Lisa, I hear your pain and frustration on these visits and have experienced the
same. The more I see this behavior, the more I am convinced that something
doesn't feel "right" to the baby. The baby needs chiro or CST, some Beckman oral
motor skills, or reflex work or something. I usually refer to a local OT who has
these skills but would love to be doing more for the babies myself as many
mothers balk at calling in a "therapist." Often I I feel the suck and swallow,
it is like the back of the mouth opens up into a cavern, as the swallow happens,
rather than what I feel when a baby quickly and efficiently swallows the milk I
am offering with my finger and a periodontal syringe. There is something off
target for baby. Sometimes lips are loose, sometimes it is as if the cheeks
aren't being used, but are just sitting there. Often moms can feel the gums even
with the tongue covering it, I think because they are using the gums to hold on
instead of the cheeks. I too am looking for more ways I can "speed-up" the
baby's abilities, because the moms who are really committed to breastfeeding
struggle for about a month and then many babies figure it out, but not all. I
too am looking for more answers, but I really think it feels lousy to breastfeed
which is partly why they are so mad. These babies will often go find the breast
but then can't make it work.
JANET FISHSTROM DOMBRO,IBCLC,RLC
________________________________
From: Lisa Paul <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Thu, June 21, 2012 10:33:17 AM
Subject: fussy baby syndrome
The last couple of weeks I seem to have run across several babies who just don't
know what to do at the breast. Baby is brought to the breast and they won't
latch. They get mad, they cry, they fuss, they move their head from side to
side, but no matter what they won't take the breast nipple in their mouth and
suck. They go from sleep to angry, no cute hunger cues to give us a clue what
baby wants. I have mom try different positions, usually starting with laid
back. If we can get baby close to the breast without a major breakdown, I am
over the moon.
I refuse to believe that a baby can lose their rooting instinct in 1 week of
taking a bottle. I can understand a baby who gets mad because flow is slower
from the breast, but if they don't even latch, how could that be the cause of
their fussiness?
I am just stumped. I feel like I took a college course and missed the day they
talked about this fussy baby syndrome. Here comes the test and every other
question is about this phenomenon.
I emphasize making the breast a "happy place" yet it seems a shallow solution
when a mom is struggling. What seems to work the best for these types of
situations where mom desires to breastfeed but baby doesn't cooperate?
What have you all noticed as the root cause of this unrest at the breast?
Induction? C-section? Bottles? (or are bottles just the result of a baby who
won't take the breast, and not the cause?) Is there a common strand or is it
just a luck of the draw with personality of the baby?
Thank you all so much for your input!
Lisa Paul
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