15 month old won't take the breast?

[Losh]

Sam won't breastfeed today!?

He has Hand, Foot & Mouth so is quite poorly, but usually that means that he wants boobie even more, so I am puzzled.

He woke at 12am last night and because he is poorly I went in to give him some milk. He went to latch on but kept turning his head away. He eventually just lay against me but I couldn't get him resettled so I took him into bed with me (haven't done that since he was a tiny!) and he still wouldn't take the breast.

When we woke this morning (6am yuck) we had the same problem and I offered this afternoon and he would start to latch on but pull away again.

He does want it as he was getting quite frustrated and there is plenty of milk as I getting really full, which is starting to get uncomfortable ....

Any ideas? 

[Fiver]

Hand, foot and mouth can be pretty sore, so you could try giving some pain meds before feeding, particularly something topical, if that's ok with the HF&M.

If you could pump some and put it in a cup, would he take that so that you're not getting sore and he's getting some milk without the pain?

[Losh]

Hi and thanks for your reply.

He has been having ibuprofen and bonjela, so doing all I can in that department.

I gave my pump away ages ago so I had to hand express in the bath tonight as they were starting to get really uncomfortable. Managed to do it into a cup though so at least it wasn't wasted!

He drinks from a cup fine and has had plenty of cold cows milk today, so he can have my expressed milk for his breakfast!

It's just weird because he has been eating fine and has had the HFM since Monday, but this is the first day that bf has been an issue.

I am just slightly worried that it could be my milk, but have no idea what could possibly be wrong with it ....

[Fiver]

Perhaps it's just more sore today?  It's a long time since I had HF&M so can't remember how uncomfortable it was

I'm sure it's not your milk, though!

[Erin M]

I've heard HF&M can be very painful -- maybe the cold cow's milk is more soothing?  I hope he gets back to nursing soon!

[Losh]

Thanks.

He is actually completely better now and full of beans, so I am 100% sure that his mouth is not the issue.

This is now the 4th day he has had no breastfeed, so I am facing up to the fact that he has weaned. 

I only had to express 4oz to make them comfortable on the first day of no nursing and they have been fine since, so I am working on the theory that my supply tanked. It seems rather odd that it should happen so suddenly, but he seems to have accepted it and although he still likes to snuggle into my bare boobs, does no more than have a cursory suck on the nipple before giving up!

I am sad that bf seems to be over, but it's been 15 1/2 months, so I've had a good innings and he is going down at night quite happily and sleeping well, so I guess I just have to go with it! 

[Fiver]

You've done great to get as far as you have, well done

[Losh]

Thank you Fiver!