I am a Breastfeeding Counsellor with the Nursing Mothers' Assc. of
Australia and have this query, so help, anyone out there (Dr. Jack perhaps
?) I have counselled a mother whose 3 week old baby has suddenly lost his
rooting reflex and refuses to open his mouth to feed.
He was born with the umbilical cord wrapped tightly around his neck and
suffered a stroke afterwards. After a few days in intensive care, he was
fine. He has been putting on weight just fine and has fed well up till now.
He just refuses to open his mouth and no amount of 'teasing' will make him
open up. Once the mum manages to get him latched on (usually after hooking
his jaw down ) he feeds just fine. My worry is, has he got some
neurological problem where he has lost his rooting reflex ? Help ! TIA,
Barbara Thomas
NMAA, Perth, Western Australia
[log in to unmask]