn't gaining steadily.

[Tattooed Hand]

yes, I give it a break and just try to nurse again after. Sometimes it just take like 10-15 minutes, sometimes a bit longer, when DD is closer to sleep.

[ithappened]

He's gaining weight fine (hes actually almost doubled his weight since birth) so not feeding him is an option but he gets so furiously upset, its really hard (I actually handed him to my DH tonight and said I thought DS just hated me as I went into the bathroom in tears) ..

It could be teething since its literally started suddenly (the last 2 days). . I'll check out that link. Its just weird because he will take the bottle no problem and my boob at all night and morning but then afternoon/evening comes and there is a lot of screaming and bottle making

[PatioGardener]

I'd treat it like a partial nursing strike and avoid the bottle. www.kellymom.com has some good nursing strike information that may help.

[ithappened]

thanks Patio- - that was a super helpful link..

[hildare]

My dd went through that at around the same age. At the time I thought it was nipple confusion and bought some breastflow bottles. However, the more I hear people talk about having that happen at the same exact age, the more convinced I am that it's a very thankfully short-lived phase of some sort. It really will pass. I remember that period as being the absolute worst of motherhood so far. It's hard, hard, hard.

[GoldmanBaby09]

I've mentioned this in a similiar thread, but we started ECing at about that age and I found that popping on and off like that was a cue my baby needed to eliminate. Once he had a little milk and was comfortable, he need to go pee and was not comfortable until I took him potty or he gave up and went in the diaper. It doesn't hurt to look for other signals if there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with your supply.

[phrogger]

My baby did it too around that age. It wasn't teeth yet for him, it was going through a new stage and needing more sleep for the growth spurt he was about to start, but wanting to be nosy and into everything. He didn't want to nurse because that ment he couldn't see what was going on. So I would either go to his room and put a blanket over us (get rid of all distratction) or I would let dad home him and rock him. No bottles ever with that, just distraction to try to either keep him awake and happy or help him fall asleep.