6mo hardly nursing

[Jadynsmom]

My 6 1/2 mo lo has been bf since birth & we just added solids about a month ago.  She is eating solids at dinner (5:30pm) but during the day it's a chore!!  Now on top of not eating much solids during the day, she's nursing for 2mins & pulls off of me & gets really upset if I try to make her nurse longer.  I try to nurse where it's quiet, dark, walking in a sling, etc, no luck.  Do I need to cut out solids altogether or just not give her solids in the am & afternoon?  I know that solids is ok as long as she's getting enough milk, but since she's not getting enough milk, do I give her more solids to make up for the millk or not give any solids?  I'm so confused & frustrated!!!!!  Btw, I'm sure she's teething and going through a horrible case of the separation anxiety.  Please help.

Thank you,

Kathy

[jaxnp]

I would err on the side of fewer solids.  I would stick to the evening one for now, and add the other two back later when she's nursing well again.  If you know she's teething, try giving her Tylenol or Motrin 30 before nursing (follow package instructions on frequency) and see if that helps.  Sometimes nursing hurts their gums when they're teething.  You could also let her chew on a bottle filled with ice water for a few minutes before nursing to numb her gums.  How often is she nursing?  You might want to stretch it out to 3-4 hours between feedings with no solids in between so that she's really hungry when you offer the breast.  Hope it resolves soon!

[Jadynsmom]

Thanks, Davidsmom,

She's on 4hr routine & nurses 7, 11, 3 or 3:30 & 7:30 with 10:30pm df.  She has NEVER cried for food, ever, I don't think, which makes it really hard to know when she's hungry.  I just feed every 4hrs regardless.  I gave her solids tonight & she ate really well, but when it came to nurse she nursed 2mins!!!!! She seemed really sleepy.  Her last naps was done at 4pm, so that's only 3 1/2hr wake time and she can usually do that without any problem.  Anyway, I turned all the lights off, stood & rocked her while nursing :roll:  She nursed because she was almost asleep.  I went ahead & woke her up and then put her down after about 3mins and she's out.  I'm sure she'll be up tonight since she didn't get her usualy amount of milk.  I hope she will do well for her df.

I will cut her out her solids for breakfast & lunch & see if that helps.  She only eats 3tbl of cereal & 1 fruit for breakfast and then 2cubes of avacado for lunch.  That's not a lot of food.  I'm terrified she might try to wean or something.  I want to bf til well beyond a yr, and the thought of her stopping now scares me.

Thanks for the advice.  I will let you know if she goes back to her normal self.  Hopefully really soon.

Kathy

[LindseysMom]

Are you giving her breastmilk before solids?  I think it is best to offer milk first then do solids like an hour later to be sure that they do get all the milk they need.  I still do milk first then solids with Lindsey.  In my breastfeeding book it says to do it this way til they are 10 months old then you can do solids first then breastmilk.

[Jadynsmom]

Lynne, I nurse her and then an hour later give her solids.  So this is her routine

7 bf
8 cereal & fruit (2-3 tbl cereal & 1 cube fruit) (I have to fight with her to take this)

11 bf
12 veggies (2cubes - sometimes only 1cube)

3pm bf

5:30 dinner - veggies (sweet potatoe 2 cubes, cereal (3tblspoon) & fruit (2cubes) - this is about the only time she will really eat solids.
7:30 bf

Kathy

[annamum]

I agree with Davidsmom that you should stop solids for the moment. Solids at this point are supposed to be just for teaching her about other textures and tastes, not for nutritional purpose. Try to cut solids out (keep the dinner) and see if that improves her milk intake.

I wouldn't worry about her not taking any solids yet, she is not even 7 months old, but about how much milk she gets. It is too early to wean, and babies usually don't do this that early. There could be another reason for that, she might be coming down with some cold, cutting a tooth, not feeling well. When they are teething they sometimes want to nurse all the time and sometimes they refuse nursing and solids (or only nursing). Try to rule out any of these to make sure she is not uncomfortable for any of these reasons.

Let's hope you will soon figure out the problem and she will be nursing well. I hope you will have your girl back to normal nursing,  keep doing your fabulous job. I always like to hear about moms who plan to nurse for an extended time  , I am one of them and enjoy it very much!

[Jadynsmom]

I have dropped all solids except dinner, and she seemed to be bfing a bit longer but still not as long.  Maybe she's just not needing both sides???  She nurses at bedtime one side pretty quickly & drains it and the second side I have to stand up & walk around and bf while singing! :oops:  :?  I can usually get a couple of mins extra this way, so I guess I will do it as long she will nurse.

When should I give back her solids during the day?  I think maybe she's just not needing to nurse so many times (4 bf & 1df)??  I know I will be dropping the df within the next month when she's 7mos and has her solids in place.  For a 7mo, how many bf should I have during the day?  And since I have no idea how many ounces she's taking, do I just estimate how many ounces and check her weight to make sure she's gaining?  When do I drop the 11am bf?  I remember someone said around 8 or 9mos?  Sorry so many questions.

p.s. Somehow she's more constipated now?? I don't understand.  She did not have a poop today, unless you count the little marble size one.
Thanks for all the help,

Kathy

[annamum]

At 7 months, I would say that 5 feeds is OK. I would keep a dreamfeed for a little while as I don't feel comfortable with 4 feeds per day for a 7 or 8 month old baby. You can drop it after she is at least 8.5-9 months, just my opinion.

And yes, since you were concerned about your baby weaning herself, here is some info: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/weaning/babyselfwean.html

[velvet]

Hi there

To be honest, I dont think you have a problem at all.  I think your lo's teeth are causing discomfort when she sucks the breast and so that's all she can take ( the 2 minutes).  Mine doesnt have any teeting yet and he eats only 8 minutes!  His morning feed is the longest on both breasts but the other feeds are 8 minutes.  Just keep offering every 4 hours like you're doing.  Also the solids you offer are good too (breast feed first and then offer solids).  Try not to shake up her routine by changing things on her.  My lo is 6 months and I feed him 5 times a day.  I am in the process of cutting the dream feed back every 15 minutes every 3 days.

[jaxnp]

My dd is the same age, and she gets about 6 feedings during the day, a dreamfeed, and 1-2 night feedings :roll: . I honestly can't remember what my ds was doing at this age, but I do remember by 8-9 months he was on 4-5 feedings a day, so I think dd is maybe feeding a little more frequently.  We're basically on a 3 hour schedule with cluster feeding.  I wouldn't do less than 4 feedings at this age, not until at least 9 months.  Hopefully this is just a little nursing strike and will be over soon.  Has she had problems with constipation in the past?  Have you tried strained prunes or apple juice?

[Hihowdy]

I don't want to freak you out.   But a friend of mine had this same problem.  Baby didn't want to nurse...she switched to formula...then baby wouldn't eat solids...started losing weight...went to dr and he took an x-ray and it ended up that her bowels were impacted.  She gave her 3 enemas and now she is totally back to normal.  It probably isn't the case but it is something to consider if she still won't eat.

[Jadynsmom]

Thank you guys soooo much for helping out during this frustrating time.
Now I am 100% positive it's the darn teeth.  Last night she woke, after going to bed so easily at 7:30pm, at 9:30pm (fed her), 3am (no feed, slept in our bed), 5:15 (dh's alarm clock :?, no feed) and then at 6:45am (fed & woke for the day).  She cried at all the wakings, which is VERY unusual.  I gave her Motrin at 9:30pm and after she nursed she went right to sleep (in our bed :oops: ).  This morning I saw the white bump (definitely noticeable) on the top right gum.

She nursed for about 10 mins this morning.  I was sooo happy.  She seems to nurse the best in the morning.  The rest of the feedings are still 4-6 mins max.  Hopefully the teeth will finally pop out and she will go back to her normal feeding.

Katherine - she is constipated still.  It does't seem to bother her.  I try to give her water in a sippy cup or juice, but she just likes to chew on the teat part.  I guess I will just give her a drink from my glass, which she will very happy grab & drink.

Thanks again.  I will keep you posted on when she does go back to herself.

Kathy

[jaxnp]

You know, 4-6 minutes isn't actually that short for a 7 month old.  My dd is certainly done in under 10 minutes, sometimes less than 5.  They get really efficient and can get quite a lot of breastmilk in a few minutes.  I would monitor her weight and see if she's gaining, and if she is, I wouldn't worry how long she nurses for.

[branwen]

Hi there!  I found this thread while searching for teething/nursing stuff. My dd is also almost 7 months and is doing this- not eating from the breast at all- gorging on solids and refusing to eat long periods and from the second breast.  (3 min max- normal is around 7 to 8 ). How did this all work out? Did she go back to normal after teeth came in?  How long did it take for them to come in?  I can feel and see reddish squishy skin on the bottom so I know something is happening- and that she is sucking in her lower lip!  Any info would be helpful! Thanks!

[Jadynsmom]

Hi Branwen,

Her top tooth finally poked all the way through Aug 10 or 11th. It seemed like it took about 3 or 4wks for it to poke through.  Now the other top one is poking through!!  Funny thing is her two bottom teeth came in so fast and she didn't even act different at all!!

Her nursing is back to normal, I think, about 5-10 mins.  She's not hungry, so I'm assuming she's very efficient.  :wink:  She is eating solids pretty well also.  Her breakfast & lunch are hit or miss, depending if she doesn't like what I offer, but her dinner she pigs out.  So she nurses 7, 11, 3:30 & 7:30 and 3solids.

I've just recently tried to drop the df because she was pooping at night but she's waking at 2am & 5:45 am 3 nights in a row.  But even without the df, she was pooping the two wake times!!! I'm assuming this is what's waking her up, and not from hunger.  I quite don't know what to do about this.  I'm going to try one more night without the df and see what happens.  If she keeps on waking up, I"m going to give the df back next week.

Kathy