TikTok or anyone else who can help?

[StripeyKnickersSpottySocks]

Hi, just asking on behalf of someone I know who has a 10 week old and is having b/f problems.

Baby has just been admitted to children's ward due to failure to thrive. Mum's been b/f on demand and says that feeds have always been of good length, attachment looks good. But she says she's never felt let down reflex and never gets a drawing sensation or feels that her breasts are emptying. She gets what she describes as a crystal plug that with some effort she can pass. Before passing the crystal there doesn't appear to be any milk coming out but once crystal comes out then the milk spurts out and there is a feeling of relief as the pressure seems to decrease. She doesn't think its mastitis as no redness or feeling unwell but there is a noticable lump.

A week ago she could pump 100mls off but now only 10mls. Baby can't be heard swallowing and after an hour feed there is no milk on end of nipple or in baby's mouth. Baby is still distressed and unsettled and took a 90ml forumla feed.

She has been b/f at home with just the odd pumping session so supply should be ok?

This sounds like 'white spot'. It may or may not have anything to do with the growth issues (I would think not, in fact, but that's a guess only). It's clogged milk at the end of the duct.

Best thing for her is to call one of the bf helplines, and talk about what's going on.

A good counsellor will find out what has happened right from the beginning, find out exactly what the weight issues are now (baby could be ill, for example) and how often she is feeding day and night, if she is using both breasts a lot (ie at every opportunity).

Hope she gets good help.

Thanks. Baby's definetly not ill and has now put on weight after a few days in hospital having formula top ups. Hopefully she should be seeing a counsellor tomorrow.