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Infant feeding

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

Urgent- 7 mo suddenly refusing to feed

3 replies

Evenhope · 09/11/2007 16:09

DD has had a cold since Sunday. Yesterday evening she was suddenly worse and screaming in obvious pain. Gave calpol and teething gel as she seemed to have a sore mouth. BF OK just after 9pm.

At 10pm she "asked" to be fed, opened her mouth wide and took the nipple then pulled away- almost like she'd been burnt. Carried on screaming. Offered her the other side. Took the nipple and bit down hard (she has 2 teeth).

She was awake most of the night, pushing up onto her hands and screaming. Offered the breast the first few times and had the same reaction. After about 3 times she just gave up asking.

When she was asleep I could see pain on her face.

Went to GP this morning. Will start another thread on that episode but he says nothing wrong. Throat OK, chest clear etc "just a cold". Told him she hadn't fed since 9.30pm (it was 11am) and he said "surely she's having more than just milk?" Well yes but not much. Told me to "make sure I got lots of fluids into her" how exactly? and that was that.

Got home and she finally fed at 11.30. But she hasn't since. This is a child who is on about 12 BF a day I tried a cup of water but she wasn't interested.

I've expressed 6oz this morning (I was desperate!) which I will try to give her in a bit but what's going on and what do I do now?!

OP posts:
Amberjee · 09/11/2007 16:19

Evenhope, don't worry too much, LOs do go through this sometimes if they are teething or sick, or sometimes just for the hell of it. Your dd won't starve herself, babies just aren't programmed to do that.

If she's got a stuffed up nose, it can sometimes help to put the shower on hot and steam up teh bathroom and feed her in there, or even squeeze a little breastmilk up her nose to loosen the mucous a bit before feeding. Otherwise, you can try feeding a bit of milk from a cup or a bottle if you do that and see if she'll take it.

if it's teeth, perhaps something cold to suck on or something hard to chew on before you offer a feed.

i'm pretty sure she'll come back to it soon. if you are worried, try one of the BF helplines. sometimes it can be helpful to talk to someone who can reassure you that it's normal and part of the course.

Breastfeeding Network Supporterline 0870 900 8787

NCT Breastfeeding Line 0870 444 8708

La Leche League Helpline 0845 120 2918

Association of Breastfeeding Mothers Hotline 08444 122 949

Evenhope · 09/11/2007 16:54

Thanks Amberjee

I just took some advice from kellymom and fed her while she's asleep and upright on my chest. It worked and she's had a good feed!

OP posts:
Amberjee · 09/11/2007 17:20

brilliant i'm so glad. i always find they don't fight it so much when they are sleepy/asleep. glad she's got a full tummy

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