I agree that this is concerning...mainly because of how long it is going on by
now. I wonder what happened in those "first precious days." How much forcing to
the breast .....in the presence of a headache and a tummy full of mucus. The
negative response could be from this....and I'd do exactly what you are...skin
to skin, naked, nothing to suck on but mom, supplement with cup or dropper.

CST is a good idea, OT/PT for suck could be also. If you can find someone who
does both...that would be the best. Does baby need a neuro. workup? Probably
not..... because, from what you say the suck on the finger is physiologically
correct.

If you decide that suck training would help (after you do a good suck
assessment), you could go with a finger feeding plan or a Haberman at that
point. To me this would depend partly on how much more the mom can take....if
she is at the end of her rope, I'd go with the Haberman.

Would a shield work? Hmmm...maybe but, I bet not. I've not found that "breast
refusers" like them. I'd be more inclined to think of a shield as a possible
option down the road after I've established good, calm suck patterns with a
Haberman. Then I'd use it to transition to breast.

This is just my .02 worth, mostly anecdotal.

Good Luck.

Susan Keith-Hergert RN, MS, CPN, IBCLC
Mercy Health Partners
Cincinnati, Ohio

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