What is going on???

[maydaymom10]

I have had bf'ing challenges with my 11-mo-old DS since he was born - latching and then supply issues, with a bout of mastitis thrown in there.

Now I have no idea what's going on. DS stopped taking his afternoon bottle at daycare (I work afternoons), so both my LC & my pedi said to not worry since he was still nursing well in the mornings & evenings. Lately he's been more distracted and has started to bite & pull back on my nipple. I usually tell him "no" and let him try again. If he continues to do it I take him off. Most of the time he complains so I try the other side -- same thing. He doesn't have teeth yet, but I've heard that this could be due to teething. This has been going on for over a month.

This weekend DS caught a stomach bug and stuck to nursing with no solids (he's usually a good solid eater). His nursing was up a bit, but nothing significantly. He's also been waking up about 2-3 time a night and nursing for about 5 mins. This morning I woke up with extremely engorged (I thought) and painful breasts. I tried to get DS to nurse, but he wasn't too interested. I pumped, but only got about 1 oz combined.

Finally, I kept DS at home today. He was pretty fussy about nursing, ate a little cereal, but not much. Just out of concern I offered him a bottle of formula (please don't kill me), and he drank almost the entire thing.

So I guess I'm wondering if anyone else has been through this. I'm wondering if he's self-weaning already, or maybe if my supply is drying up. Our goal was to make if bf'ing for a year and then go from there. We're almost there, but I'm just wondering if my body is calling it quits.

Thanks for the advice, and sorry for the long post.

ps - both breasts are still tenders & swollen. Not sure if it's a clogged duct, but pretty sure it's not mastitis again. Any ideas/suggestions.

Edited by maydaymom10 - 4/4/11 at 8:08pm

[JulieInChicago]

sounds tough!  I'm sorry you're going through this mama!

I don't have much specific helpful advice but just wanted to chime in to say that in almost every case of "strange eating behavior" (which is what I've come to lump all my son's oddities into, from days where he won't nurse but will eat solids to days where he eats 1/2 as much milk to days where he will only nurse sitting up...) it usually works itself out.  I know that I get concerned about every pattern he goes through but without fail he comes out fine.  Is he still making diapers and keeping his weight on?

Have you considered calling a LC?

[maydaymom10]

Originally Posted by JulieInChicago 

sounds tough!  I'm sorry you're going through this mama!

I don't have much specific helpful advice but just wanted to chime in to say that in almost every case of "strange eating behavior" (which is what I've come to lump all my son's oddities into, from days where he won't nurse but will eat solids to days where he eats 1/2 as much milk to days where he will only nurse sitting up...) it usually works itself out.  I know that I get concerned about every pattern he goes through but without fail he comes out fine.  Is he still making diapers and keeping his weight on?

Have you considered calling a LC?

Thanks for the words of encouragement. I have a great LC and I need to call her. I just feel like I've been bugging her a lot lately with the little nuances of bf'ing that I freak out about. But, then that's what she's there for, right??

[JulieInChicago]

Yup- call your LC!  That's what they're there for.  And seriously, totally worth it for the peace of mind.