Hellobee Boards

@ THOU, @Kemma: Thank you SO much for your help!

I wasn't diagnosed with low supply, but when he was born, he spent the first week in the NICU and when we would do test weights after breastfeeding, he wasn't getting much so we immediately started supplementing.

I do know that pump output isn't a good indicator, but with the whole nursing strike, pump output has done nothing but decrease. I had actually planned on EP after 8 wks since I had to go back to work but have been unable to do that since the decrease.

I have done "babymoons", offering the breast while sleeping, after feeding, when relaxed. None of it has worked. I was reading one way to make them come back to the breast is to make the baby believe that the bottle is the slowest way to feed (by leveling the bottle, thus, forcing the baby to literally suck the formula out), but I'm concerned about him sucking in a lot of air while feeding.

@Kemma: He's been able to latch since birth. I've been seen by 2 lactation consultants (1 who is IBCLC) who have told me that he has a really good latch.

When it first started, he violently cries and kicks as soon as I attempt to put him to the breast. There hasn't been any medical issue from him or me that's prompted the nursing strike and he's continued acting the same way. A few times throughout the nursing strike, he has gone back to the breast, but it's not without crying and kicking first. I'm trying to avoid that as I don't want to create an aversion to breastfeeding.

The only thing I can think of is he prefers the bottle and refuses to be fed any other way. I'm going to try slowing the bottle feed and see if that works. I'm also going to call the pres of the LLL here in my town and see if I can get help from her.

@Kemma: Before the nursing strike, he suckled for a full 5 min, and then would comfort suck off and on for another 5 min. He doesn't choke, cough or splutter at all while nursing.

When he was nursing, I would do it before the bottlefeed. Since the strike has begin, I've tried before, after, and during.

I just don't know what to do. I just finished feeding him 5 minutes ago and, as usual, violently reacted at the attempt of being put on the breast. Even if I put the breast in his mouth while crying, he refuses to latch on.