Dear Pam and all,
I want to thank all of you for considering this interesting situation  
with me. Here is the follow-up on my most recent mom whose 3 month old  
baby started doing this. This kiddo has always been a very fussy baby,  
probably reflux, and hyperlactation issues.  So this refusal or  
strike  to nursing in a siting up position lasted for about 4 weeks. I  
gave mom all the suggestions for a baby that is going through a  
nursing strike plus suggested holding the baby upright, walking and  
nursing. It all worked and now the baby is now nursing in normal cross  
cradle position again. The most interesting comment came from the mom  
herself. She said she had to "reset" her baby...........I think she is  
on to something. Pam talked about babies getting programmed to expect  
only nursing lying down. For some reason these babies get programmed  
or wired to feed this way and yes they need to be reset. If mothers  
don't understand this, feedings can be very stressful for both mom and  
baby. Again, the only baby I worked with who only nursed lying down  
and would not "reset" ended up with Autism. I am humbled by the brains  
of our babies.
Thanks for all your input.
Star Siegfried RN,BA,IBCLC
Arcata, CA

> From:    Pamela Morrison <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Breast Refusal-babies who only nurse lying down.
>
> Star, the situation described of the baby who will _only_ nurse lying
> down has been intriguing me for days.  How could that happen?  It
> must be because the baby has been "programmed" to expect only nursing
> lying down - ie the mother has found it comfortable and relaxing and
> generally pleasant in the early weeks, perhaps?  And then, as her
> baby gets older and she begins to want to go out and about a bit
> more, then suddenly she realizes too late that her baby has become so
> used to that position that s/he refuses any other.
>
> I think we've all seen how babies can become attached to things -
> blankies, dummies, bottles .... and we as LCs consistently "push"
> nursing lying down because there are so many advantages to the mother
> (as above).  But I guess, good anticipatory care might now include a
> suggestion that - once nursing/latching etc is easy and comfortable -
> then varying the nursing position, and the location, so that the baby
> gets used to nursing in any old way and in any old place might be a  
> good idea?
>
> As to how the mother could unbreak this preference/habit/strike now -
> could you perhaps give her suggestions for how she would manage a
> nursing strike?  Eg, keep the baby very happy and well fed (lots of
> holding/cuddling/playing/wearing/24 hour a day body contact if
> possible) and of course nursing lying down if that's what's needed,
> but in between the normal sort of eating/feeding times, perhaps the
> mother could try "playing" at nursing the baby in other
> positions.  I'd suggest trying when they are alone, in a quiet
> darkened room, in the bath, _sitting_ on the bed etc and with lots of
> fun and giggles in between. As with any strike, the baby needs to be
> rewarded with huge smiles for even the slightest attempt at a latch
> or suck in another position.  On no account should the mother show
> the baby how frustrated she is, and yes, she should always "give in"
> and pretend she didn't mean it if the baby becomes upset.  But with
> other more conventional nursing strikes I've only ever once known a
> baby to refuse this kind of sustained and loving and fun seduction
> (very disciplinarian father, prohibitions against sleeping with baby
> and so-called spoiling).
>
> It might be worth a try?
>
> You've had a lot of other good suggestions too.  Please let us know  
> what works.
>
> Pamela Morrison IBCLC
> Rustington, England
>
>             ***********************************************


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