I'm going to pull my hair out!

[hedixo01]

I apologize in advance because this might be long. My son is 4 months old, and I've been breastfeeding since birth. When he was six weeks I went back to work at a hospital. I work three twelve hour shifts during which I pump about 16 ounces, and he is given bottles. We started bottles before I went back to work to make sure he'd be ok with them. He was great! He went back and forth from bottle to breast perfectly. However, for about the last month we've been having some difficulties. I start nursing him and he latches on great and he eats well. After about five minutes he starts to fuss. He pulls away, screams, and just refuses to eat anymore. Sometimes he is sleepy, so I rock him to sleep, and he'll eat more after that. But when he isn't tired or anything else he will still refuse to eat. I burp him, change his diaper, and still he won't nurse. If I stop and just let him play or whatever he's fine, but he's only eaten about five minutes on each side. If he was eating more often I'd be fine, but he's still only eating every three or four hours. I never empty out either, and I'm starting to hurt more. I know he's hardly getting anything, but I don't know what else I can do. I know there's no nipple confusion because he latches right on, and I know I have a good supply because I pump at work. Any thoughts, advice, or help would be great. I'm at my wits end. I'm about to start exclusively pumping, but I love to nurse. I'll miss it so much if we stop. I don't know what to do.:(

[jodyvo]

My daughter went through the same thing at about the same age. I can tell you that with my DD it passed after a few weeks and then it would happen here and there. I don't know what caused it. Good luck and hang in there. You may want to pump after the feeding so you don't lose your supply

[madelsmama]

When he stops nursing after 5 minutes, how does he behave? Fussy? Still hungry?

Is there any chance that he's getting enough? How many wet diapers is he giving you on the days that he does not receive bottles? At least 6?

Is it possible that he's just become more efficient and doesn't need to nurse as long?

[Stephanie]

If he is not on the slowest flow nipple I would put him back on that. At this point, it may not be that he doesn't know how to switch back and forth, but that he likes the bottle better. I would be very firm about no bottles when mama is around. I made the mistake of not enforcing that with my ds and it hurt our nursing relationship and my milk supply.

I would try nursing him in a dark room or in a warm bath. Sometimes there is just too much going on for a baby to focus on nursing. Babies also can get more efficeint at nursing. I know dd would only nurse for about 5 mintues on 1 side and be completely satisfied.

Check is diaper output on a day when you are home all day. As long as he is having 6 wet diapers, he is getting plenty of milk.

[hedixo01]

I hadn't thought about his diapers. He does have plenty of pee and poop. I always thought he was getting enough because he acts satisfied after so little, but today he just cried no matter what I did. And I never let him have a bottle when I'm home; I'm too selfish:) I have decided to go back to the slow flow nipple (he's on medium right now). Hopefully that will help. I'll try the dark room or bath; he always nurses better just before bed. Thanks so much; I just got so frustrated today. And I'm so worried that something is wrong.