12 mo DD doesn't want breastmilk (including bottles!)

[lunarcleo]

DH and I have been going a bit crazy the last couple weeks trying to make sure DD is eating enough. Let me give a bit of background. She was always right in the middle of the growth chart until 6 mo when she dropped to 25th percentile. At 9 mo she had dropped to 5%. We did an extra weight check around 10 mo and she had maintained at 5%, which we took as a good sign. At 12 mo, she had actually lost an ounce or two from the 10 mo check.

I've been BFing her since birth and the pediatrician suggested that perhaps my supply was the issue. We gave in and offered her bits of formula at the end of feedings and I used an herbal supplement to boost my milk supply. It soon became evident that it wasn't so much my supply not being enough, but that she didn't want to drink what I had.

I work and my husband is a stay at home dad. The last week in particular he has practically been having to force the bottle of pumped milk into her mouth and when I come home he inevitably says that she's only taken 3-8 oz during the whole time I was gone. Even on weekends, the last two Saturdays I've had to pump in the afternoon because I was getting so uncomfortable after she just wasn't doing a good job at nursing.

She has been teething up a storm, and I know this can cause breast strikes, but from what I've read it seems more unusual that she doesn't even want the milk from the bottle. She eats her solid meals very well and experiments with finger foods. We've been offering her extra solids between meals just to make sure she's eating more calories, but I'd rather she take more milk.

A side issue is that during this time her nighttime sleep patterns have been getting progressively worse. She is now getting up at least 3 times a night wanting milk (one night she woke 5 times!). Most of the time it seems to be a fairly quick feeding and then right back into the crib, but sometimes she stays on the breast for 5-10 min. It seems almost as if she has shifted her hunger for milk to the night. Of course this is not great for me or DH - we are both totally exhausted and I don't know how much longer I can keep going.

I've considered using the Ferber method to get her to reduce nighttime feedings, but I also feel a bit guilty given her weight issues.

We have another weight check later this week and I'll discuss some of these issues with the doctor, but I was hoping that maybe some other parents would have some thoughts based on their experiences. Thanks in advance!

[slworld]

There are more experienced moms who could give you more helpful suggestions but do you think she is having too much solid so is not hungry for BM? It is suggested to first BF and then do solid a little while later. Could you maybe cut back on the solids and see. You already mentioned teething which could be the issue. I am guessing its probabaly too late for it to be reflux. Teething could also cause her to wakeup more often. If you think she is waking up because she is hungry then given her weight issues you probabaly don't want to deny her those feeds ... maybe if her daytime feeding improves, she may start sleeping better at night. Hope this resolves soon.

[WatchingThemGrow]

yeah, i'm wondering about the reflux too, or the timing of intake... we tried to alternate liquids and solids. Can you measure about how much bm she's getting during the day?

[stillplayswithbarbies]

have you checked your milk for excess lipase? That could be why she won't take it from a bottle. Smell it and/or taste it and see if it tastes off. It will smell really yucky. If that is the problem you can solve it by scalding the pumped milk on the stove before storing it.

I would cut way back on the solids so that her calories are coming from breastmilk. Breastmilk has more calories per ounce than any solid food, so you want her to fill up on breastmilk. She doesn't need food for calories or nutrition at this age.

[lunarcleo]

I understand that she should be taking more milk and less solids, and believe me I would love if we could figure out a way to make this happen. When I'm around, it seems like she is hungry and then she won't take more than a quick sip from the breast and then move on. With the pumped milk while I'm at work, DH practically tries to shove the bottle in her mouth and she just keeps pushing it away. We've tried going to faster flowing bottle nipples and even tried putting milk in a sippy cup, but she can't seem yet to get the hang of the sippy cup.

To give you an example - a couple days ago she took almost no milk all morning (maybe 1 oz) and then finally after she got up from her afternoon nap DH got her to take a 4 oz bottle. I'd much rather she take more milk, but at least she agrees to take the solids and is that way getting *something* into her stomach.

In terms of the lipase comment, yes I believe my milk has a high lipase content. We found out early on that she refused to take frozen/thawed milk, and have for months simply been cycling bottles in the fridge with about a 2-3 day supply on hand. I believe that the bad taste of the lipase doesn't come out in the fresh (non-frozen) milk.

Yesterday I came up with the idea of mixing some formula or breast milk in with her solid foods, and that seemed to work for dinner last night and breakfast this morning, so at least I'm sneaking a few extra ounces in that way. Tomorrow's her weight check and hopefully things will look a bit better - fingers crossed!

BTW, on top of all this other stuff, she's just started transitioning to a single nap, so that may explain some of the nighttime issues - at least that's what I'm hoping!

[Momof3Labs]

It's not unusual at this age for her to want to nurse less during the day because there is *so* much else going on in her world that she doesn't want to miss. That would also contribute to the reverse cycling - waking more at night to nurse.

Have you tried a straw cup? She might like a straw - DS2 could drink out of a straw by around 8 months, and seemed to prefer it to a sippy cup.