I am returning to the list after being away for a while.  

I had a challenge at work today and I am hoping someone out there may have 
had some experience with a similiar situation.  I have permission to post.  I will 
summarise.

7 month old baby, breastfed, admitted to hospital acutely ill with a 
subsequent diagnosis of type 1 diabetes.   Now stable. The Problem - baby 
went on a nursing strike when he started feeling unwell about a week or more 
ago and now will not breastfeed.  Prior to this he was feeding constantly as 
he was really thirsty. The situation has become worse since he has been 
admitted to hospital and has of course undergone a lot of stress with tests 
and procedures.  His mum is the only person who can comfort him but he still 
will not breastfeed.  His mum feels he learned association of feeding with 
feeling unwell, followed by NOT feeding, then feeling better. Clever baby!

I have given mum the usual information around a nursing strike but of course 
they are both in a difficult environment to get their breastfeeding relationship 
back again. It is going to be really hard for mum to balance out the need for 
his medical care, alongside getting breastfeeding back.  For example, he needs 
a blood sugar done 30 minutes before a feed so feeding him half asleep or half 
awake is not going to be easy!

Any thoughts out there?

Karen Palmer, IBCLC
Hamilton, New Zealand

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