Please help baby won't feed?

[noomummy]

So here's what's happening now - I am so exhausted by the effort it takes to feed my dd .  Her first feed was hardly anything - I think perhaps she took more from her feed in the night so that's fine but when it came to her 2nd feed having pumped a whopping 3oz from one boob  she was crying her eyes out, arching her back refusing to feed basically so I left it for 30mins then she took a little bit just the letdown it felt like and then she's back to crying and pulling away, it becomes a fight and it's so upsetting.   Especially since the HV weigh in.  I'm very concerned that pumping is having a negative effect on her and now that she's fed from the bottle she prefers the ease of that and DOES NOT want to work for the boob.  What should I do? rachel x

[Samuel's mum]

It's definitely possible that this is some flow confusion going on. If I didn't know your history I'd say, "tell me about your use of bottles". But it's seriously bad luck to get flow confusion problems having only used the bottle a handful of times for the dreamfeed.

OR are you feeding her from a breast you have pumped from and she's frustrated because the flow/ supply is affected?

I would get that haberman feeder and maybe put the pumping on hold for now until this is worked out. I know you've tried breast compressions in the past with no joy but have one more go - read the FAQs and check out the videos again.

How has her sleeping been? Could she have been tired?

[Erin (redstarfalling)]

Did you get a chance to look at the reflux board?  It's just that the back arching while nursing is a hallmark sign of reflux....and what you're describing sounds an awful lot like what my dd did (nursing was wretched - if she'd been my first, I would have given up).

This website has some indicators:
http://www.reflux.org.au/characteristics.php

It might not be that....but it's worth a look, I think...

[noomummy]

Hi Erin

I just had a look at the link you posted and she does show quite a few of the symptoms, she may have silent reflux but I'm not sure as it seems to me a lot of the stuff on their would be considered 'normal' behaviour,for example smiling when distracted from crying and I guess babies do get wind etc.?  she isn't always fussing for every feed but when she is, she does arch her back, she also draws her legs up, doesn't take in a lot of food which is reflected in her poor weight gain at the moment.  She spits up a little it's normally very watery with tiny amounts of curdled milk but I've noticed when she doesn't bring it up she repeatedly swallows mainly when she's lying down IYKWIM.  She often gets the hiccups and when she has had terrible wind she chokes - with the combination of screaming and trapped wind.........I am tempted to introduce some foods, maybe a little banana?

Hi Emma

I've got the haberman feeder and we used it for the first time last night, it took her half the time to drink from that than the Dr Browns but I was mainly between the medium to fast flow line as she was drinking it without gulping but maybe I should just stick with the zero flow line to mimic my boob better?? what do you think? will keep trying with the compressions but it does annoy her and she just comes off.....I'm so fed with it all.  :(rachel x

[Samuel's mum]

If you are suspecting a letdown/ boob frustration I would go with the zero flow line.

Rachel - I know you are desperate but please don't consider introducing solid food to an ebf baby who isn't even 4 months old.
There are so many reasons why this is not a great idea at her age. Take some time to read about why the recommendation to start solids is now 6 months (especially for bf babies). There are always exceptions to this but she is very very young.
http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/delay-solids.html
Early solids is especially not a great plan if you have any concerns about weight gain. At her age it is extremely unlikely she will have the necessary enzymes to even digest the solid food effectively and as it passes through her undigested it will fill her tummy reducing her motivation for milk and affecting your supply.

I know this all seems hard and you are scrabbling for answers. Reflux babies are sometimes a population who traditionally did start solids a little earlier (e.g. thickener in the milk) but now it's more the trend to control the reflux with medication (as we now know the benefits of delaying solids if you can).

SO
If you suspect reflux - get some medical advice and visit our reflux board ('Colic, reflux, crying').
Slow down the haberman feeder.
Consider getting a fresh point of view and phone a breastfeeding helpline. You may get someone new who gets you to think about things in a new way or considers something we've completely missed.

Good Luck (Sorry to bang on about the solids thing but I'd hate to see you introduce solids so early and suffer with reduced weight gain, digestive discomfort and even increased chance of allergies.)

[Erin (redstarfalling)]

I have to second Emma's suggestions about solids - she's really really too young, IMO!  More likely to cause more problems than to help....

Good suggestion about contacting a helpline or someone IRL too....

[noomummy]

Thanks ladies for your neverending patience with me ....I just hope someone else is in my situation then I won't feel so guilty about pestering you guys, I really appreciate your advice.  I won't start on the solids then, I guess I just needed to hear that. I'm going to visit friends and family over the next week so will go along to the breastfeeding cafe when i return and bend their ears!  I'll check out the link you posted Emma although I'm sure I've probably read it - I'm so addicted to this site! No harm in re-reading - what with my memory! Sorry to post so much. Rachel x

[Samuel's mum]

Breastfeeding cafe is a good idea. Someone may be able to watch you do a feed.

DO NOT feel you are pestering us. More than likely someone is having a similiar experience and bits are bound to apply to tons of people. But even if not, people like to know they are not the only one not having the 'perfect' experience.

[Erin (redstarfalling)]

DO NOT feel you are pestering us.

Seriously!! 

[noomummy]