Does your baby suck well? There is an exit. The effectiveness of sucking during breastfeeding: how to increase

Mother's milk is a complete and irreplaceable nutrition for a child due to its unusual ability to transform and the richness of its composition, therefore breastfeeding is an important condition for the full growth and development of the baby. When a young mother notices that the baby is lazy to suckle, such behavior on the part of the baby cannot leave her indifferent. At the same time, it is important for a woman to understand when such changes in the nature of feeding should not cause concern, and in which cases it is important to take urgent stimulating measures and understand the reasons for such feeding.

The term “lazy sucker,” which is often used by lactation consultants and pediatricians, does not refer to a baby’s laziness or reluctance to receive food. We are talking more about discomfort or pain in the baby when breastfeeding. The definition is valid only when the baby is familiar with bottle feeding and, choosing this type of feeding as the easiest, refuses the breast. There are a number of signs that clearly make it clear that the baby is behaving incorrectly during feeding:

• Having actively taken the breast, the baby falls asleep after a short period of time from the start of feeding and wakes up after 10-15 minutes to resume receiving food;
• malnourished children do not gain weight well, may cry at the breast, are more often capricious and restless;
• the baby “hangs” on the chest, sucks rarely and sluggishly, pulls the nipple, smacks and plays with the breast;
• the baby will often wake up at night because it does not receive nutritious hind milk and does not eat enough before bed;
• turns out, does not want to grab the nipple, which may also indicate the first signs of breast refusal.

When a baby sucks poorly at the breast in the first month of life, possible reason can be premature birth and the newborn is too weak to receive nutrition effectively. Just like at the age of three - four months the baby strives to understand the world around him and is often distracted from the process of satiation.

Why does a baby fall asleep while feeding?

There are unfavorable prerequisites for the occurrence of lethargic behavior at the breast. The baby is too lazy to suck the rear, more nutritious milk and falls asleep while feeding for one of the following reasons:

• the birth took place using anesthesia or by caesarean section;
• during childbirth, the baby experienced asphyxia or a birth injury was discovered;
• the baby was born premature, so he experiences postpartum stress and feels weak, he simply does not have enough strength to suckle at the breast for a long time;
• the baby has a weak sucking reflex;
• delayed formation of hunger and satiety centers concentrated in the hypothalamus;
• the mother’s nipple is too tight, so the little one gets tired quickly during feeding;
• mother introduced supplementary feeding with adapted milk formulas using a bottle;
• improper latching of the nipple and violation of the principles of breastfeeding, swallowing air, as a result of which a feeling of fullness quickly appears and the baby falls asleep;
• the baby has a short sublingual frenulum, which is why he works hard to get milk and gets tired quickly.

A child sucks poorly or reluctantly when suffering from thrush, stomatitis and other diseases that are accompanied by painful sensations.

Dr. Komarovsky notes that it is important to distinguish the weakness and pain of the baby from the reluctance to eat. If the baby is gaining weight well and developing normally, but demands food every 15–20 minutes, this is evidence of a lack of proper routine.

Help tactics

One of the most common mistakes young parents make in this situation is the unreasonable introduction of supplementary feeding with artificial breast milk substitutes, which often leads to a decrease in lactation and a decrease in the proportion of breastfeeding in the baby’s diet. This increases the likelihood that the baby will refuse the breast in favor of a more simple way obtaining food: bottles with nipples. Weaning off a breast substitute can be difficult. Therefore, the need for supplementary feeding and the amount of artificial nutrition is discussed with the pediatrician based on the baby’s weight gain.

To understand how to deal with a problem that has arisen, it is important to find the cause of its occurrence: eliminate possible diseases, control the position of the baby at the breast, correct grip of the nipple.

TO effective action, which will help in the fight for normal nutrition of the toddler include the following:

• Elimination of sucking objects. It is recommended to exclude pacifiers and pacifiers. By putting the baby only to the breast, the mother stimulates lactation and the baby gets the maximum useful substances, while simultaneously improving sucking skills and constantly training the facial muscles.
• Proper organization of supplementary feeding. If the baby does not have enough milk, and there is no more strength to suck, the baby has to be fed. However, this must be done using a cup, spoon or syringe. The use of bottles is not recommended.
• Stimulation of the sucking reflex. During feeding, the baby may stop, get tired and fall asleep. If the baby’s reflex function is not sufficiently developed, it is necessary to help the little one. A popular method of stimulation is gentle stroking on the cheek.
• Monitoring the baby’s position at the breast and proper latching of the nipple. It is important to feed the baby correctly, following the feeding technique.
• Attach your baby to your breast as soon as required. With age, the intervals between feedings increase. However, you should not limit the sucking time. If your baby needs not 10, but 20 minutes to get enough, give him that time.
• Creating skin-to-skin contact, using the K. Smiley method, in which the child himself looks for the nipple while being close to the breast. The “nesting” method has been recognized as useful, in which both daytime and night sleep the child spends next to his mother.
• Measures aimed at stimulating lactation: the use of tea and decoctions, the use of medications, lactogenic mixtures as prescribed by a doctor. Follow the drinking regime, review the daily schedule and normalize sleep, organize proper pumping.
• If problems arise, seek advice from a breastfeeding specialist.

To obtain nutritious hind milk, the baby will have to work hard. After all, more force is required to obtain high-calorie liquid. Late milk entering required quantity – necessary condition growth and formation of vital processes in the baby’s body. Therefore, it is so important for a young mother to make efforts to maintain adequate feedings and support the baby in the current situation. However, breastfeeding is not only food for the baby, but also important emotional contact with the mother, which is important for creating a trusting and warm relationship.

What to do if the child does not want to take the breast - the source of his joys, refuses it or sucks sluggishly? Why does this happen, and how to fix it?

No one needs to be convinced of the benefits of breastfeeding, convenience and mutual pleasure for both the baby and his mother. But in the process of establishing lactation (the production of milk by the body of a nursing mother), problems may arise. One of the most unpleasant things is that the baby cries and does not take the breast, refusing it himself. The reasons why the baby rejects the mother's breast can be described briefly - either the baby or his mother is unwell.

Content:

Voluntary refusal of the child to breastfeed: runny nose and thrush

Voluntary refusal from the breast may be a symptom of an incipient disease in the infant. If the lack of appetite is accompanied by a rise in temperature (above 38 degrees), loose stools, vomiting, uncharacteristic drowsiness for a baby, or severe anxiety, as well as a runny nose or cough - do not hesitate to consult a doctor.

Sometimes the baby may greedily take the breast, and then stop sucking and start crying. This often happens in cases where a baby has a stuffy nose. Then he needs a consultation with an otolaryngologist. For example, in case of ear pain (at this age, due to a runny nose, the ears can very quickly begin to hurt) or thrush (in the case of infection with Candida fungi in the oral mucosa), the child’s refusal to breastfeed is a completely logical phenomenon, since breastfeeding is difficult and uncomfortable. Then the baby cries, does not take the breast, and loses weight because he is hungry and sick.

If you replace the breast with a bottle, this will not solve the problem in any way - it will still be painful and uncomfortable for the baby to suck. Plus, in addition to one physiological stress of the baby (illness), another will be added (cessation of breastfeeding), and this will only worsen the baby’s health.

Breast refusal: central nervous system damage

The fact that a child does not want to breastfeed may indicate the presence of damage to the baby’s central nervous system, which could have occurred in the womb, during birth, or in the first days after birth. In such cases, the baby sucks sluggishly, does not take the breast well, he is extremely restless, there may be a trembling of the chin (tremor), frequent regurgitation, and shuddering. It may seem that it is physically unpleasant for the baby to suck, for example, because of a headache. Or the baby gets tired very quickly while sucking the breast, then the baby gives up the breast in exhaustion after 2-3 minutes.

If such symptoms appear or if the certificate from the maternity hospital indicates PEP (perinatal encephalopathy), then you should contact your baby pediatric neurologist. At the same time, try to find the most best option breastfeeding: possible the first ones are better Feed the baby your expressed milk from a cup or spoon for several weeks; you can try doing this from a syringe or pipette.

The main thing: try to maintain breastfeeding. But it is not advisable to use bottles, despite the fact that sucking from them will certainly be easier if the hole in the nipple is not too small. However, there is a high probability that subsequently the baby will not want to take the breast at all, and will strain to “get” milk. When the baby gets a little stronger (nervous system and brain little man endowed with excellent recovery abilities), you can switch back to the usual way of eating - breastfeeding.

Trust your own baby and do not rush to deprive him of what he needs.

Breast refusal: improper attachment and lactation problems

A common reason for infants who are only a few days old to refuse to breastfeed is “pre-breast” sucking on a pacifier or bottle-feeding the baby in the maternity hospital. The baby does not understand why such changes occur, it scares him, and the child cries and does not take the breast.

Sometimes problems can arise due to improper attachment of the baby to the breast or engorgement of the woman’s mammary glands - the breasts become tight and it is difficult to suck on them. If the baby does not latch on the breast, the reason may lie in feeding strictly according to the schedule, and not at the request of the baby, or for too short a time, in the opinion of the main consumer. It happens that a baby does not breastfeed if the mother does not have enough milk. As a result of such reasons, the child sucks sluggishly or may even refuse, he becomes restless and capricious.

When there is too much milk in the mother’s breast, the newborn may choke out of habit, swallow excess air during feeding, and then the baby’s tummy often begins to ache.

It happens that the child does not take one breast, which has characteristics of the nipple or inflammatory changes in it.

Often a child does not want to breastfeed when there are changes in the taste of milk. This often happens from 3 to 12 months after birth, when the mother is recovering menstrual cycle. At this time, breast milk takes on a somewhat salty taste. This may also be explained by a violation of the mother’s diet, when she eats overly hot and spicy foods.

Other reasons for a baby's refusal to breastfeed

Among other things, the reason that the baby does not breastfeed may be a change in the mother’s smell, for example, due to a change in soap, perfume, or deodorant.

Less often, a child does not breastfeed well due to changes in the baby’s usual way of life, for example, such as the appearance of strangers in the house, the mother going to work, or a new nanny.

If a child does not take the breast at the age of 6-8 months, in most cases we are talking about the baby’s imaginary refusal to breastfeed. Now the baby is actively crawling and learning the world in a contact way, but without observing him as before, and all these events can distract and captivate him. Even in his sleep, he can continue to experience new emotions and often wake up at night.

What to do if the baby has trouble latching on the breast?

Whatever the reason that the baby does not suckle, sucks sluggishly or refuses altogether, the main thing is to eliminate this reason! Try to carefully analyze the situation and help your baby and yourself begin to enjoy breastfeeding again.

If there are problems, try to be with the baby at all times and offer the breast whenever he wants, at his request, including at night. Put away pacifiers and bottles. Of course, the baby is unlikely to approve of such harsh measures, but do not give up, do not despair, believe in your own strength and in the natural intelligence of the child. A few days - and everything will definitely get better.

Make sure your baby's position at the breast is correct during feeding. The baby should grasp the entire nipple circle with his mouth, and not just the nipple of the mother's breast. The baby should be happy and calm during feeding, completely pressed against you, you can hear how the baby sucks out and then swallows the milk - without retracting the cheeks or smacking sounds.

If there is not enough milk for the baby, try to eliminate any stressful situations, especially fears and worries about the lack breast milk. Try to rest longer, sleep in the baby’s “sleep mode” (or take a nap at least once during the day). Any household chores, including street walks with a baby in a stroller, can be done by someone else, but the happiness of breastfeeding a baby is given only to you.

Try to maximize the number of feedings, give both breasts at one feeding: first one, and when he “empties” it, the other. Remember to ensure that your diet includes at least 2 liters of fluid per day. You can try folk and homeopathic lactogenic remedies. And be sure to support yourself psychologically, don’t forget about yourself: you will only need one hour to go to a beauty salon, to the store for something new that will please your eyes, or to a cafe with a friend to drink a cup of green tea.

What to do if the baby does not want to breastfeed because there is too much breast milk? Usually in the first days of the onset of lactation, approximately 3-4 days after birth, there is too much milk coming in. In this case, it is advisable for the mother to reduce her intake of liquids, especially warm ones, as well as food. The advice here is simple, but very effective! Your baby is still weak, the baby sucks sluggishly, so at first it is recommended to express the excess with a breast pump. This will help prevent breast blockage and breast engorgement. Try to take a warm shower before each feeding (then your breasts will become softer and milk will “give” easier) and set yourself up for success. Soon the baby will get stronger and grow up, and your body will adjust the production of milk in the amount it needs.

There are certain breastfeeding rules that should be followed, namely:

• 1. In any feeding position, it is important that the baby’s body is in the same plane, the whole - head, shoulders, legs and, of course, tummy. For example, in a lying position, the baby should lie on the side, and not on the back, with the head turned to one side towards the mother’s chest - this makes swallowing difficult and provokes muscle tension.
• 2. Very small children should be clasped diagonally with your hand, from head to toe, with a delicate but confident grip, fixing the baby’s head.
• 3. The breast should be served, supporting it like a bowl, from below with four fingers and from above with the thumb.
• 4. Always pull your baby to your chest, taking a comfortable position, and not stretching your chest towards him or bending too much.
• 5. You need to place your breasts deeper into your mouth, along with the areola (the entire nipple circle). In the case of an impressive size of the areola, make sure that the child grasps it from below more than from above (relative to the child’s mouth).
• 6. The baby's lips should be slightly turned outward, the tongue should be located on the lower gum. It is very important that there are no clicking or smacking sounds accompanying sucking. If they are present (sounds), ask the doctor to check the frenulum of the baby’s tongue. The short frenulum should be trimmed so that the baby can suckle fully, without injuring the mother.
• 7. Where you feed your baby most often, it is recommended to have several pillows of different sizes so that you can always be seated correctly and comfortably.

Mommy may face some difficulties at first. But you shouldn't give up. If you can’t cope on your own, contact consultants for help to establish breastfeeding. Ask to teach you how to attach your baby correctly while still in the maternity hospital, gain experience from other, more experienced mothers.

Don't worry and remember the most important principle of breastfeeding: if normal development events of breast milk in your breasts will be formed exactly as much as your baby specifically needs. Soon this will happen, and then no breast refusals will threaten.

A little more about why a baby cries and does not take the breast, and how to deal with your baby’s refusal to breastfeed:

Last article updated: April 14, 2018

Poor appetite in a newborn and infant is a serious cause for parental anxiety. Many mothers are worried because it is extremely difficult to figure out why their child is not eating well. Both newborn babies and infants at 4 months cannot explain and tell what specifically does not suit them. They demonstrate all their dissatisfaction with the help of screams and tears, or simply silent refusal and reluctance to suckle the breast or drink formula. This also complicates the ability to establish the cause of poor appetite, since experts identify many negative factors due to which Small child may begin to be capricious, cry and refuse to eat.

Child psychologist

Whether a newborn baby or a child of 5 months, may not eat well for many reasons, including the peculiarities of lactation in the mother, health problems, physiological characteristics at birth and much, much more.

If the baby does not suckle well, we can assume there is a “problem” in lactation. For example, some nursing mothers experience an excess of milk secretion, while others, on the contrary, have a catastrophic lack of it.

In the first case, the child simply chokes due to the too powerful “stream” of milk, as a result of which he may refuse to breastfeed. In such a situation, the mother needs to express a little before feeding. And then, when the child’s appetite increases (for example, at 2 weeks), the need for this procedure will no longer be necessary.

The opposite situation is when the baby does not have enough milk. In this case, the mother must take all measures permitted and approved by the pediatrician that improve lactation:

• more frequent latching of the baby to the breast;
• pumping after breastfeeding;
• use large quantity liquids;
• drinking special tea that improves milk separation.

If all these measures do not lead to a qualitative improvement in lactation, the only way remains is to supplement the baby with formula. But before introducing an artificial product into a child’s diet, you need to consult a pediatrician.

Sometimes women are not entirely responsible about their own diet, consuming foods that alter breast milk. For example, spicy vegetables (onions, garlic) change the taste of breast secretions, causing the baby to refuse the breast. The solution is quite simple - take a responsible approach to creating a menu.

There are often cases when the reason that a child eats little is due to improper attachment to the breast. This happens especially often with inexperienced parents feeding their first child.

The solution is quite simple - a woman should seek help from a breastfeeding expert or even in the maternity hospital ask the staff to clearly demonstrate how to properly attach the baby to the mother’s breast.

A newborn baby sometimes does not take the mother's breast due to irregular shape nipples If they are too flat and sunken, it is not easy for the baby to get milk.

Naturally, the child remains hungry, which is completely unacceptable. Usually, after a day or two, babies adjust and adapt, but in rare cases, if the situation does not improve, the pediatrician may recommend the use of special nipple shields.

Congenital characteristics

Often babies are born earlier than planned. As a result, the innate sucking reflex is not formed to the extent that would allow the child to suckle at the breast without problems. That is, a premature baby does not refuse to eat, but is simply unable to produce milk because he lacks strength.

Naturally, in such a situation, the mother must correct the problem. Feeding her with a bottle (it’s easier to suck), a syringe or a teaspoon will help her with this. You just need to understand that the habit of eating from a special container is fraught with complete abandonment of the mother’s breast.

In addition, loss of appetite can be caused by other congenital characteristics. Usually such anomalies are discovered in the maternity hospital, where they are immediately corrected, but this is not always possible.

1. Anomalies in the structure of the oral cavity. Congenital defects of the oral cavity, which are popularly called “cleft lip” or “cleft palate,” can also cause a child to eat poorly and gain little weight. Usually the operation is performed immediately (if it allows children's health), but if the procedure is postponed for more late date Special feeding pads may be required.
2. Short lingual frenulum. If a baby is born with a short membrane connecting the bottom of the mouth to the root of the tongue, then it will be uncomfortable for him to suck milk. When sucking, you can even hear a characteristic clicking sound. Usually the problem is easily solved - the surgeon cuts the frenulum, and the newborn baby (and a child up to 5 months) does not feel pain at all.

If the birth took place under anesthesia, then some of the painkillers may enter the child’s body. As a result, in the first days, newborns are lethargic, which also affects insufficient activity during feeding.

Decreased appetite or complete absence of it in infant at 5 months may be due to the eruption of the first teeth. In such a situation, refusal to eat becomes a completely natural and temporary phenomenon.

The baby’s appetite not only decreases, but the gums also begin to swell and the temperature rises. The child also feels pain, so it is necessary to help him. So, in case of fever, you can give an anti-inflammatory and antipyretic agent.

In order for the baby to quickly begin to eat with appetite, it is necessary to smear his gums several times a day with special gels with cooling, soothing and analgesic properties. It is also recommended to purchase special teethers that massage the gums at the pharmacy.

Tummy pain

If one month old baby he doesn't take the breast well, constantly drops it, tries to tuck his legs to his stomach and cries loudly, one can assume that he is worried about intestinal colic. In this case, parents should be patient and know how to alleviate this condition.

Experts advise placing a warm diaper on the baby’s stomach, massaging the navel area, and giving special anti-colic medications. This will improve the work that is still imperfect digestive system, and at approximately 4 months the unpleasant symptoms will go away on their own.

It also happens that a child begins to suck milk, but then refuses the breast with tears. Probably, poor appetite in infants, the painful condition is caused by dysbiosis caused by the mother taking antibacterial drugs.

Only a doctor can confirm the presence of this condition after special examination. Parents may suspect dysbiosis based on signs such as bad smell feces, green color bowel movements and the presence of mucus.

A child at 3 months or at 11 months may refuse breast milk due to illness. A common problem Infants in their first year of life suffer from thrush. It is easily recognized by the white spots on the child’s tongue, gums and palate.

Oral candidiasis occurs in infants the following reasons:

If a newborn eats little due to thrush, it is better to seek help from a doctor who will tell you what medications or folk remedies can be used in a particular case. The easiest way is to treat the oral cavity with soda or saline solution.

The mother needs to treat her breasts with the same remedy to prevent relapses. In addition, you need to take care in the future about the cleanliness of toys and feeding devices, as well as strengthen children's immunity, especially if the child was born premature.

If a baby, say, at 11 months of age, does not eat well, breathes heavily during feeding, sniffles, drops its breasts and cries, mucous accumulations interfere with its normal breathing. To alleviate the condition, you need to very carefully clean the nasal passages using cotton swabs or flagella.

Another reason why a newborn does not eat well is inflammation and pain in the ears. The child would like to eat, but sucking leads to unpleasant sensations, so he can refuse the breast. In this case, you need to contact your pediatrician for treatment.

If a child of 2 months or older does not want to eat because of sore ears, the mother can try to express breast milk and feed the baby with it using a teaspoon. This method of obtaining nutrition for the baby is less painful than breastfeeding.

Using the bottle

If your baby is not eating breast milk well, you need to think about how often you use feeding containers and pacifiers. It has been noted that children suck formula from a bottle and their mother's breast in completely different ways, using different amounts of muscles.

This happens because the liquid flows freely from the container, so the child does not make any effort to extract it. But breast milk needs to be obtained. If this is the problem, then the mother needs to re-accustom the baby to take the breast.

Another reason why a baby does not eat well may be increased sensitivity to changes in weather conditions. A sharp jump in atmospheric pressure can cause a baby to headache, loss of appetite and other negative symptoms.

If such signs are excessive, you should consult a pediatrician and neurologist. The source of the problem probably lies in high intracranial pressure. Then you will need to take certain medications.

Curiosity

A newborn baby is usually only interested in feeding and sleeping, but he reacts poorly to external stimuli. Another thing is a 6-month-old child, who is more active, inquisitive and desires to learn about the world around him.

While eating, the baby may be distracted by any stimulus: loud noise, bright or new toy, a pet, a man entered. Switching children's attention to feeding is quite difficult, which is why you should create as calm an environment as possible before meals.

In addition, poor appetite in a tiny newborn may be due to a bad mood. If a crying baby is not approached immediately after the first tears, he begins to cry even more. Therefore, when brought to the breast, he simply cannot grab the nipple due to overstimulation.

In this case, the primary task is to calm the baby by any means. accessible ways. You can pet him, kiss him, offer him a pacifier, rock him a little, and only then offer him the breast again. Usually, a calmed baby quickly starts eating.

There are often cases when a child does not eat much due to individual characteristics. Such babies are also called “little ones.” If the doctor notes that the baby is active and cheerful, developing according to age norms, then why worry?

Above were presented the main reasons why a child does not eat well. If the mother carefully monitors the children's reactions, she will be able to understand the baby's condition and normalize his appetite. But in case of unpleasant symptoms, you should definitely consult a doctor.

Why does my child eat formula poorly?

This issue is included in a separate section, although some aspects relating to the nutrition of artificially-fed children coincide with the problems of children in natural feeding. And yet, artificial babies have own reasons to refuse food.

Main problem - right choice mixtures. Finding a mother's milk substitute that would suit the child's taste and at the same time not harm the child's digestion is not very easy. So, for newborns, an adapted mixture, specially designed for the little ones, is suitable.

The fifth month of life is already completely different age period Therefore, nutrition must also change. After all, the baby has grown up, which means his needs for food calories have also grown. In addition, the first complementary foods for artificial babies are usually introduced at this time.

In addition to the wrong formula, there are other reasons why a 3-month-old baby is not eating well:

• uncomfortable nipple Even small children already have their own preferences. Some people like thicker latex nipples, while others prefer silicone nipples. Parents should purchase several devices at once so that the child can choose the best one;
• sudden switch to milk substitute. If the baby is used to eating exclusively mother's milk, switching to artificial nutrition may lead to negativity or temporary refusal of the mixture. In this case, it is important to gradually adapt to a different diet;
• nutritional value of the mixture. Milk substitute is more nutritious and will take longer to be absorbed by the body. Consequently, an artificial child will feel hungry not after 2.5 hours, but, roughly speaking, after 4 hours. This aspect should also be taken into account so as not to overfeed the baby.

Thus, when feeding a baby with a milk replacer, it is important to choose the right formula, silicone or latex bottle attachment, and also optimize the feeding regimen. In this case, the child's appetite should soon return to normal.

A child is born with an instinctive-reflexive type of behavior. That is, all his actions are subordinated to certain instincts, which include the sucking reflex. The baby does not yet know how to overeat, so normally he eats as much as necessary. If the mother thinks that the child is not eating well, you need to check whether he is gaining weight.

Experts have developed special tables that stipulate how many grams a child should gain every 7 days, every 30 days and every 12 months. Checking the standards allows parents to understand how well the nutrition is organized, whether there is enough milk for the baby or whether it needs to be supplemented.

After birth, the baby’s body weight decreases within 7 days. However, you should not worry, since this is a completely natural process. From child's body meconium (newborn feces) comes out, and the child is in a stressful state. After a week, the weight will begin to increase.

Let's look at the average weight gain over the first 12 months:

Less weight gain does not mean that the child has any problems. Such indicators are very conditional, since everything depends on the characteristics of the infant himself.

As already noted, poor appetite does not always mean pain or pathology. In any case, an experienced doctor will be able to dispel all concerns.

Correcting the situation

My child is not eating well, what should I do? Many mothers turn to specialists with this question. We have already talked about some ways to solve the problem; it’s time to talk about more specific and specific cases.

Feeding frequency

The question of why a baby constantly sucks the breast is not entirely correct when we are talking about a newborn baby. Very young children feed very often - at least every 2 - 2.5 hours. You need to “take advantage” of this feature.

If the baby does not want to eat right now, then perhaps next feeding wants to try milk or formula. You should temporarily increase the number of meals in order to catch the moment when the child’s appetite is optimal.

Duration of meal

If previously you calculated the time during which the baby was near the breast, now you should abandon this practice. Try to increase the duration of feedings, let the baby suckle at the pace that is typical for him today.

Offer your baby one breast first and only after emptying, apply to the other. Hind milk is particularly nutritious – it is fattier and higher in calories. If there is a sudden change of breast, the baby will not receive the required amount of calories by consuming only liquid foremilk.

If the baby does not want to eat during the day or his appetite is not very good at this time, try putting him to the breast at night. Place your baby in your bed so that both you and your baby approach feeding time in the most relaxed state possible.

It is curious that the hormone prolactin, which is responsible for milk production, is more actively secreted at night, so such feedings can be considered more productive. Perhaps the child will eat more food at night.

Refusal to wrap up

If your newborn is not eating, try not to wrap him or her when feeding. On the contrary, bodily contact with the mother's skin will allow it to become more active. This method is especially suitable for sleepy and “slow” babies.

Does the baby behave passively near the breast? Take off his undershirt (you can simply cover the back with a blanket), throw off the outer part of your clothes and thereby create close physical interaction.

Using a sling

As you know, appetite increases at the sight or smell of your favorite dish. The situation is exactly the same with newborn babies. If they are constantly near mother's breast, they will want to eat more often.

Try carrying your baby in a so-called sling - a fabric sling that will allow you to take your baby with you almost everywhere and at the same time free up your hands. In addition, the mother's constant movement will not allow the baby to fall asleep during feeding.

Mom's vacation

Another helpful advice, which, unfortunately, is not always easy to implement, concerns maternal rest. However, this recommendation can really improve the quality of lactation. Therefore, try to rest more yourself.

Try to give yourself more time: increase the duration of your walks, try to sleep during the day, take every opportunity to get at least a little rest. Of course, for this you need to enlist the support of family and friends.

The advantages of such an attitude are obvious: if the mother gets a good night's sleep and rest, the amount of stress hormones that slow down milk production will decrease. The result is improved lactation and the disappearance of some feeding problems.

A few words in conclusion

Thus, decreased appetite in an infant may be due to a number of physiological or psychological reasons.

Does your baby suck well? There is an exit

The most best stroller, the most best clothes, diapers, toys. Any mother strives to give her baby the best. What could be better than breastfeeding? It is impossible to overestimate its benefits. Until recently it was very popular artificial feeding, which was justified by a number of biased reasons, the main motive of which was the convenience of the young mother.

However, recently breastfeeding has again taken a leading position. But, unfortunately, very often, when faced with the first problem, for example, the fact that a newborn baby does not take the breast, the mother gives up and transfers the baby to substitutes human milk. But in fact, the fact that the baby does not take the breast is not at all a reason to deprive him of his mother’s milk. To avoid difficulties and know what needs to be done if suddenly the baby stops taking the breast, you need to have as many more information about breastfeeding.

Sometimes it turns out very useful help lactation consultant. The specialist will find out exactly why the baby does not take the breast and suggest the most effective solution Problems. Well, if you don’t have such a specialist in your city, you can seek help from women who have breastfed their own children for a long time and successfully.

The benefits of mother's milk

Breastfeeding is preferred for a number of reasons:

• Attaching a newborn baby to the breast in the first minutes of life helps speed up the birth of the placenta and effective contraction of the uterus.

In the first two to three days, a woman’s mammary glands produce colostrum, which is much thicker in consistency than human milk.

Colostrum is very useful for the baby, because it contains a huge amount of different maternal antibodies. Colostrum is a kind of “vaccination” against many diseases that can await the baby. In addition, pediatricians have noticed the fact that children who receive colostrum, as a rule, are much less likely to suffer from dysbacteriosis.

• Feeding your baby allows you to satisfy his need not only for food, but also for drinking. Of course, this only applies to babies in the first three months of life, after which you can safely give the baby water and juices.
• Breastfeeding your baby will help the mother avoid postpartum depression. This happens because during breastfeeding, the hormonal balance in the body is maintained, and there is a constant production of hormones of the neuropeptide group, including endorphins, the so-called “hormones of joy.” In addition, a nursing mother has increased resistance to stress, which occurs due to the effect on the female body of hormones such as prolactin and oxytocin.
• Mothers who breastfeed their babies get sick much less often, as their immunity, due to the fact that intensive metabolism stimulates the strengthening of the immune system.
• From a practical point of view breastfeeding also has some advantages. Mom does not need to waste time and effort on boiling bottles, diluting the mixture and monitoring its temperature. Wherever you go, food for your baby is nearby at any second, sterile and at the right temperature. In addition, breastfeeding does not require significant material costs. You can spend the money you save on something pleasant or useful.

Composition of human milk

For a baby, the benefits of breast milk are obvious. Not a single most expensive and good artificial formula is capable of completely reproducing the composition of breast milk. And this is not surprising, because the composition of a mother’s milk changes in direct proportion to how her child’s needs change. This adaptation to the child’s needs occurs regularly, the composition of the milk changes hourly. However, it is still possible to give general characteristics chemical parameters of human breast milk.

• Milk contains more than 450 different micro and macroelements necessary for the full development of a child. And the highest concentration will be those substances that your baby needs at that particular moment.
• Human milk contains approximately 97% water. And it is in it that all the necessary substances are dissolved.
• All babies willingly eat mother's milk, and this merit, to some extent, belongs to milk sugar (lactose), which makes milk very sweet. Therefore, the taste of milk cannot be the reason why a child does not want to breastfeed. It is lactose, similar to female lactose, that has not been learned to reproduce chemically until now. But lactose not only ensures the presence of normal microflora in the intestines, but also participates in the development of the baby’s brain.
• Protein, despite the fact that its content accounts for only 1%, is responsible for the development of the central nervous system. The female protein is also impossible to reproduce in the laboratory.
• 3% comes from fats, which are the main source of energy necessary for the development of the child’s body.
• Necessary hormones, vitamins, and microelements are produced in the required quantities, and their content may vary.

Problems with breastfeeding

At the very beginning of the long journey to successful breastfeeding, many mothers are faced with various pitfalls, for example, even in the maternity hospital, the mother discovers that the baby does not latch on to the breast. And if at this moment there is no sensitive and caring person nearby who will help the mother cope with the problem in time and knows exactly how to wean the baby to the breast, then the baby has a high chance of becoming what is popularly called an “artificial baby.”

When it comes to breastfeeding, the very old folk wisdom: “It’s not easy to pull a fish out of a pond.” It is possible to successfully cope with almost any breastfeeding problem if desired. If a woman is determined to breastfeed, the question of how to get the baby to suckle will be resolved very quickly.

One of the most common problems is when the baby does not breastfeed enough.
In order to effectively solve it, you need to determine what exactly is happening:

The situation when a baby sucks poorly at the breast may be caused by one of the following reasons.

• The baby does not latch on well. If the baby does not latch onto the breast correctly, an effective sucking process becomes impossible; the baby may either block the milk ducts, which will lead to useless attempts to get that desired milk. Or, on the contrary, the child will not be able to control the speed of milk flow, as a result of which he will constantly choke. How to teach a baby to latch on will be discussed a little later.
• Many mothers are concerned about the question: why does the child abandon the breast? Sometimes it happens that a child suckles for 5 minutes and refuses. Wondering why infant eats poorly, there may be several reasons. You put your baby to the breast too often and he simply does not have time to get hungry. As a rule, this situation occurs when feeding by the hour.

Try feeding your baby on demand, and if after that the baby turns away from the breast, you need to seek help from either your pediatrician or a lactation consultant, who will find out in detail the reasons for what is happening and explain how to get the baby to take the breast. Very small babies very often simply fall asleep during feeding. Try waking your baby. These tips also apply to the situation when the baby sucks weakly at the breast.

• Very often, the fact that a child sucks restlessly at the breast is caused by his natural interest in everything that happens around him. The child gets distracted and forgets why his mother actually gave him the breast. As a rule, it looks like this: the child spits out the breast and begins to look around, follow objects, or flirt with the mother. In this case, the most correct thing would be to take the breast away from him and let him “work up an appetite.” One of the main mistakes many mothers make is that they allow their breasts to turn into a toy. This can cause a lot of trouble in the future and may explain why the baby is not breastfeeding well.
• If the baby's behavior at the breast is frankly alarming, for example, the baby takes the breast and cries, or, in other cases, the baby refuses to breastfeed, even if he is very hungry, seek medical help.

The reasons why a baby cries when breastfeeding may be: various diseases, such as stomatitis, popularly called thrush. This disease causes the appearance of ulcers and wounds in the mouth, which cause pain when sucking, so the child cries when suckling.

Short hyoid frenulum also leads to the fact that the child is capricious at the breast. Congenital diseases, such as “cleft palate” or “cleft lip”, also lead to the baby refusing to breastfeed. However, as a rule, these developmental defects are always noticed in the maternity hospital. But even in this case, you should not despair and deprive the baby of precious mother’s milk. Express your milk and bottle feed your baby.

• Very often, the reason that a baby sucks poorly at the breast is the introduction of complementary foods or supplementary feeding with artificial formula. Sucking liquid from a bottle is much easier than from a breast. Often children understand this very quickly and, as a result, the child is lazy to suckle. If a mother wants to continue breastfeeding, her actions should be as follows. If the child refuses to breastfeed, do not insist. But don’t feed him formula, and after an hour, offer him the breast again. If after this the baby refuses to breastfeed, increase the waiting time by another hour. Stop using pacifiers and bottles, it is better to feed your baby with a spoon, as their use can cause the baby to latch poorly.
• If your baby is breastfeeding restlessly, it may also indicate that he or she has a tummy ache. That is why, first of all, if you notice that the child is worried at the breast, pay attention to the work of his intestines. Diarrhea, constipation, intestinal colic and other disorders of the gastrointestinal tract of the baby should not be left without mother’s attention.
• The baby does not latch on to the breast at all. This is very warning sign if you have not previously experienced any problems with feeding, and your baby does not receive any complementary foods. The reasons for a child's refusal to breastfeed can be very diverse. If you don't see any obvious reasons why your baby doesn't want to breastfeed, you should try feeding him after a few hours. Perhaps the baby is simply not hungry. But if this happens again, you should let your pediatrician find out why the baby is not breastfeeding.

How to properly put a baby to the breast?

In order not to rack your brain later on why the child refuses the breast, it is necessary to know from the very first days how to teach the child to suck the breast correctly. This, in the future, will help to avoid a large number of problems associated with the questions “how to force the child to take the breast” and “why the child does not take the breast well.” Below are the main recommendations from breastfeeding experts:

• Always make sure your baby's mouth is wide open before you breastfeed. If you put a nipple into a baby's half-open mouth, there is a high chance that the baby will take it incorrectly: either by clenching it with his teeth or not far enough. A wide open mouth is a significant case when the baby does not latch onto the breast correctly.
• Very often a sad situation arises when a mother simply does not understand her baby. When the mother tries to attach the baby to the breast, he begins to very actively display a search reflex, which consists in the fact that the baby turns his head from side to side. And the mother perceives this absolutely natural behavior as nothing other than the child’s refusal to breastfeed. But in fact, the baby is hungry, and this does not mean that the baby refuses to take the breast.
• Even if the baby initially took the nipple correctly, during the sucking process he can go down to the very tip and bite it. This inevitably causes pain in the woman. If this happens, have your baby stop sucking and spit out the nipple. To do this, very gently press the baby's mouth on the corner. And then give him the breast again.

It is not only the number of breastfeedings that matters, but also how intensely the baby sucks. How to increase the effectiveness of sucking during breastfeeding?

Why is hindmilk needed?

“What difference does it make with what force the baby sucks the milk,” you say, “After all, he gets it.” There is a difference.

The fact is that breast milk consists of fore and hind milk. Foremilk is especially rich in carbohydrates and is more watery. Unlike the back, with a thicker consistency, which contains a lot of fats and fat-soluble vitamins.

Foremilk is produced between feedings. It is not only easily digestible, but also sucked from the breast without special effort. In just a few minutes, the baby can receive a rather large portion.

The baby can only reach the hind milk by sucking the front milk. But it is the fatty hind milk that gives a long-lasting feeling of fullness. More caloric, it is “responsible” for the fact that the baby gains weight.

To get this food, the child must work like a small but powerful pump. To do this, do not extend the breaks between feedings too long. Then, after quickly “drinking” the front milk, the baby will simply be forced to move on to sucking the back milk.

Hindmilk, rich in fat, is essential for building cells, creating reserves in the body and gaining weight. Therefore, when feeding on demand, there is no need to express - otherwise the mother will “sip” the unfinished hind milk. On the contrary, if the baby falls asleep very quickly at the breast, and you feel that he has not emptied it all, it is better to start the next feeding with the “unfinished” one, so that the baby will certainly receive hind milk.

If there is not enough milk

In fact, every mother has exactly as much breast milk as her baby needs. Valuable fluid cannot be lacking, with very rare exceptions associated with diseases. If the child does not receive enough milk, it means that the mother is doing something wrong.

And to correct this situation, first of all you need to take care of the effectiveness of the baby’s sucking. Make sure that you: his mouth should capture not only the mother’s nipple, but also the entire lower part of the areola.

In addition, we remember important principle: the more milk the baby sucked, the more milk came. Frequent feedings stimulate the production of important “milk” hormones - prolactin and oxytocin, due to which milk production occurs. Therefore, frequent breastfeeding is...

To improve sucking efficiency, breaks between feedings should be at least three hours apart.

If your baby is not breastfeeding well

Mothers often worry: “I hold my baby at my breast for forty minutes, but he doesn’t get enough. Why is this happening"?

Most likely, the problem is precisely the effectiveness of sucking, or rather, ineffectiveness. The baby simply does not suck out the amount of milk necessary for saturation. Therefore, the time the baby spends at the breast during feeding is, of course, important, but is not a decisive factor. The baby can suck the entire portion in 15 minutes, or he can extract only drops of milk in two hours.

How can you tell if your baby is sucking milk well?

Observe the sucking movements your baby makes while feeding.

If he receives milk, then the sequence of movements looks like this: the mouth opens wide (the chin drops) - pause - swallowing movement - the mouth closes. It is at the moment of swallowing that the baby’s chin turns down and there is a pause in movement. And the longer it is, the larger the sip.

A good example

To better understand what swallowing movements look like, try drinking something through a straw yourself. While drinking, pay attention to the swallowing movements you make. Just like a baby sucking milk: the mouth opens to suck in liquid through the straw - pause - take a sip - the mouth closes.

An attentive mother, after several feedings, will definitely learn to determine whether the baby is swallowing milk or simply suckling, enjoying the closeness.

If your baby's swallowing movements have stopped, apply slight pressure to the breast to increase the flow of milk. And continue to hold the baby at your chest until he stops taking sips even with his chest squeezed. And only then can you try to apply it to the other breast. If the baby has sucked not only the front milk, but also the hind milk, then he may not even take the second breast.

What else is important for effective sucking?

• Feed on demand. In the first months of life, the baby can drink milk little by little, but often. 6-7 feedings will not be enough for him.
• Do not give your baby the breast randomly: both at once in one feeding. First, he must thoroughly suck the milk from one breast, and only then can he give the second.
• Don't limit your baby's time. Let him suck for as long as he needs. At the same time, make sure that it is not just sucking, but swallowing.
• Important for effective sucking tactile sensations. During feeding, you can undress the baby and partially undress the mother herself. Skin-to-skin contact will wake up the sleepiest and laziest baby and make him breastfeed better.
• Do not bottle feed your baby. Getting milk from a nipple is much easier than from your mother's breast. Having tried food from a bottle, the baby will no longer want to work hard sucking milk from the breast.
• In the first months after the birth of your baby, do not ignore