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Baby refuses to latch for breastfeed
I have a newborn baby who refuses to latch. Everytime I try to breastfeed she screams. I do not want to give her formula milk but I do not understand how to overcome this problem. I have tried all the latching positions. Pls help.
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Hello, hope you are well. I can sense that you are really frustrated, and it is normal. The first thing I would like to say to you is: take a deep breath and don't panic. It is very normal for newborns to take their own time with learning how to latch. It is very scary for them, as much as it is scary for you.
Continue Skin to skin contact whenever possible. Take a comfortable position, and every two to three hours, when there are cues that the baby wants to feed, like rooting, lip smacking or sucking fingers offer your breast.
If the baby is still not latching, you continue to express or pump milk and give it to the baby via spoon or paladai, whichever is comfortable.
Hopefully the baby will catch up and start to latch and feed properly soon, but I want you to visit a doctor if any of the following is the case:
1. The baby hasn't latched at all for the past 48 to 72 hours.
2. The baby is trying to latch, but it feels like he is unable to. In that case, the doctor might need to examine you for an inverted nipple or a flat nipple.
3. Latching is painful for you.
4. The baby is not passing adequate urine, which is 6 to 8 times per day, develops fever or yellowish discolouration.
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Breastfeeding refusal is very common in the first few days and is often temporary. Please don’t lose hope.
Try feeding when your baby is calm or just waking up rather than when she is crying. Hold her skin-to-skin as much as possible, express a few drops of breast milk onto the nipple before offering the breast, and ensure she has a wide mouth with a deep latch. Avoid forcing the breast into her mouth.
If she is still not latching, express your breast milk every 2–3 hours and feed it with a spoon, cup, or paladai to maintain your milk supply while continuing to practice breastfeeding.
Please meet a lactation consultant or your pediatrician as soon as possible to check for common causes such as incorrect latch, tongue-tie, breast engorgement, or any illness in the baby.
Seek urgent medical care if the baby is very sleepy, feeds poorly throughout the day, has fewer than 6 wet diapers after day 5 of life, develops fever, jaundice with poor feeding, or shows signs of dehydration.
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Greetings
sudden, painful struggle resembles a nursing strike, which can be caused by physical discomfort like an earache, reflux, a low milk supply, or a delayed letdown reflex. To preserve your supply, you should immediately pump milk as often as your baby would typically feed. Try introducing skin-to-skin contact or switching to laid-back breastfeeding in a quiet room, allowing your baby's natural instincts to safely guide them to the breast. If your baby continues to scream, immediately stop, transition her to a neutral vertical position to soothe her, and never force a stressful latch.
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Hello
It is normal for few babies to get the correct latching initially. You can take the help of your doctor or lactation consult at hospital during your next vaccination visit.meanwhile you can express milk and feed with spoon or paladai if you are not able to get good latch.
You need to sit in a comfortable position, check for flat or inverted nipple and make sure baby’s mouth is wide open and most of areolae especially the lower part is inside baby’s mouth and baby chin touches the breast.
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Hi
How old is your baby? Sometimes babies take more time to latch. See if you have any nipple issues- flat/ inverted. Keep trying each time before giving formula. Don’t use feeding bottle for giving. Then it will be even more difficult to latch. You can go for katori spoon feeding or with nifty cup. Till the baby latches, express your breast milk and give that. Don’t stress yourself too much. Keep yourself hydrated and have healthy food.
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Please to good back support and if the hospital is near by take the help of the nurse for few feeds.please don’t use bottle as the baby will get nipple confusion
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Dr. Bhatt Vivek Prafulchandra
Pediatrician
5 yrs exp
Rajkot
Consult with Pediatrician physically for further evaluation and treatment
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Dr. Venkatesh Badugu
Pediatrician
9 yrs exp
Hyderabad
Dont worry try latch every 2nd hourly baby will get adapt to him over the time
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Disclaimer : The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.