Expert: ruth kraft - 7/5/2011

Question
I have a 4 month old baby who is EB. I also pump while at work. I used to pump 11 oz in the mornings and 5 to 6 oz during the day. Our problems started a couple days ago when I got the stomach flu. I got dehydrated and tried to keep drinking fluids and continued to feed as normal. The next day, he started a growth spurt. He started crying at the breast, pulling on my nipple and kneeding my breast. It then progressed to just crying at the breast and refusing the breast. He will only let me feed him off the breast in the mornings a couple of feedings. The rest of the day he refuses the breast and I get frustrated and end up giving him a bottle.  Now I am only pumping 5 oz in the morning and 3 oz during the day. My baby eats 30 to 35 oz per day. I don't want to pump exclusively. Any ideas of what is going on and what I can do to get him back to breastfeeding?

Answer
You can try increasing supply again by increasing fiber, staying hydrated and maybe some mothers milk tea. Unfortunatly you cannot make him breastfeed, so the best way to go about it, is just continuing to offer the breast when he isnt starving or when he is sleepy and just wakes from a nap, just offer, give lots of praises and cuddles when nursing etc. Give him something extra when nursing, he is learning when he fusses then he will get a bottle , so make the rule when you are around, he must nurse from you. He will naturally build your supply back up as well. ALot of patience. You can also offer when your breasts are a little fuller or get your milk to let down by pumping initially for a moment to bring the milk forward then nurse him so he gets that instant gratification again and learns that breastfeeding is good again.

He is a smart kid learning the easiest fastest way to get what he wants. he doesn't know long term it is better to breastfeed. :) He will get it, be patient and try not to get frustrated as that will send him the signal that breastfeeding stresses you out too. that interprets to being bad and he won't like that....

I hope that helped!
Ruth Kraft CD CLD HBCP FOCEP CCCE
Mother of Emma & Jacob
Doula Trainer & Mother Mentor
www.honoringwomen.com