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Date: | Sun, 21 Aug 2005 20:33:22 -0400 |
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Lactnetters, please forgive that I am posting when it has been over a year
since I contributed anything to the list. I frequently glean wisdom from
this group, but I have searched the archives without finding anything
relevant in this particular case. I would be grateful for any experience
you can share.
I had a mom call me a couple of weeks ago with an unusual problem. Her 4
month old baby has nursed only when he is asleep since he was 4 weeks
old. At first I assumed that mom was saying that he had bottles when he
was awake and that she nursed him at night only. After talking further
with mom I came to understand that the baby really only nurses when he is
asleep, not sleepy, and that baby only recently attempted bottlefeeding
which was not very successful. After observing baby I got mom's
permission to post to this list. Here is the story in as small a nutshell
as I can fit it. Baby is a term male born 3/22/05. Mom planned to BF at
least two years. Mom remembers baby getting one bottle in the hospital
which she found out about after the fact. Baby nursed well until 4 weeks
old, then would latch only if he was asleep. Mom is convinced that she
must have done something at this point which "scarred" the baby because
she can't think of anything unusual happening around that time. Now baby
takes sbout 5 naps a day because he will really only nurse when asleep.
In my office I observed baby trying to latch as he got sleepy. He went to
the breast with a wide open mouth looking eager to nurse but would turn
away just before latching. Baby never did fall asleep at the visit. Baby
is thin but not at all gaunt. Ped is okay with weight gain which has
averaged about 3 oz/wk from lowest weight after birth. Baby is alert,
engaged, and very active. Seems ahead of his peers in motor development.
Baby takes two "real" naps per day. The others are just catnaps which mom
uses to get feedings in, and wakes him shortly after he nurses. Mom
really needs to go back to work and is worried about baby being in someone
else's care because of the way he feeds. Mom has only her husband and one
other relative in this area. These are the things that mom has tried--
bottles, when she's not around; nursing in the bathtub, walking,
standing,etc; attempting to latch baby early a.m. for feeding before
waking; attending LLL mtgs where baby sees other babies nursing. I have
suggested that mom begin trying a cup. She feels very strongly that baby
should get breastmilk until 2 y/o and is hesitant about starting solids
before 6 months. I have suggested that she try to have baby sit with her
or her husband for meals to try to encourage an interest in solids by the
time he is 6 mos old. Mom's ped has told her that he has had one other
baby who would only nurse when asleep, and has tried to reassure her that
he is not worried. I've never seen this extreme before. The bottom line
is that mom is really convinced that she caused this somehow. She was
very appropriate with the baby in the office and displayed a good
knowledge of normal development. She was referred to me after seeing the
LC at the hospital where she gave birth and contacting the organization in
this area that screens for developmental delays. At this point the main
issue is mom's feeling that she has caused this problem although I'm sure
she would love to have the baby at breast and BF normally. Mom had to
jump through some serious hoops to come to see me in an adjoining city.
Any thoughts anyone? Baby will be 5 months old 8/22/05. I am currently
no mail so will be checking the archives or you may e-mail me directly at
[log in to unmask] Thanks and sorry it's so long!
Amy Stallings BSN, RNC, IBCLC
Georgia, USA (where the temp is 100 degrees with a real feel of 113
degrees!)
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