Hi, Carol.

Isn't 4 mo awfully early for solids?  Is it possible this is giving him
gas, and
thus making feeding uncomfortable?  Also, if he is crampy, he may be
withholding stool, thus making himself more uncomfortable.  What does
mom mean when she says he's generally constipated?  Is he stooling less
than once in 3 days, or showing discomfort?

Has mom tried protracted skin-to-skin to comfort him and get him back to the
breast without pressure?  This would be my first suggestion.  Also, if he's
very uncomfortable or very infrequently stooling, mom might try holding an
infant suppository in his anus while holding him (NOT inserting it fully!)
to give
him an urge to stool.  I would only suggest this as a last resort.

Finally, she might try getting him off solids for a few months, and see how he
does with NOTHING but her milk.  If he's uncomfortable from the early solids,
this should let him get back to a comfortable feeding and stooling pattern.

Jonathan

On Sat, 28 Feb 1998 13:06:51 EST, Carol Brussel wrote:
>max is five months old. normal birth, normal course of breastfeeding in the
>beginning. his mother returned to work when max was three and a half months
>old, and he remains at home in the care of his father. max would not take a
>bottle or cup, but takes breastmilk from a spoon, and visits mother at work
>during the day to breastfeed. starting at four months (two weeks after the
>mother returned to work), max started "fighting" the breast and having
>difficulties nursing. he latches on and seems eager to nurse, but then pulls
>off, cries, fusses, etc.
>
>in addition to breastmilk max is given rice cereal quite diluted with
>breastmilk, and fruit. he is generally constipated

>mother states that she gets the impressioni that max is finding nursing
>painful and that is why he pulls away

> max seems gassy.


Never does nature say one thing and wisdom another.
                                             -  Juvenal
   Only G-d knows the formula for mother's milk

          L. Jonathan Kramer, P.E.
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       Graduate Breastfeeding Counselor
         Student Lactation Consultant
      Certified Medela Nursing Bra Fitter