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  | mummytobesep08   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 04 February 2008
 Location: Christchurch
 Points: 654
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Topic: breast refusal- 4 week old Posted: 24 October 2008 at 6:04am
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   help! my 4 week old is refusing the breast! what can i do?
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         Angel babes '07 & '10- <3 <3
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  | Nefertiti   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 15 December 2007
 Location: Hamilton
 Points: 944
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 24 October 2008 at 7:55am | 
 
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   I'm not much help as I have no idea.  I know what my last (now 8yr), she was diagnosed with silent reflux at about 3 weeks and sometimes it appeared she was refusing the breast as she would take a few swallows then pull off, then try again, over and over again.
 I suggest you give your midwife a call, or a lactaction consultant.  If you have a family centre in your area, try them too.
 
 Good luck :)
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  | happymumma   Senior Member
 
   
 
 Joined: 06 June 2007
 Points: 848
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 24 October 2008 at 9:00am | 
 
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   Hang in there - My little boy was the same and I know how difficult it can all feel.  I agree with Nefertiti - but I particularly recommend a lactation consultant or a plunket family centre if you have one near you.
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  | weegee   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 28 May 2008
 Location: Kaukapakapa
 Points: 4611
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 24 October 2008 at 9:07am | 
 
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   I'm forever recommending this website - there's a section on 'nursing strikes' at kellymom .  Hugs and hope it gets better soon    | 
 
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      Mum to JJ, 4 July 2008 & Addie, 28 July 2010 | 
 
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  | .Mel   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 14 January 2007
 Location: Orewa
 Points: 9078
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 24 October 2008 at 9:44am | 
 
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   Has she been checked for Tongue Tie?  Get your midwife or GP to check next time you see her/him.  Are you putting any lotions or anything on your body after a shower etc?
 
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     Mr Mellow (16)
 Miss Attitude (8)
 Destructa Kid (3)
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  | myfullhouse   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 29 July 2007
 Location: West Auckland
 Points: 2944
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 24 October 2008 at 1:21pm | 
 
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   Try La Leche League as well as they can be very helpful.
 Also I read in Little Treasures (but haven't tried) that someone recommended putting marmite on your breast/nipple for a few feeds. Apparenty it helps!? But it would obviously depend on why your little one is refusing the breast
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  | mummytobesep08   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 04 February 2008
 Location: Christchurch
 Points: 654
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 24 October 2008 at 4:36pm | 
 
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   shes doing what you described, nefertiti: going on for a few sucks then pulling off...over and over and over...she hurts my nipples while shes squirming too so now theyre really sore and ones got a graze    shes got a little tongue tie too but they didnt do anything with it as it wasnt causing too many problems before. so i dont really know what to do as its causing damage putting her on all the time...
 its just not fair, ive been trying so dam hard since day one to breastfeed and I finally thought we were getting there        im so upset
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         Angel babes '07 & '10- <3 <3
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  | peachy   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location: Auckland
 Points: 3923
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 24 October 2008 at 4:49pm | 
 
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   I second Le Lache League.  Search them on the internet and give the lady that lives closest to you a call.  I did this and she helped me so much and it was all done over the phone.  They are lovely and very very helpful.
 As for the tongue tie, I would get a specialist to check it.  I have a friend who had a similar problem of a very slight tongue tie and they snipped the skin and she has never looked back, best thing she ever did as babies feeding improved 100%.
 
 Definately seek help though, there are plenty of places to help you out, so don't feel like you have failed just yet or feel that you don't know where to turn!
 
 I had a hell of a time b/f my baby but with lots of help and support I managed to b/f her for 7 months!
 
 Hugs to you.
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  | Mama2two   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location: Whangaparaoa
 Points: 2835
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 24 October 2008 at 5:44pm | 
 
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   Please don't stress too much.  My little girl did this at about the same age and I remember being absolutely devastated.  
 After seeking help it turns out that it is really common for them to do this.  
 We never found out why Samantha was doing it, but it certainly was nothing serious and she came right after about 3 days.  I went on to b/feed her for 10 months with no more problems   | 
 
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  | busymum   Senior Member
 
   
 
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location: New Zealand
 Points: 12236
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 24 October 2008 at 7:10pm | 
 
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   You could express a little before giving her the breast to see if she is just being impatient about the let-down. Does she refuse it for every feed or is a matter of her not wanting it quite as often?
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  | Shezamumof3   Senior Member
 
   
 
 Joined: 14 April 2007
 Points: 10096
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 24 October 2008 at 9:18pm | 
 
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   I had the same problem when caden was 4 weeks old. My nipples were so extremley sore. However Caden wasnt putting on much weight at all and it turn out my breast milk wasnt very good, i did my best to make it good but nothing worked for me.
I wish I had of gone to the LLL and seen a lactation consultant then maybe I could ahve kept breastfeeding.
 
 So definitly see one they will be able to give you some good advice
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  | mummytobesep08   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 04 February 2008
 Location: Christchurch
 Points: 654
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 25 October 2008 at 3:29pm | 
 
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   well the strike is over for now...it has happened twice now though. the first time was only for the night but this last one lasted a few days! Thankgod for having a breastpump! who knows why she wasnt wanting it...I got my period back (4 weeks after giving birth- NOT FAIR!) and I read on LLL website I think it was, that they can go off the milk for a bit when that happens for the first time. So hopefully it is well and truly over now an we can get back to trying to breastfeed!
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         Angel babes '07 & '10- <3 <3
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  | mummytobesep08   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 04 February 2008
 Location: Christchurch
 Points: 654
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 25 October 2008 at 6:27pm | 
 
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   oh FFS shes striking again...
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         Angel babes '07 & '10- <3 <3
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  | jaycee   Senior Member
 
   
 
 Joined: 11 June 2008
 Location: Wellington
 Points: 1413
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 25 October 2008 at 7:06pm | 
 
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   this happened to a friend of mine - when you ovulate your 'smell' changes and it can upset some babies    . She found that the only way that she could get her boy to feed was to have a shower just before each feed    . This lasted a couple of days and happened for 2 or three months - she said it was a pain.  
 That suck that you have got AF back so soon especially as you are BF. 
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