any other BF babies boycotting the boob?

yty0205 · May 2014

We've been pretty successful at BFing minus my sometimes not being able to pump as much as LO drinks while I'm at work. Lately he is starting to fight the boob in the evenings. (Morning feed is great.) He'll nurse like normal for a few minutes (anywhere from 8-15 min) and then pull off, latch on, pull off, latch on etc while fussing. We've started supplementing 4oz formula when he does this and I pump to make up for it.

I don't think it's a supply issue bc when I pump after he does this, I still get *some* milk. Not overflowing bottles, but I know I'm not dry. Is it possibly that he's tired and doesn't want to work for another letdown? I have preemie nipples on our Dr Browns bottles so he still has to work to eat but I think maybe he prefers instant milk with bottles as opposed to having to wait for let downs.

Anyone else seen this?

swirl25 · May 2014

LO did that for a few weeks around 2 months, then stopped as suddenly as she started. It also happened in the evenings. I still don't know for sure why she did it, but I think it might have been a letdown issue for us (too forceful). Maybe my milk regulated or she got used to it, I don't know. You may have a point that it happens when they are overtired.

thebobloblaw · May 2014

Mine has been doing this too. Not sure if it's a supply issue or just distracted. There was one day that she outright refused to nurse at all, but that was when my supply was really low. She is also bottle fed primarily now except for the morning and sometimes at night. At night it's always after a bottle and I've pumped, more for comfort.

Mrbatesisinnocent · May 2014

C was doing this, we switched to side laying nursing and it made a huge difference at night. She had been so squirmy and when we nursed in bed she just relaxed. Worth a shot.

synergy_gd · May 2014

LO did this at about week 21 then stopped when we started solids. He still gets distracted but this was more like he wasn't getting what he wanted from the boob

musicnmoon123 · May 2014

Do a search for nursing strike. There might be some info on this at kellymom.com. It's not uncommon for bf babies to go through a period of refusing the breast entirely. Just keep offering and pumping to keep up supply while you wait LO out.

You can also try to manually express a little before nursing so LO gets instant gratification if it's due to impatience.

Good luck!

boston143 · May 2014

FWIW, a lactation consultant told me an older baby can "drain a boob in five minutes flat" so you may not need to worry if this is happening after 8-15 min. They become more efficient as they get older so maybe your LO is just full and distracted.

yty0205 · May 2014

@boston143, I thought about that, but it doesn't go with the fact that he fusses/cries afterwards like he's still hungry (and he'll wolf down the bottle)! During those 8-15 min, sometimes he stops actively drinking - which makes me think the flow has slowed and he wants more but doesn't want to work for it.

Geez, I never knew my boobs would make me so crazy!!

mh89 · May 2014

Your supply might be the issue. He's gotten used to having milk come out quickly from a bottle, and breastfeeding requires more work from him to get the same amount of milk. He's probably fussing because you're not making enough or letting down quickly enough for him, but it's an easy fix. Drink more water, compress your breast while he nurses, try fenugreek, oatmeal, and blessed thistle, and stop giving him a bottle when you're home with him. Boob only when he's with mommy to encourage milk production. The more he nurses, the more milk you make.

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