Baby with Little Sucking Reflex

[pommedechocolat]

Have had a bit of a 'mare with dd2 recently. She's bf pretty well from birth - very often day and night for very short periods but assumed it was just her.

She has never sucked on anything other than my boob - bottle, dummy, even finger and knuckle illicit nothing other than crying.

She is now 16 weeks and since 12 weeks has become more and more unsettled. feeding very irregularly, being very hungry but screaming at the breast until eventually giving it and sucking. Bottle and dummy just make her scream. she doesn't sleep well or much due to this!

GP gave her a total MOT and clean bill of health on Wednesday.

Crancial osteopath today said her face is a bit squashed in the middle (due to breech position until 34 weeks or fast birth) and it seems to have affected her mouth. The roof of her mouth is highly sensitive and her tongue has stayed high like a newborns (she still has a little baby cry). She said nearly all babies suck on her finger when she feels their mouth, dd2 just screamed. She's going to do some work to loosen her face up but recommended some baby rice and milk from a cup to stop her getting so starving. HV's have already told me weaning at 20 weeks due to dropping centiles.

Baby rice and formula in a cup didn't go brilliantly (she's now asleep).

DD1 was a difficult feeder too and I ended up weaning her early too so am feeling a bit like a totally rubbish mum at the moment.

Anyone else had similar issues?

Oh, she also watched dd2 feed and said her bf position isn't very normal, her jaw doesn't really work like it should (too much up and down??).

Sorry, what I'm really asking for is suggestions on how to either a) have calm bf feeds, b) get her to take something on a spoon or c) get her to take some formula (dd1 is 2 and more totally energetic so expressing is out of the question time wise).

Any help??

No ideas to help (sorry) but watching the thread with interest x

I would see a lactation consultant or get urgent advice from a trained breastfeeding counsellor (try breastfeeding Network) rather than a cranial therapist or HV to be fair. Check it isn't a tongue tie or poor suck due to lack of muscle control

If baby isn't getting enough milk then baby rice isn't going to help as itis empty calories - you need to be getting more calories in not less (baby rice simply fills them up) same with the puree veg and fruit you'll have to give until she is older

Source - mum to exNICU baby born with no suck and feeding tube - successfully still breastfeeding at 2years old still and also failure to thrive label on and off.

^like really really rinf BFN - the women saved my sanity and DD's ability to feed from when she was in a coma until her thighs were chubby and her grin got infectious

National Breastfeeding Helpline: 0300 100 0212

I saw a bf counsellor at about 9 weeks I think more to check things were okay rather than anything else and they said everything was perfect. I think I may have that number somewhere too though. Thanks for the NBH number though.

I'm not over zealous about bf to be honest though and will be returning to work part time in the Autumn so it may be that a pragmatic view of the situation is that I need her to take a bottle more than I need to continue bf ..

but if she has a weak suck then she will have just as much frustration with a bottle...

Well, it's bit odd because once she does 'give in' and suck on the breast (she never gives in with anything else) she is a very, very efficient feeder (although odd action and noise apparently). it's just that something about stimulating the suck reflex really bothers her.

So about twice a day we have a large gap between feeds because although she's starving she screams, goes rigid and arches away when put to the breast. She'll be hungry after two hours but refuse boob for a further two hours (whilst screaming and screaming) or so before 'giving in' and having a large feed.