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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

I don't want to give up but my newborn has stopped breastfeeding normally!

12 replies

mamaesi · 15/12/2011 17:41

5 week old has stopped knowing how to latch on. She starts crying when brought to the breast. She has her mouth open but pushes away both with her hands and her head...and pushes strongly!

She waves her head back and forth and when the nipple touches her mouth she pulls head back starts fussing and spits out the nipple. When I finally get her on...she takes a few sips and then bites down on my nipple and starts shaking her head and fussing again.

Please help. She was feeding brilliantly before yesterday... now my breasts are falling apart and She is feeding all the time because she never gets a full feed....i am so stressed!

notes---only breastfed. has taken two bottles of expressed milk, one last week, one a few days ago. and sometimes takes a dummy, but usually spits them out...also a tiny bit of mucus, but not really too bad

OP posts:
tiktok · 15/12/2011 17:47

I suggested over-supply when you posted last week, mamaesi - did you investigate?

I recall your baby is healthy and gaining weight, yes?

I don't understand about 'feeding all the time' but not feeding at all and pushing you away.....??? :)

Original poster
mamaesi · 15/12/2011 17:58

yes i did research and yes I do think I have over supply and fast let down.

baby was coping better until yesterday....I have started to take her off during the let down and just let my breast leak until its slower and then put her back on. it seems to have helped as well as burping her half way through.

but now she won't latch at all! I meant that she is crying for a feed, routing her mouth around more often, less than every two hours, but then when I bring her to the breast she protests and pulls away...tries to lick nipple and spits it out...wont open wide, won't stay on.

yes healthy and gaining weight...this is recent problem. its more about the last day and a half being a battle at each feed..and my nipples in so much pain

OP posts:
tiktok · 15/12/2011 18:13

Hmmm....I think you will be helped best with RL help. You can call the helplines. You could discuss helping her position in a different way (biological nurturing; baby led attachment), co-bathing and seeing if she will relax and latch on that way (you'll need help to get her in the bath); block nursing.

Hope you find some good ideas and support.

Original poster
mamaesi · 16/12/2011 17:11

now i think it may be nipple confusion....still refusing to latch

not sure how to fix it other than not giving the dummy??

OP posts:
Bert2e · 16/12/2011 19:50

What are you doing with your hand while she's latching on? Have you got your fingers on the back of her head? Try making sure they are only supporting her neck and shoulders as touching the back of the head can make some babies arch back. But I do agree with tiktok that it sounds like over supply - have you looked into biological nurturing and leaning back while you feed so that the milk has to flow "uphill"?

wearenotinkansas · 16/12/2011 21:37

hope this isn't too daft - but have you changed your diet - had any odd food/medicines. I think DD2 did this when I had a curry.

JeewizzJen · 17/12/2011 08:21

Another possibly daft consideration : DS refused to feed on several occasions when I changed shower gels! Went back to my original one and he was fine. I don't know whether it was coincidental, but happened at least 3 times after I had showered until I thought to try changing back!

Original poster
mamaesi · 17/12/2011 19:14

no I have done nothing different. i appreciate the thoughts though.

i have tried leaning back, but she still is not latching. she is spitting my nipple out and its a total battle to get her to feed properly.

OP posts:
thisisyesterday · 17/12/2011 19:16

hmm.
sounds like she is in pain?

how is it for you? any nipple pain?
any white patches in baby's mouth?
how do her gums look? could she be teething?
does she have a temp? might she have earache (that can sometimes be worse when lying down)

thisisyesterday · 17/12/2011 19:17

or she maybe simply doesn't want a feed?

does she do this after "asking" for a feed? or are you offering and that's how she reacts?

thisisyesterday · 17/12/2011 19:19

sorry, missed where you said she is askin,

i think you'd do well to get some real-life help too. it'll be easier for someone who can see what's going on to give you advice/tips

Original poster
mamaesi · 18/12/2011 20:36

my nipples are killing me because she pulls and bites and just doesn't get on properly...

well tomorrow is my 6 week check with doctor so i will see if she has any ideas

OP posts:
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