Are You Having Difficulty Feeding Your Baby?
Infants who are referred for my services may demonstrate the following types of challenges:
DIFFICULTY LATCHING
This can be characterized by a weak or shallow latch, or an inability to stay latched with frequent need to reattach throughout feeding.
POOR WEIGHT GAIN
After briefly feeding the infant will suck but not feed even when the mother has a sufficient milk supply.
BREAST PAIN DURING FEEDING
If the infant is not taking in enough breast tissue and/or unable to achieve effective suction he/she may use too much compression to extract the milk causing pain.
DISORGANIZATION IN SUCK/SWALLOW COORDINATION
This is apparent when an infant frequently needs to pull off to handle the flow of milk with frequent choking, coughing and/or noisy breathing.
EXCESSIVELY SLOW OR DISORGANIZED BREAST OR BOTTLE FEEDING
This is seen with the infant who will feed and typically fall asleep before the end of the feed and then within an hour require another feed.
DIFFICULTY TRANSFERRING FROM THE BREAST TO THE BOTTLE
This is observed with infants who have a shallow latch and/or who gag on pacifier and bottle. The infant will refuse to take the bottle or simply move the nipple around the mouth without extracting milk.
RESISTANT OR UNABLE TO DO TUMMY TIME
The muscles of the tongue and jaw are related to head and neck control. Infants struggling to feed and support their head and shoulders during tummy time may need facilitation.