The Standoff

Today was our official "Standoff". In actuality, it was our second. Approximately 3 weeks ago I left our son, our sweet baby Gabriel with his dad. I initially left for 4 hours. Our son nurses every hour (I know, crazy!) so I know he was very hungry. He refused the bottle and after 4 hours I came home, nursed him then left again for nearly 3 hours, hoping he would take the bottle when I left the second time. Unfortunately, he did not. We have a seriously stubborn baby on our hands. He loves his mama, I don't blame him. :)

But in all seriousness, I am going back to work in 4 days!!! For everyone's best interest, this boy NEEDS to take a bottle. So today after much thought and reading other successful stories, I decided to do a "Standoff". This is our last resort, you can read what we have done in the last 5 weeks in a previous post ( http://polishedwithgrace.blogspot.com/2013/01/when-your-baby-refuses-bottlewhat-every.html)


The last time Gabriel was nursed was at 8:21 AM. I decided I would not give him the breast. I would pump and give him expressed milk. He fell asleep at his 8:21 feeding and woke up at 10:37 AM. He usually realizes he's hungry a couple minutes after waking up. When he gave me the signs, I offered the bottle. Gabe was royally pissed! He arched his back, cried, wailed, moved his hands and arms, gave the pout and moved his head. Finally I stopped trying. I didn't want to stress him out so I attempted to soothe him and he calmed down. Then I tried again and same thing. We repeated this cycle until he finally fell asleep, exhausted at 12:30.  I felt horrible, I knew that in an instant I could end his suffering. But I had to remain calm and strong.

I received a call from my husband that he would be coming home early. Hallelujah! The heavens had heard my cries.

Hubby came home around 1:30 and he tried, by this time Gabe was a little more than pissed. He fell asleep again...5 hours without eating didn't seem to faze him. Finally around 2:47 PM he drank 2 ounces! It came with lots of opposition. My husband had Gabriel suck on his finger then stuck the bottle in his mouth. Right before he finished the two ounces, he stopped, cried and was getting upset then cried to sleep.

Oh how heartbreaking this whole situation is! Gabriel woke up at 3:30 with another bottle waiting for him and he refused. He seemed even more upset! Oh good lord!
at 4:20 I left to pick up my older kids from school. We went to get gas and dinner. I came back home around 4:50pm and Gabe had still refused the bottle. We kept trying until 5:21 PM so in 9 whole hours, he only drank 2 oz with angst.

This standoff did not go as hoped. He nursed for 50 minutes after this, then 23 minutes then 10 minutes. He made up for what was lost. He usually nurses 5-10 minutes every hour.

I hate hate hate that we are even in this position. I just wish he could understand, perhaps he does but doesn't mind waiting for me. It looks like on my lunch breaks I will be nursing him. Im so worried for him. He really is a good baby. I can only continue to hope and pray he will take it...if not PLEASE dear lord let him continue to sleep through the night.


Tomorrow my husband will be doing another standoff with him. Hopefully it goes better.

Gabe exhausted :*(

To be continued....