Nursing strike? Won't take a bottle. PLS ADVISE!

kgail11

cross posting from BFing board..

 

Ok - so I had to go out last wkd, and in preparation, we had DH attempt a bottle with DD. She HATED. It was a Born-Free, which was the ONE bottle we've ever had any success with. Prior to this, we had been doing one bottle every 4 or so days.. always DH. It was always hit and miss - sometimes she'd take it, sometimes not.

So I admittedly went a little LOCO and bought like every bottle known to man and tried them. Loathed them all. And she also started rejecting her paci - which was how we kept the calm before bedtime most nights. Which stinks now that she won't take it.

Last night and this morning she screamed at the boob- THAT has never happened. Like, ever. And she's been not taking it unless laying down - and even that is so-so. She is hungry - I know she is. But she latches then just starts SCREAMING.

I know I'll get hated on for this, as this is a the BFing board and all, but I wouldn't mind being done. I wouldn't mind going to 100% bottles - either w/pumped milk or formula. But she WON'T TAKE A BOTTLE. How does one handle a nursing strike (semi, but sure to get worse, I imagine) when they won't take a bottle either?? 

This was 100% how I was done BFing w/my son 3 yrs ago. A strike around 3 months old, to the day, and I was so much happier when I was done. But he took a bottle like no one's business!! That's the diff!

What do I doooooooo? I am kinda miserable, and it's taking a toll on doing things w/my 3 year old. (

 

apricoty

We also had some troubles with nursing around the time Stella was 3 months old (these troubles are periodical - they come and go).  Also, from time to time she also starts crying right after latching on ... I think it's because the let-down is taking too long and she's too tired/hungry/cranky/impatient at the moment.  There is a way you can try to massage your breasts to make the let-down faster (you can find a video on youtube).  Also, some recommend you pump a little bit before breastfeeding.

Besides that, Stella has never turned down the breast, so I have no clue about that.  Also, I have no experience with bottles.

I wish you the best and would recommend you to contact a lactation consultant/specialist about this ... but since you said you wouldn't mind to stop breastfeeding, then I've no clue.  I guess call up the pediatric clinic and see what they say.

hispenguin

I was actually just reading The Baby Whisperer last night and there was a section on this. She recommends trying the bottle every hour during the day to get the baby to take it, eventually the baby will take some if they're hungry enough. She also said to not offer the breast at all, only the bottle. She also mentions that once the baby accepts the bottle to do one feeding a day with the bottle so the baby gets used to it, otherwise the same thing you're experiencing can happen.

The flow of the nipple on the bottle can also be too slow, it could also be teething pain that your LO is experiencing.