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Refusal To Breast Feed
from: Maxx Family LifeSometimes a baby who's being breast fed suddenly decides to refuse breast feeding. The baby pulls away from the breast, then tosses his/her head from side to side. This can happen at anytime, so there's really no way to predict whether it will happen or not.
Reasons Why
Refusing to feed from the breast might occur when a baby is in pain. This can be due to an ear infection, sore head from vacuum delivery, thrush in the baby's mouth, or teething.
The use of dummies, teats or nipple shields may also contribute to the baby's refusal. Some babies actually find it difficult to feed from the breast and bottle as the sucking action is very different. Some become confused, so it's always best to avoid using any type of teats or dummies.
Sometimes, the milk just tastes bitter. This can be due to antibiotics, if you're starting or in the middle of your period, or nipple creams. If the milk tastes bitter, your baby will probably not want to feed.
Solving the Problems
First, always try to identify what may have caused the breast refusal then begin to treat the cause. Always remain patient and gentle with your baby. Be sure to hold your baby next to you, skin to skin, so that he/she can take the breast when he/she wants to and begin to realize that breast feeding is both enjoyable and comfortable.
Older babies may suddenly take shorter and fewer breast feeds, which is normal with some babies. Therefore, it's always best not to try and make the baby feed longer, but instead let the baby decide how often and also how long each individual feeding will last.
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