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HELP: Newborn refusing to drink whilst sick!

2 replies

LLL2023 · 06/02/2023 12:37

Calling all mums,

My newborn (7 weeks and 3 days) usually drinks a lot and has a very healthy weight gain. However, since getting sick 4 days ago, he is drinking barely anything and it is getting worse day by day. We have been to A&E and they say put it down to being a common viral illness. He is exclusively breastfed but has no strength and therefore does not drink from my breast, which has resulted in me having to pump and give him bottle. This not an easy task either at all. Takes about 20 mins to get down 30ml after LOTS of work.

I assume this is due to loss of appetite, tiredness and a sore throat from his horrible cough, but I can't help but worry a lot. Also worrying about the long-term effects of him solely drinking from a bottle many days in a row, and whether he will reject breasts once getting better.

Has this happened to any of you? How long until your baby felt better, and what did you do to help speed up the process (if anything)? ANY help or personal anecdotes are much, much welcomed.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Garman · 06/02/2023 16:22

Both of you should go to bed/the couch and do lots of skin to skin, hand express a tiny bit to get it flowing for him, if he is tired or has gotten used to the bottle flow.

Ihavekids · 06/02/2023 16:25

Happened to me a few times. Baby always got over it within 4/ 5 days, but it's really, really stressful. I fed with a syringe and just tried to express as much as I could. Don't try to force it, just keep gently offering and it'll come back.

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