help - bf baby refusing to feed!

[ejt1764]

DD (5 months today) is exclusively bf, hasn't started on solids yet.

She's been off-colour all week, and we took her to the doc yesterday who diagnosed slapped cheek.

She's been a bit iffy around her milk for a few days, but was producing wet nappies, so I wasn't too bothered.

She started vomiting in the night - was sick 3 times between 3am and 4am, then once more at 5.30am, but hasn't been sick since.

The problem is that she's refusing to feed - she's had just one lot of 2 minutes since 5.30am - when I try to put her to the breast, she arches her back and screams.

She's only had one wet nappy since 10pm last night. Her fontanelle isn't sunken

Should I be worrying?

[ejt1764]

anybody?

[Elasticwoman]

Clearly baby is ill, and refusing to feed is another sympton. I would be seeking professional help in your position, probably by trying to speak to a doctor by phone first, to find out if it is necessary to go to A & E or whether any one will come to you.
Look out for other symptons so that you can tell the out-of-hours doc.

Do insist on speaking to or seeing a doctor soonest - don't let any one fob you off.

[ejt1764]

Thanks - same thing had occurred to me ... I've an appointment with the out-of-hours doctor at 7pm.

[Elasticwoman]

How is your baby now, OP?

[ejt1764]

Took her to the out-of-hours doc ... he did a thorough examination, and asked me to try and feed her next door ... which I did, and she arched and screamed.

However, apart from the fact that she's just not well, he couldn't find anything to worry him with her. I'm to keep trying to feed her, but to leave it until any dose of calpol has kicked in, in case she is uncomfortable lying down to feed - and phone back if she starts getting obvious signs of dehydration.

I have managed to give her a feed since we got back - not a huge amount, but better than nothing. I'm about to go to bed, and I', just hoping she'll recover quickly ... I don't think I can cope with many more nights of no sleep!

Thanks for your concern ... when I wrote the post earlier, just writing it made me realise that this wasn't just me being over-anxious!

[fingerwoman]

aww bless her, sounds like she is on a nursing strike cos of being ill.
just keep trying, that's all you can do. try as many diff positions as you can, perhaps you'll find one that's more comfy for her.

ds2 did this once when he was ill, he was only about 6 weeks old iirc and didn't feed for over 10 hrs at a time. was scary, but he was ok

[rosebea]

My DD did the same at about 6 months, I gave her a spoon of baby rice made with breast milk and some boiled water from a spoon, she actually took that because it was different and held her interest (Between screams) with a little medised and some coaxing she was soon on the mend and we breastfed successfully until she was 14 months.
Keep your chin up honey, it's not easy I know but we're all here for you x