Doesn't want breast milk or formula!

NicoleWI

DD took bottles early on but then stopped for a long time, but was still nursing morning and night. We were trying to mix some milk into her food to get some into her during the day. Recently, my supply really tanked, and I realized she was getting almost no milk. For a few days, she would take a 4 to 5 oz bottle AFTER I fed her, am and pm, and also a "snack" bottle mid-day. I felt much better about this b/c she was at least getting some milk and she was sleeping better. Now, the last few days again, she will only nurse for milk, and I hardly have anything. I can't/won't start pumping like crazy at this point--I have 2 other small kids, working, plus a house renovation--but I did add a pumping session at work to try to help with supply. She has started refusing bottles again, both of BM and formula, and she will drink water from a cup but not milk. If it's milk, she makes a face and turns her head away. She cries and arches away when I try a bottle.

I have dumped about 20 ounces of formula and four of breastmilk down the drain over the last couple of days. Meanwhile, she eats food no problem. 

She's not even 10 months old and I know milk/formula is still supposed to be her main nutrition. Am thinking of calling her pedi to ask for advice tomorrow. Any advice from Bumpland?

honeydew01

I'm sorry you're having troubles but to be honest I was happy to read your post because I have not found another LO that has almost identical issues like my DD. You described her very well except she's 7 months and doesn't like solids either. Otherwise we've had the exact same issues you're experiencing. 
She had refused bottles for a long time (since 8 weeks) then a month ago, she'd nurse and AFTER take a 4 oz bottle for a few days (my supply had tanked as well). Then she went back on bottle refusal again and is not happy on the boob either. Same reaction as your DD.
She doesn't drink milk from the straw cup either just water...we took her in because we were concerned about her weight gain and the dr said to go cold turkey and don't offer the breast anymore. (I posted about it on the 'breastfeeding' board in detail if you were interested.)

We ended up seeing 2 different peds and a lactation nurse. To this day I have not been able to bring myself to quit nursing cold turkey and let her starve to take a bottle consistently mostly because she's stubborn and I have read that there are some stubborn kids that will go on a hunger strike for days (7+) before they give in and take a bottle consistently. I can't do it..

Your LO is older and takes in more solid so I don't know if it'll be different. LO is barely taking in any solid, she's still experimenting with it.

So for now we're just nursing and I've stopped offering the bottle because the sight of a bottle made her mad. I'm weighing her diapers now. My husband found a formula for how much pee she should have in a 24 hour period..i think it's something like 2 ml/kg/hour.

I hope someone has better suggestions, I'll keep an eye out. Sorry you're dealing with this, I know it's not easy. DD is my first so things like her not drinking freaks me out as I don't know what is "normal" and what's not.

Would you please update and let us know what your dr suggests?

good luck!

Shelly038

If you're feeling nervous about the amount of milk your LO is drinking I would definitely call your ped.  However, I can tell you, that at our DD's 6th month appointment, I discussed the same thing with our doctor.  She was taking a bottle fine but the amount of formula/breastmilk she was drinking was low compared to what I had been reading (think 15 ounces a day or so).  She was more interested in solids.  I was concerned since I know everything I read says that milk should be their primary source until about a year.  He wasn't at all concerned because she was doing well with solids and gaining weight (she's always been in the 90% percentile so he was confident that she was fine even with the drop in milk consumption).  I don't know if your ped will feel the same but I wanted to share our experience.  If I were in your situation (since it sounds like she's refusing to drink all together), I would continue trying to give her a bottle or cup (maybe try a different kind than the one she drinks water out of).  Since she knows how to use both, she'll eventually take one when she's hungry enough.  But like PP said, I don't think I'd be able to just stop nursing since the thought of her "starving" would break my heart!

kjsmith9

Just from the breastfeeding perspective, I can tell you that I felt like my supply tanked right before 9 months.  I got my first PP period the week after.  It's still lower than it used to be - I'm basically pumping JUST enough for her to eat, and have used about 12oz from my freezer stash in the past month to make up for what I didn't pump.  I think it's normal to have a dip around the 9 month area.  I guzzle water as much as I can... And if I slack a day on that, I can definitely tell when my pump output sucks the next day.  You said you "realized she was getting almost no milk" - how do you know?  Is her diaper output still okay?  Maybe she hit her 9 month growth spurt and was sucking you dry?

NicoleWI

Honeydew--sorry for your issues! I hope your LO starts eating/drinking more soon. I think you are definitely right not to quit nursing. What weird advice from your pedi!!!!

Here's my update:

I called the pedi's office today and they told me that at this point (almost 10 months) it's not toooo critical if she just won't take the bottles/cups. They suggested I take fenugreek to increase what I can get to her morning/night via nursing, and to continue to mix formula or milk into her meals, and to keep offering milk in a cup here and there and working on that. Of course, she said to watch her hydration and make sure she's getting some water if she isn't taking the milk. She said at 10 months she wouldn't push the bottle b/c we'd have to try to wean her off soon anyway. 

honeydew01

@NicoleWI, thanks for giving an update. My Ped also suggested that we continue working on the cup and mixing in the milk with food. My DD now has a cold and not nursing well so I am sure my supply will take a hit again, I am pumping but not getting much (I never have)..Fenugreek made DD very gassy and bloated. I liked "more milk plus" and "goats rue" better and may have to order them again..
good luck. thanks again for updating.