https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:42:41 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-to-improve-nursing-relationship-with-4mo#post-2253044 Mon, 03 Aug 2015 10:32:18 +0000 ms. pug 2253044@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just wanted to update- we have made huge breakthroughs the last few weeks! I dont want to jinx anything- but LO has been nursing great during the day the last week or so, something i never thought would happen again. We are still using a shield, but have weaned off it before, so I'm not too worried. I found that when he would begin to get frustrated about the flow, if i sing to him, he immediately relaxes and nurses. It's amazing! His favorite song is twinkle twinkle little star. haha. yay! Thanks everyone for your advice- I'm glad I didn't give up </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-to-improve-nursing-relationship-with-4mo#post-2240977 Mon, 20 Jul 2015 14:37:55 +0000 lady grey 2240977@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ms. pug: it sounds like your supply is great. I know this is hard, but do your best to not get stressed with each feeding, as this can make your let down take longer to occur. Take lots of deep breaths or sing your lo a lullaby. Good to hear your are on a level one nipple so the bottle flow isn't constributing to this.<br /> Def think about see an lact consultant! If seeing one for a private visit isn't in your budget you can usually find an experienced IBCLC that runs a breast feeding support group with a $10-15 drop in fee, so at least you could get some help from a specialist. Going to a Le Leche League meeting would also be a great resource for you. The leaders are not IBCLCs but have tons of breastfeeding experience. And its free! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-to-improve-nursing-relationship-with-4mo#post-2240967 Mon, 20 Jul 2015 14:29:22 +0000 snowjewelz 2240967@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ms. pug: I wish I had better advice! I literally just kept offering, and offering, and offering. One magical day, she just started nursing again as if the strike never happened! It def lasted 2+ weeks... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-to-improve-nursing-relationship-with-4mo#post-2240956 Mon, 20 Jul 2015 14:20:41 +0000 ms. pug 2240956@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lady grey: Thanks for the advice! He will nurse in a dark room if he is sleepy and hungry (but not starving!). I try to nurse him right when i get home from work (hungry or not) and do skin to skin and sometimes he will nurse (w/ shield) sometimes he pushes himself away when i offer breast. I haven't tried a cover! I pump ~28oz a day (not including nursing at night) so I don't think it's too low. my let down is pretty quick but sometimes if he gets frustrated I will fill the shield with milk before offering and it usually works. We are on level 1 nipples and it already takes him a while to finish a bottle unfortunately. I should make an appointment w/ a lactation consultant- I have actually never seen one except in hospital.</p> <p>@snowjewelz: Thank you for the kind words, I am definitely very hard on myself about this, which makes the stress worse and LO can sense it. I have tried side lying but he doesn't really like it but I will try again since that was a few months ago. Thanks for the tip! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-to-improve-nursing-relationship-with-4mo#post-2240941 Mon, 20 Jul 2015 14:10:52 +0000 snowjewelz 2240941@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Don't beat yourself up! I honestly don't think it was the bottle. I rarely offered the bottle before 3 mo and DD suddenly refused bottle just weeks before I went back to work; so the reverse can have a negative effect too! I was wishing I had offered the bottle more! </p> <p>Then after DD got used to the bottle, she totally went through nursing strike too around the same age. It sucked big time b/c I couldn't just BF her at home and had to pump. SOO annoying! I just persisted and kept offering first. We also went to only nursing laying down in our bed. Now she won't nurse in "normal" positions so I can't nurse when we're out, but I had accepted that and will either go out between feedings (which by now is 3-4 hrs so much easier), or make sure I'd be able to pump. Hang in there!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-to-improve-nursing-relationship-with-4mo#post-2240935 Mon, 20 Jul 2015 14:06:29 +0000 lady grey 2240935@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ms. pug: How does he do if you nurse in a dark room during the day? Or under a nursing cover, even if you are at home? I would just stick with the nipple shield for now since that's what he prefers. How is your milk supply? If its low at all, your LO may be frustrated, since bottles flow so fast and immediately (no waiting for a let down). Could you try a slower flow nipple on the bottles so they can match up with breastfeeding more? If I were you I would see an experienced lactation consultant for help! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-to-improve-nursing-relationship-with-4mo#post-2240417 Mon, 20 Jul 2015 07:32:18 +0000 ms. pug 2240417@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm looking for any/ all advice on how to improve the nursing relationship I have with my 4.5 month old. He had latch issues from the beginning, and I used a shield and pumped for the first 2 months. I would nurse 4 times a day and offer a bottle 4-5 times a day. At 2 months we weaned off the shield and everything was rainbows and sunshine until 3 months.</p> <p>When LO was 3 months, i went back to work, and he went on a 7 day nursing strike. after continually offering the breast and doing all the recommendations (skin to skin, bath, offering breast for comfort) we eventually got back to at least nursing at night, but only w/ a shield.</p> <p>I have since tried (and tried, and tried) to wean the shield again, but LO gets frustrated when I switch mid-feed. And now he will only nurse in the MOTN. I really wish i could get him to nurse 3-4 times a day again, when I am home!</p> <p>Does anyone have experience getting a slightly older LO (4.5 months) back to breastfeeding after similar struggles? I really regret all of the bottle offering I did in the beginning, but I can't change it now. Is there anything I can do to make breastfeeding more enjoyable for him? I try different positions, but haven't found one he likes other than simple cradle. OR, should I just not put either of us through the fuss and be happy he still nurses in the MOTN and suck it up and pump the rest of the time?</p> <p>I would really appreciate any help! </p>