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Subject:
From:
Querida David <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sat, 1 Aug 1998 11:54:45 +0930
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I am posting this for another Counsellor who called me to help out on
this case.
It is also a phone consult due to distance ( a problem where we live!)
Hoping that someone has some suggestions for this mum...

4th baby, 8 weeks old. Mum's periods returned at 4 weeks (this has
happened before, with previous children) and she has had a 15 day
cycle for 2 cycles. It was previously a 26 day cycle.
baby's weight gain is OK but urine output was less during refusal.
As soon as she starts her period, baby is refusing the breast and goes
from around 10 feeds a day to maybe 2 or 3, very unsettled. When her
period finishes, it takes several days to build up supply again.
She feels strongly that the milk changes in taste when her period
starts, and that is the reason for refusal. Previous children were
'fussy' during menstrual periods and always weaned when she fell
pregnant again.
This is a very experienced mum. She has tried all the usual refusal
suggestions with little success. She does not want to feed formula,
but feels her supply is dropping.
She is going back to her Dr for a check up re frequent periods.

Suggestions so far are
*feed baby frequently (2 - 3 hourly during the day)
*express before her periods start, and during periods (to keep up her
supply - she hasn't been doing this). baby may accept this milk given
in a cup, or she may be able to mix the two to modify the taste.
*Taste the milk herself to see whether she can notice a distinct
change.

There may be other problems here. She has 3 other children still at
home, lots of stress and husband is leaving in a week for a business
trip. We have suggested she treat his trip away as a positive rather
than extra stress, relax about housework for a few days, go with the
children's routine, prepare easy meals, rest as much as possible and
feed baby frequently
Another thought was that stress levels before menstruation (PMT) may
cause inhibited let down and subsequent refusal. It may not actually
be the taste.

She also eliminated milk from her diet when he first became fussy, to
check for dairy sensitivity. I have thought of suggesting that she
actually eat a larger variety of foods that are spicy, garlicky, etc.
in the hopes that baby will learn to accept a variety of tastes and
have less problems if it is a change in the taste of her milk. We have
suggested that it may become less of a problem as baby matures, the
first time may have been a bit of a fright for him, the second, he
remembered and was fussy, next time may be less of a problem, but she
would like to be prepared and at this stage is resigned to the thought
that it may be a long term problem.

Sorry for the length of this, any suggestions? Anyone had a similar
case?

Querida David
NT  AUSTRALIA


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