Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Infant feeding

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

4 week old not eaten all day!

7 replies

lamby79 · 11/07/2012 19:58

My 4 week old DS has been feeding really well (EBF) up until today at which point he's completely refused to eat since around 11am! He's been very upset with wind all day but after vigorous winding he calms down and I have offered boob but he's not latching on. I call tell he's hungry because he's screeming and sucking hands / my arm etc but not the breast!!
Any ideas?? He's just passed out from exhaustion but i'm sure he'll wake himself soon and be even more hungry.
I haven't really changed my diet or eaten anything out of the ordinary but I did stop taking Ferrous Sulphate Iron Tablets this morning as wanted to see if they were making him so windy (farts all day and night!) but wondered if that could change the taste of my milk (had been told they make the milk taste different). Not sure if any of that could affect his feed but just looking for an answer - my boobies are about to explode if he doesn't feed soon!

OP posts:
nailak · 11/07/2012 21:10

i think you should phone a dr/health visitor/nhs direct

Mombojombo · 11/07/2012 21:21

Have a read of Kellymom's info about Nursing Strike - you should express, either by hand or pump, both to relieve any pain and to maintain your supply.

You can then try to feed your DS your expressed milk with a cup or syringe. Kellymom has tons of info, but in brief get thee to bed for plenty of skin-to-skin with DS, try taking a bath with him. Lay him between your breasts and let him lead the way. Make sure you keep hands away from the back of his neck/head as babies can really object to any amount of 'force' or 'pressure' to the breast.

Walk him round, rock him (all with your bosoms dangling free), sometimes motion helps to encourage them back to the breast. Even if he's not actively nursing, it's important to keep him very close during a strike. He may be (I'm sure temporarily) 'off' your breast for some reason, so he'll need your warmth, smell and comfort all the more.

It's highly unlikely that anything in your diet is affecting him - babies ARE windy! They DO fart. A Lot some of them! They have an immature digestive system which creaks and groans and grumbles.

It can be incredibly distressing when a baby won't nurse. It can seem like a rejection. Just be gentle with yourself and your LO, follow the instructions on Kellymom, be patient and he'll come back to you.

bigredbook · 11/07/2012 22:04

I would bring him to GP first thing tomorrow. Sometimes babies can refuse to feed if they have an ear infection for example. If you are at all worried about him tonight go to A and E.

4 weeks seems young for a nursing strike to me, and also young to have gone for so long without feeding at all. You need to express and feed by spoon/syringe I think.

Good luck.

tiktok · 11/07/2012 23:03

4 weeks way too young for nursing strike - call a doctor now if your baby has still not fed .

duchesse · 11/07/2012 23:10

No way should a 4 week old go this long without a drink or food. You must phone NHS direct now and get a doctor out.

Mombojombo · 12/07/2012 08:38

Apols for any misinformation. I experienced similar with my DS at around the same age and was given the info above. Goes to show I should know better than to trust everyone with everything all the time!

lamby79 · 12/07/2012 11:32

Thank you for all your messages - fortunately i woke him up around 8 and whilst he was still sleepy but not crying latched on well and ate well all night - phew. Thanks for the advice though. Not sure what was wrong with him but seems ok today - thank you.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page