DD refusing to feed

[Swaliswan]

Does anyone know why DD is arching her back and refusing to feed from my left breast? DD is 6 months old and she has had periods of back arching and refusing to feed before. I've gotten to a point now that I'm fed up and more than ready to stop feeding.

Hi,

Sympathy!!!My DS had back arching and feeding refusal which turned out to be reflux. Very distressing for both of us! Couldnt feed in public, seemed to hate the breast. Def NOT a bonding experience...wondered how he could be putting on weight he fed for such a short time. However that was both breasts.

There are a number of things that can cause breast refusal that I discussed with NCT counsellors (repeatedly)/checked out with GP. But the back arching is typical of reflux.

Tried infant Gaviscon for the reflux (apparently available over the counter at chemist) but diff to give with BF and caused constipation- pain as bad as some feeds!

Now on Zantac which initially helped but stopped, (most of the back arching stopped tho) found out the dose was way too little so have tried a proper dose over the last 24hrs with no benefit.

I found EBM in bottles seemed to go down better (probably as DS is sitting more upright so acid stays down more) feeding with him sitting up sometimes helps.

Could write lots more about reflux but may not be relevant!

Read somewhere here that sometimes a fast letdown? can cause problems. But bear in mind the reflux- I was about to give up BF due to being so frustrated.

How old is your LO?

PS if it is reflux changing to ff can initially seem helpful as no breast refusal but CAN in some cases make other symptoms worse in the longterm which ay not be apparent now.

Best of luck

hope things get better for you swaliswan. i'm interested in the responses you get as dd (5mo) has just started doing this out of the blue. is that usual for reflux?

Hi ISBKSS,

My DS had a few episodes of going off the breast and discomfort when vomiting hours after a feed when about 8 weeks old. But really kicked off at around 4 1/2 months when he started pulling off the breast then crying, arching back, back on then off etc etc. Eventually was screaming at the breast. It was a wrestling match to get him to feed.

I think the back arching is often reflux as they stretch the oesophagus to ease the discomfort.

Have some sites worth looking at will send links lter.

Unfortunately (or fortunately) tho there can be other causes. Just once you have a baby with reflux you recon it relates to everyones problems!

After feeling hugely triumphant that I got a reasonable amount of dinner into DD, she has just thrown it all back up

Message withdrawn

DD often arches her back so much that I can't even get her on to the breast. It's impossible to feed her in public and it is such a relief that she is now old enough for solids and is reducing the amount that she feeds. She still wants to feed little and often though and has always been a very sicky baby. The only reason I haven't thought about reflux is because she generally puts on a lot of weight and GP told me not to worry because of her weight gain.

I'm going to contact the NCT breastfeeding counsellor today and see what they can suggest. I'll let you know how it goes.

I've spoken to counsellors from NCT and La Leche League. Both have suggested taking DD for some cranial osteopathy as apparently this works well for babies who refuse to feed, particularly on one side. I've got an appointment for thursday so I'll give you all an update after that. In the mean time, I'll just keep on expressing the left breast. I've been told that the treatment might also help with her sleeping - woohoo!

I have huge time for cranial / baby osteos. I think they deffo help. Its a good idea.

After chatting on here with Davidsmom, I followed up the reflux line with my LO. The osteo I was bringing him to also actually encouraged me to follow up reflux after observing him feeding during one treatment. She thought he was displaying a lot of reflux-y behaviour when she saw me "try" to feed him.

It had actually crossed my mind a number of times since his birth but like you he was gaining weight so I dismissed it. As did GP and HV.

We saw specialist who found that other symptoms (incl gagging/apnea, snuffly nose since birth) are also classic indicators.

Interestingly he said
i) not always associated with poor weight gain - (although I guess in severe cases it is, we are not that bad really)

ii) is episodic, so good days and bad.

Both these things had made me think he didn't have it. But he does....

We are now about to try zantac as gaviscon didn't do anything for us (other than thicken his poo!)

Not sure about it only happening on one side though... we have "issues" on both sides.

A little update for you.....

I finally took DD to the cranial-osteopath yesterday (delayed a week because of arranging a funeral ). DD is already much improved with her feeding and her snuffly nose was almost instantly better. Unfortunately, my hopes for a better night's sleep and less night feeding didn't come to anything (was up for 3 hours at one point) but she is teething and had tummy pain. I don't know how much the treatment over the next couple of weeks is going to help, but the osteopath is confident that she will posset less with the treatment and thinks that she does have reflux but hopes to prevent her from having to take medication for it.

Hi Swaliswan,

Glad you have seen an improvement with the CO. I hope it continues to get better.

Unfortunately it didnt help my DS but have heard good things about it. Zantac seems to have finally done the trick with mine, althogh he still doesnt seem to enjoy BF as much as other babies.

Sorry to here you have had other things to worry about too.

Will keep fingers crossed for an improvement.

Sorry about not posting links as I promised- here is on site which may be of interest tho:
link