My little girl is going to be 5 months old in a few days and she is now on a feeding strike. She will not take a bottle!! Let me give a little background: She has been breastfed and I have now almost completely run out of milk. I have taken Fenugreek, used Mother's Milk Tea, taken Reglan, pumped and nursed every 2 hours and my milk is just going away. My doctor told me that I may be one of the rare instances of a woman who just doesn't produce enough milk. I have been doing all of the above since my little girl was about a month old. She is the only one of my children who breastfed successfully and I am heartbroken about not being able to breastfeed. At her 3 month check-up she weighed 10 pounds even and at her 4 1/2 month check she weighed 9 pounds 15 ounces and then the doc and I realized we had a real problem. I do nurse her every couple of hours (she gets about 1/2 ounce total of breastmilk at each feeding - my doctor weiged her before a couple of feedings and then after those feedings). The doctor also had me pump in the office and she discovered that there is absolutely no fat content to my milk at all. So, I fix a bottle of formula for her after she nurses. My problem is that she doesn't want the bottle! She will cry and pull at my shirt and try to latch on through my clothes!!! It absolutely breaks my heart! My husband works out of town 99% of the time so he is not here to give her a bottle. My 7-year-old helps out when she is able, but the majority of the bottle feedings are up to me. She will cry herself into exhaustion and then she falls asleep. I have tried to feed her a bottle in her sleep but she will wake up and refuse the bottle once again. WHAT DO I DO???? She is already below weight and I am afraid that she will get sick if she doesn't start drinking the formula. I have accepted the fact that before long there will be NOTHING left in my breasts and then she won't even get that little bit of breastmilk - even though my milk doesn't have any fat to it, it still has the antibodies that she needs. I am close to panic here!! Please help me!!!
I was going to suggest what the previous posters suggested. Definitely talk to a lactation consultant. If you qualify for WIC, the Health Dept. could probably provide a lactation consultant for you, and the device they were talking about is called a lactation aid. If you do qualify for WIC, they may also provide you with the lactation aid. If not, here is a link to where you can buy one.
I had similar problems with my daughter, as I produced no milk even with pumping. The bottle was my only option. Debra Lynne did not take to the nursers that were shaped like nipples, or the nipples that come on regular bottles. we just kept trying till we found a nipple she would take (the same shape as the nipple on her pacifier.) If your child takes a passy, try finding a nipple the same shape and try it! It can't hurt! You'll be in my prayers.
R., check out the La Leche League website and get a little device they have, I think it's called SNS, Supplemental nursing System. You put formula in a bottle that hangs around your neck, and a tiny tube goes along the nipple and into the baby's mouth. So she can nurse and get formula at the same time. It's worth a try!
R.,
I'm sorry to hear about your difficulties, but here is a suggestion. I've known an adoptive mother who used a device that had a small tube that looped from the bottle over her shoulder and was taped to where the tube ended at her nipple. Apparently (from what I was told) she produced a little milk (due to prescriptions?) and she supplemented through the tube. The baby couldn't tell the difference between the breast milk and the formula. It worked great for her until about a year and she naturally weaned herself (the baby that is). Just a suggestion. Good luck and good bless!
First, let me just say kudos for pushing through all of the problems and still trying so hard to breastfeed.
I have heard of a way to supplement by using a tube that you put on your breast, so they still latch on and "nurse" but will be able to get formula or pumped milk through the tube. That way she would get more.
Also, are you having problems with the latch? If she isn't latching well, she wouldn't be able to nurse very efficiently, which would lead to a decrease in your supply.
My son had latch on problems at first due to a tongue-tie. It took him an hour to nurse and he had slow weight gain. After trying everything the doctors and lactation consultants could think of, we had his frenulum (under tongue) clipped. It wasn't bad at all, and he had an immediate improvement.
If you haven't talked to lactation consultants yet, you should try calling one, they are often better about figuring out breastfeeding problems than the pediatritian. Good luck and I really hope you can figure it out!
I also breastfeed and when I went back to work, my son refused to take a bottle. After a half an hour of crying with my brother, he finally gave in and took it. I believe after your daughter crys out her frustration for not having the "real thing" she will eventually take the bottle and get used to it. It takes a little time and patience, so you'll get there eventually.
1. let her latch even when there's nothing there, it will help you produce more.
2. call the hospital where you delivered, most places offer their lac consultants free to women who deliver with them.
3. make sure you are hydrated, no caffeine, plenty of water and juices, and though it seems counter intuitive, a half glass (no more) of a yeasty ale or lager will also aid letdown and production.
good luck.
Bless your heart, this sounds like such a nightmare. Get in touch with a lactation consultant right away. A Lactation Consultant may have other avenues to try before total weaning. They will also have access to a supplemental nursing system. Your baby can then still breastfeed, but there is a very small tube attached to formula as well that she will drink in as she nurses. This system is very effective in situations like yours, and even works for moms who adopt babies but want to breastfeed. Hope this helps!
I am so sorry! I just wanted to offer encouragement for you. The other post offered some great advice and I agree w/them. You need to get in contact w/an LC or contact someone from your local La Lech League.. They offer free advice via phone and email. I have contacted mine several times and they are sooo helpful. You can locate a leader from this link.
www.lalecheleague.org/WebUS.html
Hope this helps, Good Luck, stay in there.. :)
I tried to start bottle feeding 2 weeks before I went back to work and my daughter was having none of it. I had tried several different bottle styles but the only thing that worked was catching her when she was asleep in her carrier (and only in her carrier). The supplemental nursing system the other's suggested sounds like a great idea and it may help increase your own milk supply. Do it quick though, the baby's weight loss has me worried. Good Luck and keep us posted.
It could be that she just doesn't like the artificial nipple. There's a device that might solve your problem. It basically consists of a small-diameter tube that is used in place of the nipple on the bottle. You place the end of the tube on your breast next to your nipple, the baby latches on, and gets the feel of your nipple while suckig the formula through what is basically a long thin straw. I'm not sure where to find them, but I know they exist, because my sister used one with my niece when she didn't have enough milk. Your pediatrician, ob-gyn, or hospital could probably help you locate it.
