Not sure what's going on here but Hunter is starting to refuse pumped breastmilk. :sadeyes He will take formula from a bottle but will totally refuse the breastmilk from the bottle. I have smelled it and it seems to smell okay. Its only 2 days old and has been in the very back of the refridgerator so it shouldn't be bad. I think breastmilk is supposed to keep for 5-7 days in the fridge isn't it? Do you think this is an emotional thing like him wanting the breast instead of the breastmilk from the bottle? Or do you think something could be funky with the breastmilk? I've tried to eat well and not eat anything that would make my breastmilk taste bad or give him gas. Then again, the lactation lady I talked to said that nothing I eat should effect the taste or quality of it. So, I dunno what to think. He will take the formula... just won't take the breastmilk at all. Still nurses great though and doesn't ever reject the breast. :dunno

the only time mine wouldnt take breast milk from a bottle was when something was wrong with it. :dunno though he could just be picky and want only breast milk from the breast :dunno can you pump now and see if he will take that? that would be the only way i can think to figure it out.

Breastmilk keeps for quite awhile so I am sure it isnt that. WHat it could be is that he KNOWS that taste from YOU. It is also a certain temp from YOU so he may prefer it that way and doesnt mind the formula from the bottle since it tastes different.

I think he just wants it from the tap....

Breastmilk keeps for quite awhile so I am sure it isnt that. WHat it could be is that he KNOWS that taste from YOU. It is also a certain temp from YOU so he may prefer it that way and doesnt mind the formula from the bottle since it tastes different.

:yes

I would say stick to the breastfeeding solely. And if you don't want to do that, then completely switch him to the abm!

He's a tap baby! LOL!! He probably just wants that bond with you and associates that taste with the boob! I would see if it's maybe the temp and pump real quick and see if he takes it that way! Then you would know and maybe you can check the temp and use a thermometer and make it that temp from now on! Good luck!!! Hope he starts taking the bottle again soon!!!

Sounds like a straight boob baby. I would think he likes the

Ive heard alot of breastfeed babys wont take breastmilk from a bottle from thier mom because they know they can have the boob!! Try getting someone else to do it, if not try to warm it a little!

I haven't tried giving him the breastmilk from the bottle. I've only had Jason give it to him a couple of times when I had to leave the house for more than an hour or two and knew he'd need to eat while I was gone. We've had family here and we've been out trying to run a lot of errands and get things done while they're here and I really didn't want to have to tote all the kids out in the bitter cold and expose Hunter to all the germs and stuff when he's still so little. So, I've just pumped a few times and asked Jason to give him the BM from the bottle. I've sat and watched him and Hunter really really does not want to take it. He turns his head and kicks his legs and just keeps rooting around. He gets HOSTILE. He doesn't seem to mind the bottle because he'll take the formula from it. I know he prefers the breast but he's taken formula a couple of times from the bottle and hasn't protested like he did with the pumped milk. I keep thinking something is wrong with the milk but I'm pumping, storing and warming the right way, I think. As soon as I'm done pumping, I put it in the back of the fridge, then warm it in a bowl of hot water. I don't mind supplementing with a little formula but I'm pumping in between feedings because I start to leak everywhere if I don't and I hate to see all of the milk go to waste. I'm thinking he might just know the difference between the two tastes and knows the breastmilk comes from mama. I really don't know. I've tried a couple different batches of the breastmilk (pumped at different times) and he doesn't seem to want any of it from the bottle. :nutts

It is very possible that he knows that comes from the breast and he only wants it from there. He also might be aware that you are around - maybe you should try to leave the room (watch from around the corner or something). But I actually had a problem storing my breastmilk. After a couple days in the fridge and a month in the freezer it was rancid. Too much longer and it smelled rancid but even the ones that didn't smell made her ill. She only at from a bottle, so 9 times out of 10 she would take it, then cry for hours afterward. Sometimes she just flat out refused - and this was her only food source. Also, breastmilk tastes different once it has been chilled for a day or two, so he might just not like the taste. Good luck - I had to throw out about 150 oz of milk because it went bad.

Nathan won't take it, either. I was thinking it was something to do with my milk, too.. or at least the way I stored it. I've tried giviing him both thawed from frozen milk as well as freshly pumped and he won't take it at all. Babies can be so hard to please sometimes! :)

Im sorry Brandi!! I hope you can figure it out!! And like the PP said...it might actually be spoiled and hes the only one that can tell!!

it sounds like you have a natural born breast baby! which is a great thing since its so convient! you also have to remember he is the third child and he knows on some level that he can refuse the bottle, then he gets mamas time and fresh milk. what could be better? :)

also, get some bags for freezing milk. my favorite were the gerber ones because they had a ziploc top. frozen breastmilk can be thawed in a few months when he starts cereal and use that to make the cereal. he may also take it better in a bottle in a few months.
you can find the freezer bags almost anywhere, Target, Walmart, Walgreens....

this may sound stupid but maybe he won't take the pumped milk cause of the nipple on the bottle that you are feeing it to him with-He may dislike it, Just a thought sweety:shrug


:goodvibes :hugs

Brandi,

There could be something in the refrigerator that could be changing the taste of the breastmilk.

I went to the USDA website and they say that breastmilk is good at room temperature for up to 6 hours. Maybe do a test? Pump some milk, leave it at room temp till he is ready to eat again and then try the room temp milk? You may end up having to leave the house altogether so that Hunter cannot smell you at all because he knows where it should be coming from. You could also try getting a more natural shaped nipple so that it is more close to the real thing.....LOL.