Hi all.  I have a mom with a term baby now 2 weeks old.  Nursed fine in
hospital, given one bottle of water once home to help urinate (although in
hindsight Dr felt wasn't necessary), no other supplements.  After a few
days home baby starts latching for a few seconds then pulls away screaming,
crying and pushing breast away then latching and repeating for 15-20 min at
beginning of each feed.  After that time she latches on and nurses without
a hitch from both breasts.  (Spoke to mom again before sending this and
today baby is screaming between breasts too.  She says after latch she
comes off, makes a fist and pushes the breast away intentionally rather
than a flailing movement.)  Gaining weight well (7 oz in 7 days), good
diaper output.  Quite sleepy and a challenge to rouse.  Dislikes diaper
being changed and is often changed before nursing.  Mother often wakes baby
to nurse as baby is so sleepy.  Screaming happens for all nursings in all
positions.  We've tried: skin to skin (helped for 3 nursings then back to
screaming), darkened room, expressing drops onto nipple, talking
to/cuddling baby and nothing helps for long.  Expressing to let-down before
putting baby to breast doesn't help, nor does rinsing off her breasts
before nursing (tried this even though no new deoderants, bras, shirts or
diet).  No sign of thrush and Dr saw her for a check-up and didn't find
anything wrong.  Not really fussy other times, no unusual amount of gas.  I
am stumped as to why a baby would refuse a breast for 20 min and then nurse
like a champ every single feeding, especially as this started several days
after birth.  Mom really wants to bf but is being driven crazy by the
frustration (hers and baby's) and is ready to quit.  I have referred her to
a local IBCLC (hi Robin!) and given Robin this description over the phone
but so far everyone is stumped.  Mom will call Robin to set up an
appointment to be seen in the flesh, but Robin said to go ahead and send my
post as on the surface this didn't seem to fit any of the regular patterns.
Any insights?  Any suggestions?  TIA!

Linda V.
[log in to unmask]
outside of Philadelphia