I need help from the many years of experience available on Lactnet. I'm
working with a mother who is getting very frustrated with her six week old
baby. This baby is surely a future customer of fast food restaurants because
she is only happy at the breast when the milk flows at high speed and volume.
If anyone has any ideas to try I'd be very grateful to recieve a private
e-mail at [log in to unmask] or a response to the listserv.
Here's the history: Mother is primipara, vegetarian, and in good health.
Infant girl was born at 37.5 weks gestation, with IUGR and low amnio fluid.
Labor was induced with Cervidil. Mother refused pitocin because she waned
minimal medical intervention. Baby is 5 pounds 12 ounces at birth and left
the hospital breastfeeding with no complications.
Baby was seen by pediatrician on day 10 and weighed 5-10. Since she had not
regained her birth weight, the physician said mother's milk was too low fat.
He directed her to feed formula for five days and return for a weight check.
If the baby did not gain 5 ounces by then, he would probably put baby in
hospital. The mother contacted me for a breast pump. She stated she did not
want to wean the baby so I suggested a consult to identify problems and
possible solutions.
The consult revealed poor position and latch. Her milk supply was slightly
compromised. Mother easily returned demonstration of correct position and
latch and baby had a good feeding. Mother chose to offer breast first and
offer formula second as needed. Mother gave 4-6 ounces of formula a day.
Baby gained 7 ounces in five days.
Physician said he doesn't like mixed breast and formula feedings. He said
mother should totally breastfeed or totally formula feed. Since she did not
want to stop breastfeeding, he suggested she stop all formula use and check
the weight again in 7 days. I suggested the mother reduce her formula use
slowly instead of cold turkey.
Seven days later, the baby gained 8 ounces and milk supply is generous.
Doctor is happy, mother is happy, lactation consultant is happy.
But now at 6 weeks the baby is unhappy. Baby loves to breastfeed, but gets
frustrated when the milk flow slows down after the first strong milk ejection
reflex. The mother still has plenty of milk but the baby fusses when it does
not flow like a fiire hose She usually refuses the bottle with breastmilk or
formula. Baby would rather breastfeed 5-10 minutes, get fussy when the flow
slows down, wait 15 minutes, get on the breast again, get another fast milk
spray for 5-10 minutes, and so on and so on. Mother and baby are nursing
all day and night.
To increase speed of milk flow and number of milk ejection reflexes, mother
has already tried burp and switch, breast compression, and multiple
positions. Mother is sometimes tempted to offer a bottle when baby cries at
the breast, but baby is gaining well on breastfeeding. Her last weight check
was up 13 ounces in 10 days on breastfeeding only! Of course, the mother
feels she is breastfeeding 24 hours a day!
Any ideas? Thanks for your support.
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