Happy baby refuses breast - check her ears!

Help! What happened to our perfect nursing relationship?! My daughter took right to breastfeeding, and we had a wonderful nursing relationship until this week-- she turned 4 months on Dec. 10. At almost every feeding for the last 7 days, Summer has cried off and on throughout the feeding. She refuses to eat in her "normal" cradle position on the left side, and will not even let me start on the left side (I start on  the right each time until the milk lets down, then if it's the left side's "turn", I   switch over to the left). She is a quick eater--always only did about 10 minutes on one side every 3-4 hours until this started. Now she wants both sides and she wants it NOW. The only peaceful feedings we've had recently have been the 5:30 AM ones where she is pretty much asleep. I'm so frustrated now that I dread the time that she'll be hungry. Is there anything I can do?

Thanks, Melissa






Dear Melissa,

Please have your daughters ears checked. Sometimes when they change behavior, especially one one side it is because their ear is bothering them. When she lays back and swallows it causes pressure in her ear. Although breastfed infants get less ear infections than bottle fed infants, it can still happen.

Good Luck,

Denise G Hewson RN IBCLC





 

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