about to give up for good :( - Infant Care (up to 18 months old) Message Board

hugs28 · 12-09-2005, 09:12 AM

I need some info if anyone can help. I am bf my ds and now he is on food, now I knew things would dwindle a little since starting food, but this is ridiculous. here is the thing, he does not want to nurse more often, but is cranky and wanting to eat more often, my assumption, not enough milk at his feeding time, but he won't nurse anymore. my question here would be, what else besides nursing more, pumping in between ( don't work ) and drinking beer lol can I do to help produce more milk, we have been having an ongoing problem with this

, the other thing I am wanting to know is, is there a way to get your letdown to happen faster, I tried making similar movements on the side my ds is not eating, but it is not working and he gets real frustrated and screams. This never happened before, letdown always happened within 2-3 seconds, now it is longer and I don't know what else to do.

I thought of just switching him to formula, but I love the closeness of nursing him. He is 4 1/2 months now. thanks for any suggestions.

He has also been more cranky and not sleeping as well the past 2 days, any suggestions as to why? thanks

dizzygirl · 12-09-2005, 09:31 AM

I have had really similar problems like your own.

First- have him checked for an ear infection. That could be the reason he is crying, and not nursing that often will result with a lower milk supply.

Second- spend a few days at home, and try to " rekindle" your closeness. This worked for me, why he was feeling that way, who knows! Nurse often, and spend lots of time holding him.

Third- speak to a LaLeche League leader. They are really helpful, and deal with this stuff all day. They will have great advice. Hang in there, it is so hard when they do things like this, but keep trying, it will probably pass.

Carrie

andilyn · 12-09-2005, 09:35 AM

My DS is 5 and half months old, and since he has been eating solids, he has become sooooo impatient when it comes to feedings. And he want's to eat a lot more often. He will cry and cry if he isn't fed right away. Otherwise, he's a happy and content little guy. But it's like now since he's eating solids, he want's to eat, and eat, and eat. I don't have any advice on your breastfeeding situation, maybe someone else will though. But I just thought I would at least ask if he may be starting to teethe? My DS started around that same age, and now, a month later, he has his two bottom teeth popping through. Maybe that can account for some of your baby's crankiness and not sleeping as well. Try and hang in there though! I know how tough and trying it can be at times to figure out what is going on and what to do about it. Just know I am thinking of you!

hugs28 · 12-09-2005, 02:05 PM

thanks guys, He does not want to nurse anymore often, and he fusses with a bottle also, I will have to find out about ear infection. He could be teething, because he has really been acting much worse then before. I could not type well before lol, as I was holding him and only had one hand to type with. He does get real cranky, and boy when they tell you that every baby is different they are right, my dd never acted like she was getting teeth at all, you never even knew, she also did not get them til she was almost a year old, this lil guy seems to possibly be getting teeth, he drools like crazy, is very cranky lately, nights are harder right now, rosy cheeks, runny nose, cold like symptoms without the cold etc... only thing I don't see is teeth or gum redness. I just don't get it lol thanks for the suggestions though. I will see if I can call LLL and find out what else I can do.

rouge · 12-10-2005, 06:43 AM

I read somewhere that teething hurts the worst before you see any signs of the teeth. I guess when they are twisting and tearing their way up to the top. My son started teething at 3 months and went from the sweetest baby to cranky cranky. He stayed that way because the teeth kept coming. Anyway, when he was really cranky there was no tooth. Then about a week or so later I would see the white line under his gum. When it actually pooked through he was not crabby.