Suddenly difficult to breastfeed

[Lemonthyme]

My son has always nursed quickly but he's always been really keen on feeding but now he's 8 months, he's suddenly started to be difficult.

Yesterday I tried to feed him 4hrs 15min since he'd last fed as my husband was taking him out to give me a break.  Until recently 3 hours between feeds was a struggle (and I mean like a week ago being recently).  I was actually doing EASY for pretty much the first time ever as he'd just woken from a nap and his earlier feed was straight after waking too.

Anyway, he bit me.  It's not the first time he's done this but when he's done it before, I realised I'd been offering ridiculously early but this wasn't the case here?

Anyway, he was fine not wanting milk while he was out then had two feeds pretty close together (90 mins) on his return.  His bedtime feed though was the really strange one.  He normally feeds for 20 mins prior to bed both sides.  Last night he was wriggling as I fed him and only fed for 6 mins on my RHS and would not relatch.  Every time I tried he cried.

So I put him to bed as that was obviously what he wanted.  He put himself to sleep.  Woke at 12, 1, 2, 3, 3:50 and I offered the breast each time.  He only took it at 3:50 after I gave him some bonjela (I tried this at bedtime as well in case it was his teeth).  Normally he feeds at 2-3 am and at 6am but he was awake again at 5:30am crying and I offered and he took it.

I just don't know what's going on.  Help???

[Lemonthyme]

I should add he has fed since earlier than he normally would and has also gone down for a nap earlier (although that might just be because his sleep was so disturbed).

[*Liz*]

It does sound like teeth to me  . Does he have any in yet?

I find M gets poor appetite, more distracted than usual (and she is pretty bad at the best of times  ), and kind of 'chewy' and inefficient when she IS on.

Might be worth trying some calpol or neurofen as well?? Especially at night?

[Lemonthyme]

Sorry, I should have said, we did try some calprofen (like nurofen) at 7pm last night so it should have been working till at least 1am probably 3am.  He does have a bit of a cold but he's had colds on and off for a month and a half and not been like this.  I'll probably try some painkiller before his bath tonight to see if it helps.  He's already got two bottom teeth which came through bang on 6 months so the others are "later" than you'd expect.

[*Liz*]

Can you see the teeth in the top gums then? They kind of go all pale and swollen when they start to cause trouble.

I certainly find random very frequent NWings like that are usually discomfort related.

The other thing that I often do it give calpol before bed, and then use neurofen at the first NWing so that the best painkiller then works through to the morning iyswim?

[kplus2]

I don't personally have any experience with this but I am reading a book called Child of Mine that discusses eating from newborn through toddler years.  One thing it mentions is that some children, when solids are introduced, end up rejecting the bottle.  She suggests that you may want to explore offering EBM in a cup during mealtimes.

If your LO can handle a cup it may be an great opportunity to introduce something new.

[Lemonthyme]

I struggle expressing breastmilk. 

Well after being fine after I posted this, he has again done it.  This time he had no breastmilk at all before bed.  The thing which triggered it was my husband leaving work late; he phoned to say he was leaving just as I started to feed.  My son pricked his ears up as soon as he heard the phone then wouldn't relatch.  I tried on and off for 30 mins then just put him down to sleep.

I had been offering a cluster feed around 4pm.  I'm thinking of trying dropping this to see if he will get going on the bedtime breastfeed again.  I'm just finding this so upsetting.  It feels like a rejection of me.  He has always been incredibly distractable though as my husband knows (I was furious with him) but in light of what happened two nights before it seems like he doesn't feel like he "needs" this feed.

[kplus2]

My DD is doing the same sort of thing this week, although she is only 8 weeks.  I do find that not doing the cluster feed around 4 has helped her eat more efficiently towards bedtime and in her case it hasn't not caused her to wake up earlier.  Does he seem content?  Perhaps he is a really effective eater?  Is he wetting his diapers throughout the day?

Don't take it personally, it's not you...the world is just so exciting for our LO's.   

[Lemonthyme]

Well I'm definitely bringing forward his tea and knocking off a feed earlier and trying to offer milk less throughout the day so he feeds more effectively.  I'd gone back to offering every 2 hours or so because he's got a cold and he's really grouchy.  Maybe he's just been comforting himself.

He actually didn't sleep too badly.  Woke at 8, still refused milk then woke at 2 and 5 when I fed him then woke at 6:30.  I'm exhausted though as I was awake through worry.

[anjabibby]

HI there,
I am glad that it isn't only mine!! My DS is 8 months EBF - though over the last week I have been trying to introduce a bottle at his 11 o'clock feed, not going well only taking an ounce at most. Now today - only after 5 days of dropping one of his 4 feeds a day (though still does mostly have 1 feed overnight), he completely refused his mid-afternoon feed. Turned away crying, I thought it might be teeth so gave him calpol and 30 mins tried again - but still no joy. Bit worried as he won't take any milk from either a sippy cup/bottle - even EBM. Isn't it way to early to be weaning of BFing? Do I keep going - not sure really how to get more milk into him - has anyone got any ideas?
Thanks x

[Lemonthyme]

Well he's now taking no milk in the day at all and up to 2 feeds at night from 1.  HV and GP think it's due to his cold and will get better.  I hope so.

[anjabibby]

Mine hasn't really got a cold though I think he is teething - we shall see!

[Lemonthyme]

Well his cheeks look swollen this morning but no temperature.  I'm going to give the docs a ring as soon as they open.

[Lemonthyme]

Just a cold apparently.

[anjabibby]

well mine has a cold - though was fine BFing today. Not so great at taking any milk from the bottle which I am trying to introduce at the 11 oclock feed. Took an ounce - wonderful. Anyway, my LO has total streaming nose now, so I guess in a way is easier to breathe now as it is all coming out. Maybe TMI....