All of a sudden not eating much....

• 06-26-2009 1:02 AM

  Nikki08 Joined on 06-08-2008 Posts 499

  All of a sudden not eating much.... Reply Contact Ok, my son is 6 months old....almost 28 weeks.....I have been breastfeeding him and supplementing with formula because I do not produce enough for him........(everytime I pump, I get around 3-4 ounces...I know that there is a great chance that he gets more out of the breast when he nurses, but not the 6-7 ounces that he needs)..............so I like to give him at least 1 bottle(6 oz) of formula a day...... I pump at night, so I have about 8-10oz that I can feed to him in a bottle..................well lately he has not been finishing the bottle or even drinking from it...but he seems to want to nurse instead.....most of the time he's fine with nursing(even if I feel that there is no milk coming out)..but sometimes he gets frustrated because there's no milk coming out......... he has NEVER had nipple confusion......I would use the wide neck bottles, and the avent pacifiers(which he stopped using around 3-4months old)......he has always been able to go back and forth from the bottle and suck the paci and nurse, with no problems......... We started pureed foods at 24wks, and he doesn't really care for them....he will only eat about 30% of the time....the other times, he clamps his mouth shut...or will spit it out.... could he be developing a preference for the breast over the bottle at this age?? I hope not because he is sure to lose weight because I don't make enough for him, and he even snacks at the breast sometimes.......he also wakes during the night and wants to nurse, or even will take a bottle (last night, he finished a bottle from earlier)......so I know that is his body's way of making up for the calories that he missed during the day....

• 06-26-2009 9:16 AM

  In reply to

  Shannon1983 Joined on 05-23-2004 NY Posts 1,077

  Re: All of a sudden not eating much.... Reply Contact  Honestly, I have always doubted that you didn't make enough. Yeah you only pump 3-4 oz, but that is actually good in comparison to what a lot of women can get. I get 2-3 oz and he is exclusively breastfed, no supplements, and he is healthy. When he was around 2 months I had to feed him at the doctors after he was weighed and I weighed him after he ate and he was 5 oz heavier. So at 2 months he was getting 5 oz (one breast) when I wasn't even getting 2 oz from the pump at that time. He also snacks at night but that's normal for breastfed babies. Breastmilk digests faster because there's no waste, so it's more rare for a breastfed baby to sleep through the night. He could be wanting to nurse due to teeth, or it could be a growth spurt. Anyway, he could be developing a preference. Nursing is more work, but it's also more snuggly.

• 06-26-2009 10:13 AM

  In reply to

  Nikki08 Joined on 06-08-2008 Posts 499

  Re: All of a sudden not eating much.... Reply Contact Thanks Shannon! Telling me about the weighing at the Dr's office makes me feel so much better! BF can be so frustrating, especially if you also pump sometimes...I guess that's why Lactation Consultants don't really like it...they know that mothers might get discouraged.....and he doesn't have any teeth, and he will be 28weeks tomorrow, so maybe that's it also....And, he did just complete a growth spurt..........he goes to the Dr on Wed, so we'll see if he's healthy and growing....I know that he definitely "feels" heavier....!!

• 06-26-2009 1:41 PM

  In reply to

  Amy2430771 Joined on 05-08-2009 Posts 51

  Re: All of a sudden not eating much.... Reply Contact I agree with all the things the pposter said. I exclusively breastfeed my son, too, and pump all day at work for the next day. My son is 6 mo, and I never get more than 3-4 oz at one pumping session, yet my son weighs 18lbs so I know he is fed well! The reason he might get frustrated at the breast occasionally is that when BF babies go through growth spurts, they cluster feed to tell your body to make more milk. this is natures way of keeping you in tune with your baby's needs. Let him nurse whenever he wants! Like the PP said, more work, but more fun, snuggly baby time too. I would be thrilled if my son preferred breast over bottle. As it is, he doesn't care which he gets as long as he is eating, but selfishly I wish that he would prefer mommy more! Bottom line, trust your body and its ability to give your son the best food ever. You are doing fine with production, and providing an amazing thing for your baby. Don't forget to give yourself a little cheer or pat on the back often! Your lactation lady is right, though. Pumping does make women unsure of their production and can lead to premature weaning because it creates doubt in your mind. Your doctor will notice if your baby starts to lose weight, and then you can worry. Until that time, let that baby eat and stop second guessing yourself. Way to go!