Refusing to feed during the day...HELP

[JMO]

Just wondering if anyone has some advice...I have been BF my first bubba for over 9 months and it has all been going really well until now.

His usual routine is
6.30am - BF
8 am - breakfast
9.30-11am - sleep
11.30am - BF
noon - lunch
2pm - small snack
2.30-4pm - sleep
4.30pm - BF
6pm - dinner
8.30pm - BF and go to sleep for the night.

He had a horrible cold and cough last week & was off his food a bit, but happy to BF (even though it was hard because he couldn't breathe poor thing! ). Now he is on the mend, the last 3 days I have had trouble getting him to BF during the day & even before bedtime. He has even refused EBM before lunch today (which he has happily had previously). I'm worried about his milk intake plus the MCHN is concerned because he is in the 3rd percentile for weight.

I'm feeling a bit stressed about it - Any thoughts?

[Kmn]

Get his ears checked - ear infections are often the aftermath of a cold, and make it hurt to suck.

[onthefly]

So he doesn't feed at night either? It could be his ears or something like that, worth checking.
My DD does this, but she feeds all night instead
Has he dropped to the 3rd percentile, or was he always there?
Sometimes they do go through phases where they're less interested - it's good to try and relax about it and don't push it. You can call the ABA for suggestions - 1800-686-2-686 - or check out their website for info.
Hope it passes soon.

[JMO]

Kmn - he had his ears checked 5 days ago & no sign of infection. he hasn't been rubbing them or anything obvious like that...maybe i should get them checked again - thanks.

MadB - from birth to 4 months he was on the 25th percentile & I never really felt the need to weigh him between the 4 month and 8 month check-up, so he has dropped to the 3rd percentile. He started on solids at 6 months & he eats pretty well. I feed him all homemade food, until he refuses. He loves everything - fruit, veggies, chicken, pasta etc and is a very happy baby. I'm not overly concerned about his weight (& neither was the GP when we saw him last week), but am concerned about him dropping to 3 feeds a day - it just doesn't seem like enough. Feels a bit early for him to be self-weaning.

So as of today...he didn't have his usual lunch time feed, but fed well this afternoon & this evening before bed. PHEW!
I guess I'll keep offering him a BF at lunch time & hope for the best.

[onthefly]

Maybe it was just a 'thing' that'll pass. He is young to wean himself, yes Sounds like he's going very well - it's not unusual for breastfed babies to 'drop' on the percentiles compared to ff babies at this age.

ETA - have you seen the WHO growth charts? They're for bf only babies, so a better comparison
Should find a link in THIS thread

[JMO]

Thanks MadB - his current weight puts him on the 15th percentile according to the WHO chart. I guess I was a little freaked out that I might be starving my baby...but I know deep down that I cant do anything more than offer him the breast & as much food as he wants to eat (which is 3 solid meals plus snacks every day).

As long as he is happy, I know I don't need to worry.

Thanks sooooo much for the advice and reassuring thoughts.

[onthefly]

I found my boy was much better on the WHO charts at this age. Probably similar to yours