https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 22 May 2026 07:57:09 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/trying-not-to-freak-out-baby-wont-nurse#post-2278590 Mon, 31 Aug 2015 23:01:29 +0000 birdofafeather 2278590@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had times around 12 weeks that DD freaked out and wouldn't nurse at all. I was almost crying and DH took her away and said we'd try again later. I hand expressed into a bottle to take the edge off me and then would try again later and she was fine. For us, it was always a one or two time thing. If it became more than that, I would have worried more! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/trying-not-to-freak-out-baby-wont-nurse#post-2278514 Mon, 31 Aug 2015 21:11:52 +0000 macintosh 2278514@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ldh112: you're welcome :heart: I feel like in the beginning I was really hard on myself trying to get everything "right" as a mom. At this point dealing with his terrible sleep regression, I feel like I need to lower my expectations of both myself and my baby. I try to remind myself that at least he's healthy and generally happy. Not to mention adorable :grin: Motherhood isn't easy, that's for sure! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/trying-not-to-freak-out-baby-wont-nurse#post-2278499 Mon, 31 Aug 2015 20:58:16 +0000 ldh112 2278499@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@macintosh: thanks for sharing your experiences - sorry you had a similar one tonight. i think you've commented on some of my other BF posts and i can relate to supply issues. it really helps knowing others have been there too. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/trying-not-to-freak-out-baby-wont-nurse#post-2278493 Mon, 31 Aug 2015 20:52:20 +0000 ldh112 2278493@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@twodoghouse: you know, she is getting more distracted and i do nurse her in our main living area... i will keep this in mind and maybe start moving some feedings to the bedroom and see if things seem different. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/trying-not-to-freak-out-baby-wont-nurse#post-2278490 Mon, 31 Aug 2015 20:50:46 +0000 ldh112 2278490@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>thanks so much everyone- after the ounce of formula, my husband gave her to me and she latched on like nothing ever happened. i just don't get it - initially she wasn't acting hungry but it was getting close to 2.5 hours since her last feeding. (i feed on demand but also try to make sure to keep her feeds between no longer than 2-3 hrs during the day regardless of cues) who knows what is going on with her today. I had run errands with her and she got really upset in the car (a new thing that is happening every time we go somewhere unfortunately...) my other thought is since she had a crappy nap after crying her eyes out for 30 minutes that maybe she was just a bit out of sorts/emotionally dysregulated? (the therapist in me coming out) none of her naps are amazingly long (30 minutes to an hour tops at this point) so i hadn't considered that she was overtired.</p> <p>when my husband got home from work i told him i hate being a mom. i know i don't mean it, but its such a mind f*ck trying to assess her needs/understand her cues every moment. </p> <p>hopefully things get back on track now and i will revisit suggestions here if need be :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/trying-not-to-freak-out-baby-wont-nurse#post-2278481 Mon, 31 Aug 2015 20:44:34 +0000 twodoghouse 2278481@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At a certain point (12 weeks or so, give or take) my LOs became so distracted by everything in the world that they just couldn't settle down to nurse. It was about that time that I started taking them upstairs to nurse in the dark, sometimes even with white noise going, in order to get them to settle down enough to latch well. It also helped me relax. Sometimes I would get so stressed (especially when my ILs were visiting which was almost every day!) that I think my LOs could sense that too. Good luck! I hope you have a break through soon! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/trying-not-to-freak-out-baby-wont-nurse#post-2278467 Mon, 31 Aug 2015 20:36:11 +0000 ldh112 2278467@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lemondrop: yes i completely can relate! when she finally nursed, I was crying like a baby because I was so frustrated and stressed about it. Breastfeeding really has brought out the worst in me at times- it's been the hardest part of being a mom so far. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/trying-not-to-freak-out-baby-wont-nurse#post-2278465 Mon, 31 Aug 2015 20:34:10 +0000 ldh112 2278465@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kiddosc: I should try this :) The hot shower really helps loosen things up which is why I've done it that way previously. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/trying-not-to-freak-out-baby-wont-nurse#post-2278441 Mon, 31 Aug 2015 20:19:52 +0000 ElbieKay 2278441@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ldh112: My body didn't always respond so well to the pump, so I did a lot of hand expression after pumping sessions at work. It's sort of a pain and takes some practice but might help given your situation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/trying-not-to-freak-out-baby-wont-nurse#post-2278404 Mon, 31 Aug 2015 19:50:37 +0000 macintosh 2278404@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So my LO just woke up after 30 minutes (supposed to be bedtime, but 4 month sleep regression...). Before falling asleep he screamed when I offered the breast, now he's nursing and super relaxed. He was just too tired before :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/trying-not-to-freak-out-baby-wont-nurse#post-2278400 Mon, 31 Aug 2015 19:47:46 +0000 Mrs.Someone 2278400@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Dim room, rocking chair? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/trying-not-to-freak-out-baby-wont-nurse#post-2278388 Mon, 31 Aug 2015 19:42:21 +0000 mrsrugbee 2278388@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My daughter had a lot of breast rejection between 5 &amp; 9 mo. I would express milk into a cup and offer it at meals because she was way too distracted. She'd only nurse when REALLY tired but I didn't want her to nuse to sleep. She eventually settled down and started nursing properly again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/trying-not-to-freak-out-baby-wont-nurse#post-2278384 Mon, 31 Aug 2015 19:36:52 +0000 Jone0603 2278384@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You could also try a different hold. With both my kids, if they wouldn't latch in cradle position I would do football hold and they would latch easily. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/trying-not-to-freak-out-baby-wont-nurse#post-2278376 Mon, 31 Aug 2015 19:30:58 +0000 Truth Bombs 2278376@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Try getting in the bath with her. I know that sounds crazy but it worked like a charm every time my LO would refuse to nurse. She would calm down and eventually start rooting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/trying-not-to-freak-out-baby-wont-nurse#post-2278374 Mon, 31 Aug 2015 19:30:23 +0000 turquoisemama 2278374@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Is it possible that you're engorged and when the milk comes out the letdown is too forceful? We struggled with oversupply and overactive letdown for months. The only thing that helped was sidelying position. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/trying-not-to-freak-out-baby-wont-nurse#post-2278371 Mon, 31 Aug 2015 19:27:51 +0000 Banana330 2278371@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO has done this. I typically have to calm her down, she'll take her pacifier usually, once she's calmed down the bait and switch from pacifier for breast usually works. Sometimes I have to try it a few times. It's often cause she's really tired or really hungry. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/trying-not-to-freak-out-baby-wont-nurse#post-2278369 Mon, 31 Aug 2015 19:25:39 +0000 lemondrop 2278369@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My oldest went through nursing refusal at around 4.5 months old. It upset me so much, but I just kept trying in different situations, and he got over it after a couple days. I had already been stressed, then adding his refusal to it made me a basket case! I. Was. A. Mess. Thinking back now, I would have told myself to take it one feeding at a time. Finally I was able to get him to nurse really well when he was super sleepy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/trying-not-to-freak-out-baby-wont-nurse#post-2278366 Mon, 31 Aug 2015 19:23:35 +0000 kiddosc 2278366@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just wanted to add that you can hand express into a cup, you don't have to lose it down the drain. :happy: I've stood in the middle of my kitchen milking into a bottle before. Glamorous stuff. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/trying-not-to-freak-out-baby-wont-nurse#post-2278365 Mon, 31 Aug 2015 19:23:32 +0000 macintosh 2278365@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 4 month old does this on occasion. In the beginning he would be too frustrated to nurse because he was hungry (I have low supply). Once he got used to nursing he was better, but last month there was a day that he just wouldn't nurse, he'd cry at the breast, so I skipped right to his supplement.</p> <p>Today he's doing it again out of sheer exhaustion. His naps have been way too short today. It's really frustrating and I'm getting uncomfortable.</p> <p>Could you try breast compressions while you pump? I don't get a lot when I pump at work, never more than 2 oz, but I always feel relief after. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/trying-not-to-freak-out-baby-wont-nurse#post-2278360 Mon, 31 Aug 2015 19:17:16 +0000 skipra 2278360@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It took a while for my second to have a strong reaction to the dairy and soy. He was about 2.5 months I think. You could ask the ped to test a diaper for blood. Has poop been mucousy at all? My older was a bad sleeper especially after I ate dairy heavy meals and he stopped nursing a lot around 3 months I think. Not saying that's what's going on with you. Just wanted to share my experience.<br /> If you are having a hard time pumping and offering supplement could it just be a preference for the bottle? It is easier to get? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/trying-not-to-freak-out-baby-wont-nurse#post-2278353 Mon, 31 Aug 2015 19:08:33 +0000 ldh112 2278353@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Skipra: Hmm. the only thing I can think of that may be different from normal (she is going on 10 weeks) is that I ate a few red onions in a fajita bake last night but wouldn't that have bothered her earlier today? I eat onions occasionally but haven't had red ones recently which seem more potent to me.</p> <p>My husband is giving her an ounce of formula to hopefully take the edge off of her frustration and then try again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/trying-not-to-freak-out-baby-wont-nurse#post-2278351 Mon, 31 Aug 2015 19:02:31 +0000 skipra 2278351@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Any chance there is a sensitivity to something you ate or reflux? Both my guys went through a period where they fought nursing before I cut out dairy and soy. Or maybe the flow at first is too much? Maybe try expressing a little first?</p> <p>Breastfeeding issues are the worst. I hope you figure it out and get over the mastitis :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/trying-not-to-freak-out-baby-wont-nurse#post-2278348 Mon, 31 Aug 2015 18:56:58 +0000 ldh112 2278348@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've had our host of issues- three bouts of mastitis (on day 3 of meds for the latest) and have been supplementing since two weeks. Things were going great until the mastitis showed up again this weekend. She nurses every 2-3 hours, once or twice over night, and I supplement after every other feeding.</p> <p>The last couple days she's pulled off my left breast (the source of my first two infections) and I was able to see that there was dried milk plugging me up in a spot and I got it out, everything was back to normal.</p> <p>Just now at about 2.5 hours I put her back on the boob. She is freaking losing her mind and won't nurse from either side. I've tried skin to skin, I've given it a break and had my husband carry her around. Nothing is working. I have no idea what is going on but I am worried about my boobs getting backed up because of all the issues we've already been through. </p> <p>Any help? I am losing my mind with breastfeeding. Just when it gets better we take several steps backwards.</p> <p>ETA: I can't pump much (never have been able to) so my only real option to remove is to get in the shower and waste it, I mean hand express it... :P </p>