Babies seem to "refuse" the breast for numerous reasons, many of which
have already been listed by others.Sometimes, it is as simple as the mom
sneezing loudly during a feeding, and startling the baby!! (I've seen this).

       However, I would encourage you not to overlook Overactive MER and/or
Oversupply with fast flow. I have of late identified many breastfeeding
problems as related to this topic (on which there was a great program at the
ILCA convention last summer). Baby gulping/sputtering, pulling off and
crying, seeming to gain weight rapidly, gassy/colicky, being worked up for
digestive disorders are all red flags that should signal us to look for this
problem that is much more common than you would think, once you know what to
look for.

       I have had several moms in my practice with second babies who related
tales to me of problems bf the first and finally switching to elemental
formulas. Upon questioning them, they reveal several of the above symptoms. I
tell them that we are learning more about oversupply problems, and that this
may be what caused their baby's problems. We will never know definitely for
that child, but I like to alert them to be on the lookout for similar
symptoms with the current baby.

       Of course, with digestive symptoms, we always must be awre of ruling
out the "bad" problems such as metabolic disorders (galactosemia, etc),
usually picked up in the newborn screening, but not always.

Kathy Rubin in NJ
IBCLC, RN, BC (maternal infant), APN, C (FNP)
PhD student hopng to study lactation issues someday

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