nipple confusion...hunger strike...wth is going on- he wont eat!

OK- last week my family and I were away, and since there were some activities I wanted to do with my older DS- I had pumped a bottle and had DH or MIL feed DS#2- maybe 1 bottle/day for the 4 days we were there...

Since we have been home, DS has not been eating well at all... He either has a shortened feeding (like 5 min on 1 breast, instead of his usual 10 min on each), fusses at the breast (latches/unlatches- chokes, cries etc...) or he cant latch/hold a latch....

I have seen a definite decrease in diapers... We are still putting out 5-6/day but they're not as wet and not as often...

Although he doesn't seem bothered by it, I know he is not taking in as much as usual...

I know I have milk, because I have been pumping the feedings he has been skipping (or not finishing)- so its def. not me...

Is this a hunger strike??? Does he have nipple confusion from the bottle...

How long can this go on for before I should become concerned...and is there anything I can do to make it better...

Ideally Id love to avoid bottles altogether BUT I am going back to work in 6 weeks AND I do have an older DC who I try and do special dates with (which would require me to leave a bottle with DH or whomever is caring for the baby)

TIA

Message edited 7/20/2009 6:41:31 PM.

Re: nipple confusion...hunger strike...wth?

we are going through the same thing. We have been giving a pumped bottle once a day since DS was 4 weeks because I would be going back to work. So I don't think nipple confusion is our problem. DS stops and starts a million times. latches and delatches. The bottle is a lot slower then my breast milk comes out. My let down is really strong. Is yours? Thats why he chokes and I have to burp a lot during a feeding. You have to also relax and can't show the baby you are stressed. 5 minute feedings aren't bad and wet diapers are good. They will lessen the amound of diapers as they get older. But as long as there is wet diapers the baby is getting enough.

Re: nipple confusion...hunger strike...wth?

Re: nipple confusion...hunger strike...wth?

bump

Re: nipple confusion...hunger strike...wth?

It sounds like nipple confusion. My DS had this and once I stopped the bottle he was ok. He seemed disinterested in BF but was still hungry. Once I gave him a bottle he would down it. Unfortunately BF didn't last much longer after that. DD on the other hand wouldn't take a bottle until 6 months old and that was of water

I think I would continue to have someone else other than you give him a bottle once a day. Then BF the other times. If it is really causing an issue for him then I would stop the bottle until you go back to work and then give him pumped milk when you do go back to work.

Re: nipple confusion...hunger strike...wth?

Day 2- and DS is barely eating...

What do I do?

Re: nipple confusion...hunger strike...wth is going on- he wont eat!

Maybe he doesn't want to work for it as much.