Nicky,
Many of these same symptoms can be caused by the baby being unable to
form and hold a bolus of milk on their tongue for controlled
swallowing.  If the baby gulps and sputters at the breast, this is often
the cause.  I often see this in infants who have even a slight
tongue-tie, or low muscle tone - they are less able to groove their
tongues, which is what assists bolus formation.  They often begin to
refuse the breast, and even to slip down to the nipple and clamp down
with their jaws in an attempt to slow the flow of milk to what they can
handle.
        Strategies to assist if this is the case include having mom lean back
so the baby is prone or almost prone, so excess milk flows to the front
of the baby's mouth, offering only one breast at a feeding, nursing the
baby while walking around.
--
Catherine Watson Genna, IBCLC  New York City  mailto:[log in to unmask]
Nleeguitar wrote:

>    Symptoms of reflux (of which there are varying degrees and which needs a
> pediatrician involvement to diagnose) are: sudden or inconsolable crying,
> breast refusal (especially during the day), spitting up or vomiting, slow
> weight gain, poor sleep patterns, difficulty swallowing, gagging, choking,
> frequent hiccoughing, sore throats, and even some respiratory difficulties.