Going to work, baby won't accept bottle, Help!

I have been breastfeeding since birth. I introduced a bottle at 3 weeks and offered it 1-2 times a week with success to prepare for my return to work. Hannah accepted the bottle without problem while I was at work and when we were out in public.

This weekend while I was at work she refused the bottle for 6 hours, she screamed and arched her back when offered the bottle. She slept for brief periods and cried when awake. I fed her at 1:00PM when my husband brought her to me out of frustration and she nursed well and was quiet. She began crying on the way home and continued to cry intermittently and refuse the bottle until 8:30PM when I returned home (I work 12 hour shifts). On Sunday I breastfed without incident and she accepted a bottle in the afternoon given by me. She had a fussy period in the evening which is not uncommon.

Today I took her in for a sick check and they found nothing physically wrong with her. We tried the bottle again tonight and she reacted the same way arching and crying. I need to work 2 days a week, how can I get her to eat while I am away, do I have to wean her? I really want to continue to breastfeed for at least 6 months.

Thanks for your response.






Dear Debbie,

Hi, I am an LC answering questions from the web page, Breastfeeding.com. You will not believe this but your question is very common! I don't really know the specifics, but babies around age 3 months achieve a developmental milestone which causes them to fight the bottle. It isn't the bottle really, it is that Hannah is now able to distinguish between you and the bottle and she much prefers you!! (That is the silver lining, doesn't help much, but some mom's feel better knowing "why".) I have worked with at least 10 babies in this situation.

Nothing works perfectly, or for every one but there are some tricks for your husband to try. The rule is to keep a light touch, stay calm and cheerful sounding while working with the baby during one of the episodes. (Excellent problem solving skill, by the way, bringing the baby to you! Good plan.)

First, try different kinds of bottles: Nuk, platex, whatever. Dad should try to give the bottle in a cuddly way, close to the "breast" or most like the baby nurses. If that gets a bad reaction, then try a position completely different, say, sitting up, facing away. Be flexible. Another thing that helps babies that are fighting the breast or bottle is to feed them before they get really hungry. Wake baby up if he is sleeping too long. The ace in the whole is that you don't have to use a bottle at all!!! That's right! Many babies all over are cup fed even as newborns. You need a smallish clear cup or try anything you have at home. Have dad put baby in a semi-upright position in his lap (sideways) and offer milk via cup, gently, little sips. Keep towel handy for dribbles. If a baby is hungry and "hates" the bottle for now, then this is a way to get food into the baby. Be flexible!

Let me know if any of this is helpful and then let me know if it works! Good luck. She really will survive this. Do extra nursing at night and weekends until this blows over. The sitter bears the brunt and must remain optimistic. All will be well.


Elaine Matheny, BS, IBCLC, LLL Leader





 

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