6 Month Old refusing breast, milk supply diminishing quickly ~ advice needed

[Dido]

Hi, my 6 month old has decided that she is not interested in milk feeding at the moment. She has been on solids for about 5-6 weeks but I only recently increased the solids to 3 times a day (smaller quantaties in each serving) in the last week HOWEVER as of yesterday DD has refused the breast between 6.30am to 8.30pm (saturday) and 4.30am to 7.30pm today. Yesterday my right breast was engorged and today my left breast was engorged.

DD fed well overnight, she fed at 8.30pm, 9.30pm, 1.30am and 4.30am but that is pretty much it in 2 days. I have tried expressing milk from my breasts however have huge problems getting a let down and therefore have only been able to express tiny amounts from each breast (which is obviously not emptying the breast).

DD just had her first feed this evening 7.30pm after 15 hours of refusing. At around 11am today I decided to hold off on solids (spoke to CHN) to see if DD would drink but NO, not interested at all.

Tonight I went to express milk from my breasts but once again got almost nothing and now my breasts are feeling very empty and soft. Have I just lost my supply? Will i have to feed my daughter on a bottle ? Is there anything I can do to get my milk back if it is nearly gone? I am petrified that once DD decides to drink milk again that she will get the rudest shock if there is no milk available for her.

I'm just not sure what to do if she wakes up soon and she gets no milk?
( i have also tried a bottle with formula which she will not take)

ANy advice would really be appreciated
Thanks

Oh, will my milk supply increase with nipple stimulation from the breast pump or do i have to actually have milk come out for my milk to increase?

[Barb Glare]

don't forget - supply = demand, so as long as you feed, your body will make milk. Things change over time. But there is no such thing as your milk "just drying up". Breast refusal is almost always temporary. How often IS your baby feeding in 24 hours?
If your breasts are uncomfortably full, express to keep up your supply and keep your breasts soft and comfortable. But your body will keep making milk. In the second year of life many mums only feed once or twice a day (I realise your baby is younger) but they still make milk
Is there any chance she could be a bit unwell?

[onthefly]

That sounds very stressful Dido
I think you really need real-life help with this - have you called the ABA for advice? Have you seen a lactation consultant?

DS went through a period of breast refusal and a slightly younger age. It started for us as he suddenly switched to having much shorter feeds and I thought he wasn't getting enough, so tried forcing him to have more. The way to beat refusal is to be patient and relax (which seems impossible when you're worrying about your child not getting enough, I know).

Try to relax at feed times and don't ever push it.
Try feeding somewhere different - a quiet darkened room might help. Or feed in the bath.
Try feeding when she first wakes up from naps - sometimes they're more amenable when they're still sleepy.

It seems she is feeding well overnight - perhaps she's too busy during the day to feed. It's not unusual for that to happen to some extent. When having solids she can still sit up and look around, but at the breast she can't see what's going on. During the night it's dark and quiet anyway, so she figures there's nothing better to do...

On supply - it wont' disappear so quickly, your breasts are just adjusting the change in feeding patterns. They'll make milk when she wants to feed
Hopefully it will be a short phase - all the best~~

[Dido]

I tried to get in to see the dr Sunday however there was no answer on the phone (they are usually open on Sundays) so I will try them when they open this morning to get DD checked out to make sure she doesn't have an ear infection/ underlying illness.
I'll also give the ABA a call in the morning to see if they can give me any advice re expressing as I just can't seem to get that let down - i even had my husband express with the pump for me while i massaged my breasts last night but it just wasn't happening.

With the feeds before this 'refusal' I was feeding DD probably every 2.5 -4 hours and we were doing well (however she did have some fussy periods where she would go 5-7 hours on the rare occassion). So the only feeds she has had in nearly 48 hours are 6 ( i just picked her up out of bed 1.30am to give her a dream feed on my breast which feels really soft and she did a burb which i hope indicates she got something from it) I will express from the other by hand now.

I have never spoken to a LC , even though i have had lots of positioning problems I have always managed to feed baby and until now have been doing well. May have to find one close to my area, will try to search for one in the morning.

Thanks for the replies, I am just needing some reassurance i think

[aussienic]

My first question would be.. Has your Af returned or do you think it might be returning? My kids always "went off" my milk leading up to AF week and then for the week it was here.. My AF returned within 4-6 weeks after having bub though..

[onthefly]

Good thinking Aussienic!

Dido, if you PM Barb and let her know where you are, she should be able to recommend someone in your area. Alternatively, you might find someone here.

[Dido]

No af's yet ( i am lucky that it hasn't returned even after 6 months) BUT thats not to say that they might be on their way in?? I guess that could be an issue - maybe my milk tastes funny?

I have had a little breakthrough this morning with DD, she had a fairly good breastfeed at 5.30am and then another at 9.10 am so i have rewarded her with some yummy pureed fruit however she won't get any more solids until she has another milk feed. I think i have been too soft with her and when she refuses milk then i would still give her yummy puree's and this might be a contributing factor to her breast/milk refusal? Just a thought as i am desperate to figure it out.

I'll also relax more and not try to force her to take my breast if she is not interested. I am certainly thinking that I may have been giving her too many solids but its the pressure i have got from parents, inlaws , sisters with kids - was told that i wasn't giving her enough solids the other week as i was only giving once to twice a day so then i increased it at everyones opinion and it backfired on me with DD. I shall see how this goes for now - no yum yum if no milk is what i tell her

Does this sound reasonable?

Could the solids have been too much for her little body (3 a day at only 6 months?)

Oh and I will PM Barb to get a contact in the area (hopefully there will be one around -(LC) incase my situation does not improve and my breasts cannot keep up with her refusals.

Thanks

[onthefly]

It could be Dido - just go with what you feel is right. If cutting back solids helps with getting her to have more milk (and she should be having mostly milk at this age) then go with that.
All the best