Some babies refuse their mother’s breast for a variety of reasons. The best way to spur your baby’s interest is to stay positive and ensure that she is getting the calories and nutrients she needs while you figure out the cause and come up with a solution. Maintain the special mother-child bond; don’t let every interaction be a feeding struggle. Some reasons your baby might be refusing to latch on:
Some strategies that have helped other mothers to coax their child to latch:
Stay positive. With ample opportunity to breastfeed, and ample patience on the part of mom, most babies will resume breastfeeding. Depending on your baby’s age, personality, and experience with artificial nipples, it may be several days before she breastfeeds enthusiastically. Be sure that she latches well when she does return to the breast, taking the entire nipple and as much of the areola (the dark part of the breast around the nipple) as possible into her mouth. If she doesn’t latch well, gently slip your finger between her lips and your breast to break the latch, and try again. Last but not least, be patient. Some babies are champion breastfeeders from the start, while others encounter bumps along the way. Your patience will help your baby navigate the course. |