Whats my 16month old doing? can we fix it?

[MrsB26]

I'm sad, so sad tonight that I cried and cried and cried. I really hope ds isnt weaning.

In the past 3 days we have had about 2 successful feeds (out of 9)

Its not that he doesnt want to feed, its how he is trying to feed that is the problem.

I have no idea what he is doing or how i can fix it (if i can). When we have been feeding lately he has been starting out good with the whole nipple in his mouth and having a few sucks, then he stops and slides my boob out (or his mouth down) until he is just sucking on the very tip of my nipple - kind of like he trying to drink out of a straw iykwim? It hurts as his teeth are grazing me and he is obviously not getting milk easily so is sucking harder. Its not working.

I have tried taking him off and re attatching him, talking to him and telling him to open his mouth wide etc etc etc. It always starts out good but after a few seconds its back the using my nipple like a straw. Its too painful and i just have to stop the feed.

Has anyone else had this problem? Can anyone suggest anything else to try. I dont want this to be end of our breatfeeding journey, not yet, not this way with me not enjoying it anyway.

Please help xxx

[Jakabella]

I dont have any answers but I wanted to give you a
Hope someone can shed some light and a solution for you xox

[StrawberryMumma]

Hey Kristy

I just wanted to send you some hugs too
I definitely wouldn't lose hope though..they go through phases so maybe it's just that. It also might be his way of adapting to your changing milk supply because of your pregnancy. Just try and stay relaxed when feeding and wait things out, otherwise he might sense you feeling uptight and get more fussy xx

(eta..Cr@appy/unhelpful response I know!!)

[STARRYSKY]

My DS does this too! Only one breast though, ts sooo painful! I know he isnt teething as he has them all now, and Im not PG, so its not that (for me at least)

I just keep trying to get him on properly when e does it, stop, start, stop, start its very tedious!
Hope someone can help you out, then I can benefit too!

[Ginger]

do you think he could be teething?

there's no way you could be pg could you? i'm just thinking that that may affect the taste and he's not liking it.

eta- oh i just noticed that you are pg! silly me.
well, my ds1 started mucking around a lot with bfing when i was pg. how many weeks are you?

[kelebek]

teething almost always caused problems here - as he got older they were the problem for any damage but it was mostly grazing. I went back to basics, making sure that I was holding him correctly and closely to my chest. I would unattach and reattach and while I don't necessarily recommend this but I mostly grinned and beared it, When it became too painful I would cut the feed short. I am lucky though cause DS mostly only ever teethed for a week or so and we are still feeding now hopefully someone else will come in with some better answers for you.

though cause it can be really painful

[Kmn]

It might be worth trying a drastic change in how you feed him. If you normally feed with you sitting then try lying down - maybe even lying on your back. Something so that he has to stop and think "how do i get to this boob".
You can exclude/verify the teething issue by giving him a dose of panadol half an hour before a feed and seeing if it makes him better behaved. If it does then you can't keep constantly dosing, but you know it should be better eventually!

[MrsB26]

Ladies, thank you for making me feel not so alone

Today wasnt any better - probably worse if anything. Both feeds lasted seconds
I must say too that we do feed alone in his room without any distractions. Both feeds today he asked for but tried and the same thing happened. He didnt seem upset though. I do have a feeling that my milk might be changing and he isnt liking it. I am 16 weeks pg. I'm going to keep persisting and offering at our usual times and see what happens. I sincerly hope he isnt weaning but i guess i should be happy if he is as i always wanted it to be his descision and not mine. I guess a part of me too really wanted to tandem feed. Its not over yet though.

Kmn THank you for your suggestion, we always feed the same so i might try tomorrow to lay down together for a feed instead of sitting up. I dont think he is teething but i'll try some panadol too.

kelebek I was too grinning and bearing it for a few days as i thought the pain was because i was pg and my nipples were getting alittle sensitive. I also think he wasnt doing it as sever then either. I'm still not 100% sure whether or not he is teething, i dont think he is but then when it comes to toddlers, are the parents the last to know lol??

Starrysky to you too and our sore boobies Its good to know that i'm not alone. I'm taking him on and off, on and off, on and off but same result. frustrating!

Lee, thanks for the hugs and non crappy response, lets both hope its a passing phase.

Ginger i'm 16 weeks pregnnat and i'm pretty sure thats got something to do with it but i'm suprised its happened now (if it is the problem) as he didnt seem to care when my supply dropped heaps suddenly - its back now - but i guess it might be the taste. Could be the new baby standing its ground already and refusing to share lol.

Jakabella - thankyou also for the lovely hugs xx

[Smoke Jaguar]

BFing was very sensitive for me for a while during pg and it resolved after about 5 or 6 weeks. He was over 2.5yo, and even though he dropped feeds during the pg he picked right up again after DD was born. I've had to scale him back now, though, because his attachment has become atrocious, too It's so hit and miss that I wish he'd take the hint and give it up!

[rufalina]

I am no help, but you have some great advice here... My boys do/did this from time to time, and I think it is a flow thing... as in trying to get more flow... But it is not consistent for me, just the odd feed.

Also, I wanted to say, that even if DS has a little BF break now, there is no reason you cant get him feeding again when your new baby is born... xo