He won't &8#$ eat...

PocoHR

Anyone else's baby just have days where they won't really eat? Here its like once per week, he'll have a day or day and a half where he won't eat much of anything. Maybe an ounce of breastmilk at a time, and that's it. I end up having to pump because it hurts and I worry about my supply! There does not seem to be any rhyme or reason to these episodes, they always pass and he's growing like a weed, so it doesn't seem to really effect him, its just annoying kind of. I have "feelings" when he constantly rejects the breast all day, I know its illogical and I shouldn't, but I do. 

doodleoodle

Sometimes my LO won't eat if she's sleepy. So I'll wait until she falls asleep and dream feed her. Will he eat in his sleep?

PocoHR

Not really, although he will take a little. He will nurse when sleepy for about 5 minutes on days like this, just enough so I dont panic about him being dehydrated but still not a full feed.

kdoak2015

Is it due to being distracted. My DD won't nurse anymore if the tVs, DH and I are talking, the dog walks by etc. 

missphil

That was us today and it's not the first time. He does it maybe once every two weeks. I just keep offering from time to time but also trust that he knows what he's doing. Sometimes they will fill up more at night

poupoule

Mine still does it sometimes, even not distracted. Yesterday she ate 3.5oz with the nanny from 8am to 5:30pm... But then she ate in the evening wellat the breast. Her usual with the nanny is 10/11oz.

rgz

I read that sometimes when babies are teething the suction hurts their gums when eating. Perhaps this may be why he's rejecting food? 

PocoHR

Maybe it is teething. He's not distracted during these episodes, I know what distracted looks like and we deal with that every day, this is an all out refusal of the breast. I can only trick him into eating very little around naps. It just frustrates me because I know he is hungry and he won't nurse, even if I try my different little tricks. 

JamieA322

Will he take a pumped bottle? Jordan will do this but take a bottle. It also happens when she has had ear infections. The sucking hurts her ears.

PocoHR

He will take a bottle better than the breast, but still only about an ounce at a time (if that). It's just frustrating for me, and I worry about him. He seems to really want water during these times too, if I am drinking a glass of water he fussed until I give him a sip, so I know he is thirsty, poor little man. He just doesn't really want milk for whatever reason

liba526

 Sorry to hear that:( my LO only did that when he was really sick ( fever,congested) and when he got hurt ( burnt his finger poor guy).  Maybe he's teething? Is he taking solids?

hlaverett88

Maybe a nursing strike..? Ds for about a month every few days he would do what Is described. I would just strip down to a bra and have him skin to skin and usually he would eat more then.

doodleoodle

Maybe you could try taking a warm bath with him and nursing in the bath. The skin to skin could help and the warm water will activate let down for him.

poupoule

Oh yes mine gets cranky if she does not have instantaneous let down. Nothing changed in my breasts though, I am actually producing more than ever. We had a rough few days. But this week is much better, she is more patient I think. She also started eating 4.5oz bottles with the nanny when before she would eat on or 2 ounces at a time.

smnewby

My mom said she let me sip milk out of a cup while teething. Maybe try that?

PocoHR

Thanks so much everyone, I always forget about skin to skin and it does help! I fed him without a shirt yesterday afternoon/evening and he at least stopped acting like I was trying to poison him. He ate more normally finally this morning. I think I am going to ask the doctor about it though because its a regular occurrence and it seems to also make him constipated when he does this. He was going just fine, then he had this non-eating spell, and he's pooping pellets this morning, I think he is actually getting dehydrated. He does take solids, and sometimes I wonder if he is trying to self wean really early (he does lots of things early, which is the only reason I suspect this). He really rejects the breast but will eat food no problem. I don't give him extra solids because I want him to still nurse, but its pretty clear that he would rather eat real food...sigh. I don't know, but I hope we are on the other side of this episode at least!