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Infant feeding

6 wk baby won't feed - desperately need help

11 replies

blue22 · 02/11/2009 07:59

Please help me - I just don't understand what's happening with my nearly 7 wk DD. I have excl bf her and there have been no real problems.
But about a week ago, she got a cold and started feeding less - ok, fine, she was just a bit sick. The doctor checked her out, gave me saline drops and I thought it would all be fine.
But about 24 days ago, she just started refusing to feed, screaming after a few sucks an hitting me and thrashing her legs as if she's in real pain. She calms down if I hold her upright in 'burping position', but doesn't seem to have wind. And if I offer again, she gets v upset again. Has anyone else had this? I'm distraught as feel she must need the strength but I can't offer what she needs.

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PeppermintCream · 02/11/2009 08:09

No advice, it sounds scary. I'm sure someone will be along to advise soon.

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blue22 · 02/11/2009 08:14

Yeah it's really scary as she was such a hungry feeder. I've made a doctors appt for later, as feel like something must be really wrong. I keep taking her temp which is normal, but she's very mucous-y. She also sleeps loads, which is very odd for her - and doesn't act hungry, but she's literally had about 10 sucks in 24 hours, so she MUST need food. Being a Mum is the most stressful thing ever - I had no idea it was possible to feel this much pain for someone else!!!

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FaintlyMacabre · 02/11/2009 08:22

Could this be a nursing strike? Lots of information on Kellymom here.

I haven't experienced this myself but I think others have found this site useful. Hope it helps, it sounds very stressful.

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onehitwonder · 02/11/2009 08:35

I would get to the docs asap this morning to check that she isn't dehydrated (don't want to panic you but if she really hasn't fed in 24 hours and is very drowsy I think you need to get this checked).
Will she take a bottle if you can express? Kellymom recommends getting the baby fed as the absolute priority if they are truly refusing to breastfeed, whether that be by bottle, or cup feeding, with expressed milk or formula and then having lots of skin to skin and letting the baby set the pace of feeding with no pressure to feed.
I had similar problems with DS, although I usually managed to get him to feed eventually, but I am still not really sure why. I tried feeding as he woke from a sleep, whilst still drowsy, which helped, also having skin to skin when trying to feed and just lying close without trying to get him to latch on until he seemed interested. We did used expressed milk in a bottle when he almost seemed too frantic to latch and then switched to the breast later during the feed.
It did resolve and we are still exclusively breastfeeding at 5 months.
Good luck!

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tiktok · 02/11/2009 08:38

blue - I think it's fair enough and totally understandable to get a doc's appointment. I am pretty sure he will reassure you sick babies do not thrash their legs or get upset. However, this does not mean she is not in genuine discomfort and the doc will almost certainly check her ears.

When you say '24 days' I take it you mean 24 hours?

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arolf · 02/11/2009 08:40

have you tried different feeding positions? my 5 week old DS sometimes has what we term 'shit-fits' at the breast, and I find that sometimes just feeding him in the rugby ball hold or lying on my back with him face down on my front can get him to calm down and feed. also, google biological nurturing - was pointed to that on here, and it's great
good luck!

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blue22 · 02/11/2009 08:43

Yes - 24 hours not days....thank goodness
She also does smile and seem quite alert when she is awake - loves lying on her changing table 'talking' to her cow on her mobile - it's just the feeding that she hates and gets so upset. But she's only 6 weeks old - I just can't believe that she doesn't need food. Only thing I thought of was that maybe the mucous is filling her tummy up - is this possible?

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PeppermintCream · 02/11/2009 17:05

Did you get a doctor's appointment? How are things going?

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blue22 · 03/11/2009 16:39

Yeah took her to the doctor who had a cursory look and said she's got a cold and give her calpol. She'll feed when she's ready. Easy for her to say! Anyway, I thought 6 weeks was too young for calpol!
Things have been slightly better - I've tried to do lots of skin to skin and not get uptight about her not feeding - she's taking a few gulps from time to time, so not guess she's not dehydrated. I think she is just full of a cold and doesn't feel hungry, so trying to relax. Just ordered nasal aspirator from amazon - hope it helps. Thanks for asking how things are going. Really kind of you. {grin}

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JetLi · 03/11/2009 18:25

Hi blue22 - we have our first baby cold here too (DD 16 weeks). I am finding the Calpol saline nasal spray to be really good as well as the snot sucker. The saline spray seems to liquify everything and then I can suck it out with the aspirator. Once her nose is reasonably clear of snot, then DD seems to feed quite happily. This is the stuff. I'm using a baby version of Vicks vapour rub as well - Boots own brand.