I need some help from you clever detectives.

Baby is 3 1/2 months old, growing well, mom returned to work last week.  For
the first 3 weeks he fed well and there were no sore nipples.

For about 2 months baby is crying at the breast, off and on the breast,
cries until he's full then comes off and is happy or asleep until the next
feeding begins.  If he gets ebm in a bottle he doesn't cry.

Mom went off dairy last week and baby got much better at the breast.  This
past week, which was her first week back full time at work, he did well when
she fed him at the breast.  Then on Saturday he was as unhappy as before at
breast, same today.  She did have some pesto on Saturday, but he began
crying at breast before that.

After the feeds when he cries, her nipples are sore.Last week when he was
feeding well, they weren't.  She said even her areola is sore where his gums
seem to be pressing in.

He sleeps from midnight until 6 or so in the morning--has for months.

Another strange component is that he had one bottle of abm each day last
week.  But he didn't cry with or after the abm feed.

Has the abm effect just kicked in?

Is there a "weekend-mom-is-home-" thing going on here?

Is baby feeding at breast like at the bottle and not getting as much milk?

Is rate flow preference at work here?

Is there something else that I am missing?

Patricia Gima, IBCLC
Milwaukee
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