Breastfeeding help needed

[dancer1007]

Hi Girls. I am in desperate need of help. I have an almost 8 month old who I have nursed on demand since birth. He occasionally will (or will not) take a bottle when I work part time some nights. Recently he hasn't been interested and will scream from hunger and just refuse. On top of this he has been eating before and after each nap and every two hours at night from about 5 and a half months until now. Before then it was only about twice a night. Needless to say I am exhausted. I feed him everytime he wakes at night as rocking him just causes more frustration and a longer time to put down. My husband and I have discussed alternatives and he believes that we should begin to wean. I have mixed feelings on this. He feels that this will allow for longer spacing between feeds a fuller belly, less desire to comfort nurse etc. Some may be true, and some not for instance the fuller belly. DS is eating three solid meals...it's not doing anything. I wouldn't even know how to go about weaning. Most things I have heard say take one feeding away at a time and replace it with a bottle. I am feeding like 15 times a day, does that still apply? What is the best way to go about this if this is what we decide to do? Do I keep the night feedings until last? Should I start cutting some of the night feeds? so confused! Also he comes into bed with us after 3 and nurses straight through...which I am sure is causing a lot of the problems. I would love to have a healthy breastfeeding relationship but right now it is wearing us all down. Any help is much appreciated! Here is our "schedule" 630 wake up 715 solids 830 bf 845 nap 945 up around 1015 bf 12 solids 1215 bf 1230 nap 230 bf 400 bf 430 nap 530 solids 615 bf and then again before bed at 730 up every two hours maybe 3 and then 3-630 in bed

[Llyra]

Welcome to MDC!

I'm going to move this out to the main forum, as per the forum guidelines. That forum moves faster, and I think you'll get more answers and support out there. I wish you the best of luck!

[SubliminalDarkness]

How long has this been going on? It sounds like a nursing strike to me. I absolutely would not wean. Your child is not done breastfeeding yet. Nursing strikes are normal and most babies have them at some point. 

[dancer1007]

The actual problem is that he is inconsolable for anyone but me. He will only breastfeed, won't take the bottle or sippy anymore and this makes it incredibly hard for my husband who watches him when I work at night.  He screams and cries from the time i leave until i get home.  I want to switch to pumping and giving bottles but I can't get him to take a bottle.  My main question is how to slowly switch a feeding from breast to bottle when he won't take the bottle and only takes an ounce for that feed?

[clutterbug]

You might find some ideas for creative ways to address this in Dr. Jack Newman's handout on what to feed baby when mom is at work (link below).  If he is open to solids and water from a sippy (instead of the pumped milk) you might be able to get him through the separation periods that way...

http://www.breastfeedinginc.ca/content.php?pagename=doc-WFBW

[PatioGardener]

Originally Posted by dancer1007 

The actual problem is that he is inconsolable for anyone but me. He will only breastfeed, won't take the bottle or sippy anymore and this makes it incredibly hard for my husband who watches him when I work at night.  He screams and cries from the time i leave until i get home.  I want to switch to pumping and giving bottles but I can't get him to take a bottle.  My main question is how to slowly switch a feeding from breast to bottle when he won't take the bottle and only takes an ounce for that feed?

Just a warning - this behaviour may not change at all once he is weaned... and then your husband will still have the crying baby, and neither you nor your son will have the benefits of breastfeeding anymore (including brain development for baby and breast cancer protection for mom.) And that would suck!

I hope you can find a solution that works for all 3 of you.