Need advice, baby refuses breast

[amymbower]

Hi! I am a mom to a 3 mo old (my 4th!) She wasn't gaining weight (an ounce less than her birth weight at 7 weeks) and green frothy poop from weeks 3-5. At 7 weeks I saw a LC, who thought the baby had a high/bubble palate. She advised me to pump to increase supply. I'm also taking fenugreek. Also, started supplementing at that time - whatever I expressed when I pumped (which was about 2-3 oz total) and forumula, via a syringe. From weeks 7-9 she started refusing the breast. I believe it is a flow problem...after the 1st 2 months of being at my breast constantly, she finally was getting satisfied with the finger feeding. I got discouraged and started bottle feeding, which at first she rejected but eventually took and we stopped fingerfeeding.

I am still pumping, about 3-5 x a day and breastfeeding whenever she wants to, which is usually never during the day, once in awhile I can coax her to breastfeed 1x during the day. She has always accepted breastfeeding overnight when she wakes (1x) and in the early morning. Starting at week 9, I got discouraged at the havac this was causing my family and stopped trying hard to resume breastfeeding. So where I am now is pumping 4x per day, and breastfeeding 2x. I have started taking fenugreek again. My milk supply seems to have gone down a little since I stopped breastfeeding, and just the last 2 nights the baby has been waking up more and being really fussy during the nighttime feed.

I'm starting to regret not trying harder when she originally rejected breastfeeding, and wondering if anyone knows what I can do to get back to it. Does anyone have a success story of a baby getting back to the breast after refusing it because they like a faster flow? Sorry this is so long...any advice/encouragement would be helpful. I am also suffering from PPD and have 3 other kids so I feel so worn out by this, but depressed that this breastfeeding relationship isn't working, since this is probably my last baby=(

Amy

PS - my little one started gaining weight the week we started supplementing, so even if i get her back to the breast, I still have a supply issue. I am not against supplementing, just wished I could breastfeed more than I am now.

[GISDiva]

I'm no expert, but maybe a supplemental nursing system (SNS)? That way you can supplement at the breast if you have to and there's more of a flow there to make her happy. It should increase your supply back up with your little one stimulating the breast too.

[visrumxl5]

yup - the SNS

I agree - try the SNS. In my experience it is actually faster and more efiicient than a bottle. I honestly don't think using one did anythng for my supply (which is loooow) but it kept DD interested in BF.

I switched to bottles just two weeks ago and noticed immediately that DD got far more frustrated at the breast. When she refuses my right side entirely I use the SNS again. I wish I could use it all the time but it's not practical just now.

So I'm sure it will get your LO interested again - after all, babies do respond to flow.

[amymbower]

I will try it...

Thanks for the advice!

I did buy an SNS that was one use only - didn't want to spend the money on the more expensive one if I wasn't going to use it. I just haven't tried it yet because it seems complicated to use. I did manage to get her to breasfeed really well this afternoon by putting her on the breast at the end of her nap, when she wasn't fully awake. She seems more receptive to BF when she is sleepy!

Amy

[GISDiva]

The "single use" thing is kinda baloney, you can use it for as long as necessary. I don't know why they say that.

It does help to have an extra pair of hands the first couple of times, but after that you'll get the hang of it.

Glad to hear your trick worked though!

[GooeyRN]

The SNS is a great idea to keep the flow fast, faster than a bottle! You can later slowly wean from it. I had to use one for the first 6.5 weeks, ds was FTT and severely jaundiced from poor milk transfer. We have no major issues now, he is 7 months old. It was a PITA to use, but we got used to it. Paper tape became my best friend to tape all of tge tubing down and out of the way. Stop using bottles, if baby wont take your breast use the finger feeder or cup. Always offer your breast first.