My DD is 8 weeks old and since her vaccinations last week has started refusing to bf. She has been mix feed with formula top ups since birth. I'm pretty sure it is not reflux as suggested by a nurse, and think it is more nipple confusion (i tend to think preference given that it has only started happening now) and/or overactive letdown caused by me taking domperidone to increase my supply ~ which in turn makes her more gassy, leading to more fussing and more refusal.

Has anyone else had experience either with this themselves or know what is going on with my bubs? Also, I am now resigning myself to perhaps having to ebf most feeds if she keeps refusing, but has anyone actually been able to successfully get bubs back on the breast after refusing aka. being on a "nursing strike"?.

Cheers,
Kelz

I haven't been in that situation, but I'm sure some moms here can help you!

__________________

my ds didn't START to nurse until he was almost 6 months old. it was severe nipple prefeernce/confusion caused by the bottle the hospital gave him in the nursery.

you mention it started after vaccinations though, it may have somethign to do with pain in his legs and the way you hold him while nursing as well. does he have any "knots" at the injection sites?


we stopped vaxing after dd's reaction at 2 months, and part of it was her refusal to nurse, i know with her it had nothign to do with nipple preference or confusion because we didn't use any fake ones with her.

__________________

You may want to contact a local lactation counselor but, try some different holds cause it could be pain from the injections as mama bear suggests.

What makes you think it could be fast let down? Was he chocking and or gulping when LD occurred?

__________________
Patty 37
DW Julie 40
"domestically partnered" since 1994

Hi there,

Thanks for your replies. I really do not have any idea what is going on with her!!!

She actually started bf'ing again after refusing to for three days..She bf'ed fine for two days, then stopped again for another 3 days. Today she has bf'ed but mostly only on one side. BTW when I say she is refusing, she is only doing so during the day. She feeds fine when she wakes for her night feeds, which is why i doubt that it is nipple preference for the bottle.

I'm now finding that when she has had a good sleep during the day, she will feed some. e.g yesterday she refused all day but after a 3 hour sleep in the afternoon she feed on my "left". Then when I offered my "right" she refused to latch on. She's hungry and seems interested (i.e. mouth open, kicking legs excitedly) but when I go to latch her she starts whimpering and crying and wont latch. I think she prefers the leftt, hence why I offer that first as prior to her refusing to feed she would come off my "right" side while my LD was full on. I also think she doesn't like it as I hear her gulping real loud like she can't keep up with the flow.

I am seeing a lactation specialist tommorow and have my fingers crossed that they may be able to figure it out. It just seems weird that this started right after her first shots? Also, I think that when she was feeding for two days, she was sleeping better during the day too. Mind you she has always sleeped better during the night, so this hasn't really changed. But they say sleeping and feeding go hand and hand. That if something is up with one it will effect the other...so maybe? She is definately more grumpier with less sleep too. It's such a mystery. The only thing I think that hasn't been considered that it could be, is that she may have a "mild" ear infection. Her ears are a better smelly, but they were full of wax the other day so might just be that.

Any guesses?.

Thanks again for your advice etc. And also good to read that this is probably temporary and she will bf fine again soon as yesterday was a very bad day for me. I couldn't stop crying over it, as i really want this bf'ing to work. At least she is kinda feeding again, brings the hope back

Definately sounds like it could be fast letdown as to why he would not want the L. The LC should be able to help!!! Its a good sign that she is not refusing all together.

__________________
Patty 37
DW Julie 40
"domestically partnered" since 1994

BTW, I know you have a GIRL not a boy, but my S key seems to be sporadic!!!

__________________
Patty 37
DW Julie 40
"domestically partnered" since 1994

Just a thought, but is it possible she has an ear infection? I was once told that if DD would nurse on one side it could be because of an ear infection and they dont like to lay on that side or something bothers them when they are nursing.

You have gotten great advice otherwise. Hopefully she will get back to doing well with the bf'ing

__________________

Co-Host of Born in June 2007

any even remotely decent ped will check for any kind of illness, including ear infection before doing any vaccinations to help reduce the chances for a reaction. did the ped check the ears well before shots were ordered?

__________________

Hi all.

I spent the day with a lactation consultant and as I had started to suspect DD's breast refusal was linked in with her sleeping during the day. If she has been down for a sleep and I bf her as soon as I pick her up from waking she is fine, but if I leave it too long, she gets too tired and fussy, prefering the ease of the bottle to the breast. So far, feeding her as soon as she wakes is working great, with her hardly refusing to feed at all. She still gets fussy from time to time, especially in the afternoon when she gets more tired, but at least she is bf'ing during the day again now.

So..the number one reason for her refusal was due to my inexperience of how important the basic FEED, PLAY, SLEEP routine (within an hour) is. During the day, we would be more PLAY, FEED, PLAY, SLEEP. Another reason for her refusal I believe is my overusing her dummy. This has made it hard for me to catch her early hungry cues as the dummy masks her hunger as she will happily suck a way on it when she actually wants booby! or, the bottle already! SO...I often wasn't reading that she was hungry until she was well past it and by that stage tired and ready for bed again as well. Another reason and more to do with her fussying while bf'ing is the fast LD on my right side. We now change positions (i.e. sitting back, sitting up on lap or the football hold) when fussying occurs on that side, or I will squirt into a towel until the flow settles.

So, the mystery seems to be solved. Thanks again everyone for your advice and support

That totally makes sense. Im so glad you found answers! You may want to read the baby whisperer. It is totally what you are doing and she has great advice on reading babies ques.

__________________
Patty 37
DW Julie 40
"domestically partnered" since 1994

i'm glad things are settling in for you. using a poaci instead of nursing can cause lots of problems in the beginning, i don't know about the 1 hour routine thing that you discuss though, as we never did anythign like that with either of mine.

__________________