Breastfeeding should be comfortable for both mother and child. If the mother is stressed, breastfeeding often does not work as well.
It is ideal for babies to be breastfed in the first months of life, as they not only receive important nutrients but also a lot of physical closeness.
However, it may happen that the baby suddenly rejects the breast, with crying and screams, which is very worrying for the parents, who strive to give the baby the best attention and care.
While this situation is possible at all stages of breastfeeding, it is more likely to occur at some than at others. “It usually occurs in the third or fourth month or between the fifth and eighth month of a child’s life,” explains Katrin Görtz, a pediatric nurse at the Oberhavel Clinics in Oranienburg, north-east Germany.
What causes a baby to reject the breast?
Normally, it takes some research, because breast refusal can have many reasons, some as simple as the mother having eaten something spicy that the baby doesn’t like, or using a perfume or soap with a scent that the baby is not familiar with.
But it can also be due to the breastfeeding position. In this case, it may help to try a different one. When breastfeeding, this should be equally comfortable for the mother and the child. If the mother is tense, breastfeeding usually does not work as well.
The baby should be as close to the mother as possible, ideally, the child’s head and spine should be aligned, so that he or she can suck without any effort.
Another possible cause is that “the baby is sucking on the breast, but not enough milk is coming out,” says German pediatrician Tanja Brunnert. In this case, a breast massage to stimulate milk production often helps.
But the opposite can also happen: milk may gush out, making it difficult for the baby to coordinate sucking, breathing, and swallowing, which frustrates him. Brunner advises that the mother lean back while breastfeeding, which slows the flow of milk.
It is also possible that a baby refuses to breastfeed because he has an infection. Parents can take his temperature and observe him closely: is there any sign of ear pain because he touches his ears frequently? If in doubt, take him to the pediatrician.
“Sometimes breast rejection is also due to the baby being exposed to too much stimulation,” says Sandra Uffelmann, head midwife at the Oberhavel Clinics. The child perceives its surroundings more clearly due to a new developmental phase and is disturbed by music or the chatter and laughter of its siblings.
In this case, the mother and baby should retreat to a quiet place with dim lighting, have lots of physical contact, and try again.
What if all else fails? If the baby still refuses to breastfeed, the mother can empty her breast by hand or with a device and then feed the baby with a bottle filled with breast milk.
At the same time, it is recommended to offer the breast to the baby again and again. “If breastfeeding does not work for two days, the mother should not throw in the towel and start weaning prematurely,” says pediatrician Brunnert.
It is also a good idea to seek advice from experienced midwives. Until help is found, the motto is “stay calm,” advises pediatric nurse Katrin Görtz. Above all, affected mothers should not blame themselves. “It is not necessarily the mother’s fault if breastfeeding does not work,” says midwife Sandra Uffelmann.
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