quick clicks

babies today articles

babies today q&a

toddlers today articles

toddlers today q&a

breastfeed.com articles

breastfeed.com q&a

community & groups

research baby names

prepare a birth plan

content channels

ip channel rss feeds

read birth stories

read parenting stories

recommended books

e-newsletters

safety recalls

ip diaries

ip store

mom of the month

dad of the month

editor's letter

letters to the editor

Expert Q&A

	By Ann Calandro BSN, RNC, IBCLC Lactation Consultant

My infant has not been eating well lately. When she latches on to the breast, she'll begin sucking (which I also hear a clicking sound) but when she starts to swallow, her body tenses up and she pulls off from the breast. I would understand that she wasn't hungry if I was feeding her every two hours, but I am not. Sometimes her last feeding has been up to five hours before and she still reacts this way. This is very frustrating for me and for her as well. Do you have any thoughts and advice?

I believe you should see a lactation consultant to have an evaluation of her latching, and her ability to transfer milk. There are many possibilities, and it would be impossible to evaluate her properly over the Internet. First and most important, is she nursing enough and getting enough milk to be growing adequately? Is she having a lot of heavy wet diapers, and soft frequent bowel movements? Because she's an infant, five hours is a very long time to go between feedings. She needs eight to twelve feedings a day. Please see your health care provider as well. Some possibilities would be dairy allergy, ear infection, reflux, neurological problems, tongue tie, overactive letdown, etc. There are so many possibilities that without proper medical assistance, an answer would be very difficult."

View more Q&A by this Expert