4 month old refusing to breasfeed

My almost 4 month old baby is refusing to breasfeed.

Had several problems with breasfeeding from the beggining my nipples were flat so it was hard for me to get him to latch on and when he did it wasn't right my nipples started bleeding and a nurse suggested I express and bottle feed while my nipples were healing.

After this I found that my milk supply was diminishing so I started suplementing his feeds with formula and I also started using nipple shields to try and give my nipples more "shape" (recommended to me by the nurse) so i have been breasfeding (with a nipple shield) and formula feeding for most of the time.

The last couple of days I have found that I try to breastfeed him and he will only want to feed for a couple of minutes then he gets quite upset starts crying and throwing his head and is inconsolable. This is upsetting to me I want to breasfeed him, how can I get him to want to breasfeed? Please help

[30something13]

It can be something in your diet, your hormones now regulating from giving birth, and also he coudl have fluid in his ear. If youa re formula feeding also then it is very hard to keep your supply up to where it needs to be, especially for growth spurts. More nursing means more milk. Also it is harder to suck on the breast as apposed to the bottle so he may just not want to give the effort for his food. I would diminish the bottle feedings and talk with a lactation specialist about it. Best of luck

My little guy is 3 months and only breastfeed and he started doing that the last 4 days. I am looking into that I might be pregnant again and the hormones ahve changed my milk:) We shall see but I know how you feel I have been beside myself as to what is bothering him too.

[AnnieBrooke]

I'd see a lactation specialist or a La Leche League advisor as soon as possible.  The crying and throwing his head back suggests it's not working (maybe the latch again) or something in the milk is troubling him.  Have you changed your diet at all?  Don't just talk to a nurse, talk to a lactation specialist.  Good luck!

[30something13]

It can be something in your diet, your hormones now regulating from giving birth, and also he coudl have fluid in his ear. If youa re formula feeding also then it is very hard to keep your supply up to where it needs to be, especially for growth spurts. More nursing means more milk. Also it is harder to suck on the breast as apposed to the bottle so he may just not want to give the effort for his food. I would diminish the bottle feedings and talk with a lactation specialist about it. Best of luck

My little guy is 3 months and only breastfeed and he started doing that the last 4 days. I am looking into that I might be pregnant again and the hormones ahve changed my milk:) We shall see but I know how you feel I have been beside myself as to what is bothering him too.

[Brittny27]

I had problems with latch and my baby is 3 weeks old now and mainly bottle fed with expresed milk. I used formula only about three days till my milk came in.

I would suggest pumping every three hours for at least 15 minutes even if your not getting anything the last half of the pumping session. It signals your body to produce more. I'm now producing 6-8oz every 3-4 hours. Sometimes at night I will go 5 hours. I have tons of milk in the freezer already.

It's frusterating to try and breastfeed and have your LO just scream and throw their head back. Kaelynn does this almost everytime but as soon as I offer a bottle with breastmilk she takes right to it. I think she just doesn't want to work to get the milk to let down and start flowing.

[Clysta]

He might also have to work too hard to get the milk. I'm a little confused why they told you to bottlefeed to let your body heal. The bleeding won't actually hurt the baby. I was blistered and bleeding and was told to increase how often I breastfed. Unless they said it just for your own comfort. Also, supplementing with formula if you suspect a low supply will only decrease your supply more. BRIng is supply and demand and the less often the baby is at the breast, the less you will produce. When I spoke to a LC I was told if we were going to use a bottle at all to offer the breast first for as long as she stayed latched, then to give a bottle. This will at least help keep your supply up a little more. Like others said, speak to a LC or the LLL. They will be able to work with you and see what the problem might be.  

[Hismummy]

Thanks to everyone for their comments!!! He is still hysterically refusing to feed and is only happy when he gets his bottle, the ironic thing is that I have lots of milk at the moment. I'm getting my breastpump replaced today( brocken after only 3 months!!!) so hopefully I can at least store the milk.

The thought that a hormonal change could be the cause for him to refuse my breast milk did cross my mind...I remember reading somewhere that your milk changes a week before menstruation or something like that..I will have to look into it...Has anyone experience anything like that???

[tiredbuthappy]

Honestly, my guess is that he is older and more alert and has figured out that it is much easier to drink from a bottle. Especially if he is hysterically refusing the breast, but still willing to take the milk from a bottle. He may be at the age where it's not going to work to do both bottle and breast. The first thing I would do is offer the breast for his nighttime or sleepy feeds. When we had to transition to the bottle for other reasons (colic made almost any feed impossible), the only time I could get her to nurse was if I latched her while she was napping.
Also, if it takes a few  minutes for you to have a let-down, I would try a little pumping right before you latch to get the milk flowing so he doesn't get as frustrated. And try to latch before he is very hungry, again to reduce impatience and frustration. Some people stop giving the bottle all together, and the baby eventually nurses because he is hungry. He may be big for the approach, but you can give it a try if you think it may work.
If you have access to a LC, she can be very helpful. Or, to help reestablish the breastfeeding relationship, you can get a SNS, supplemental nursing system. I have not used one, but supposedly they are great for this type of situation. The baby feeds at the breast, but in addition to your milk, the baby would get extra pumped milk or formula through a little tube that attaches to your nipple.

good luck and keep us updated!