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Subject:
From:
Joy Anderson <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Wed, 19 Jun 1996 12:51:57 +0800
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 But -5 days later the baby woke one morning
>and toally refused to feed.Mum tried the shield-no way-that evening she offered
>the bottle(still ebm) and he gulped 200mls.He now srceams even if he sees
>her breast-even drowsy.Sreamed in the bath with her-real aversion.She is still
>expressing all his needs-this week he had a gain of 200gms in 3 days.-At
>seveteen weeks this baby is very alert.
>   I feel that this refusal has been brewing for a while-but  i'm stumped!
>   Has anyone any ideas?

Chris,

This is a toughie!
In between getting baby on without shield and total refusal - how did baby
feed? Was it sometimes OK, sometimes refusal, etc? Did she use shields and
bottles during those 5 days? It sounds like this baby has never really had
pleasant breastfeeding experiences. Something sounds like it has been
bothering him all along, right from the start - then the colic, infection,
etc. Colic can be a side-effect if something else is bothering baby - sucks
for comfort, induces oversupply which causes colicky symptoms which bother
baby further - viscious cycle!

It would be worth getting a breastfeeding-friendly doctor to thoroughly
check this baby out - thrush (as someone else suggested), reflux, causes of
colic, like mum's diet, etc. Perhaps even an assessment from a chiropractor
(who treats babies - not all do in Australia) might shed light on what's
going on.

If this is a strong an aversion as it sounds, mum may need to spend lots of
time cuddling baby skin to skin *without* trying to feed at all, and
certainly not expecting it. Baby needs to learn that cuddling with mum is a
pleasant experience. If he is always expected to feed when he sees the
breast, it seems as though he has built up negative vibes, and reacts
accordingly. Perhaps she could try giving the ebm in a bottle holding baby
against her bare breast. She needs to make sure she is not trying *too*
hard. This sort of situation needs *oodles* of patience.

It will be up to the mum whether she can continue with this sort of stress.
It has already gone on so long. All you can do is present her with the
options available to her - persevere with skin-to-skin, etc, or resign
herself to expressing and feeding in a bottle, or total weaning. Only she,
and her family, can decide what is best in their circumstances. I'm sure
your support with what ever she decides will be much appreciated, and will
help minimise this poor mum's stress.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

Joy Anderson IBCLC, NMAA Breastfeeding Counsellor
Perth, Western Australia
[log in to unmask]

P.S. This reminds me of some of the letters I received from NMAA Members
for 'Breastfeeding Was Not To Be' topic which will appear in July/August
NMAA Newsletter (of which I am now Editor).

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