My 6 month old, who has always been a good eater, suddenly seems to be losing interest in nursing. I've been back at work full-time since she was 3 months old, and we've never had a problem going from breast to bottle and back again. She nurses in the morning and at night, and has two bottles during the day with her caregiver. For the past two weekends in a row, when I've tried to nurse her during the day, she has been very resistant. She'll eat for a few minutes, then cry and push me away and refuse to continue. I'm wondering if this is because she's accustomed to having bottles, which are easier/faster, during the day. She's very easily distracted now, and I have to nurse her in a quiet room alone. One of my friends (who has five kids!) suggested that she may be trying to self-wean for the daytime feedings. I suppose it's not the worst thing in the world, but I am a bit heartbroken. Any thoughts or suggestions? Anyone go through the same thing?
Re: 6month old losing interest in nursing
DD turned 5 months on the 3rd. She has been lazy and not sucking well on the breast. Ped says because she is not sleeping well and is tired. Also since she was 3.5 months she was very distracted so we have to feed in a dark quiet room which doesn't help the sleeping on the breast situation..it's a cycle. She either falls sleep or gets very frustrated. This led to depleting my milk supply. I pump every 2-3 hours but I've never been able to get much when pumping even when I had a pretty decent supply and DD was eating well. She has refused the bottle since 8 weeks old but since she was losing weight we have had to get some food in her. She actually took the bottle for the first time (since 8 weeks old) last Thursday. She still fusses and it's a coin toss whether she'd take the bottle but then she is frustrated and refuses the breast too. I've been to the doctor and taking Reglan, goats rue, fenugreek, more milk plus...oatmeal..you name it..but I can't seem to get my supply back up.
Feeding time is really stressful around here I know I ought to relax, it's just so hard...
This is too young to self wean, IMO.
And yes, it hurts my feelings too when he pushes me away!
"It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness." - Eleanor Roosevelt