Baby refusing breast

Hi all,

Apologies in advance for the long post.

DS (just turned 2 months) has always been a spilly baby but he has fallen into the "happy chucker" category - frequent spills but little apparant pain.

About ten days ago he got unwell with what we think was a sore throat as DH and myself had it. It progressed over the week to the point he was quite clogged up, having trouble breathing and spilling up mucous. During this time the volume of his spills have increased a lot, and he is getting acid reflux into his mouth which is causing obvious distress.

Last night, in his middle of the night feed, DS flat out refused to latch. He didn't latch and then decide he didn't want it, he just refused the breast full stop and just yelled and yelled. Despite being visibly hungry. Eventually, near exhaustion, he latched and drank.

This morning he had his feed as normal, and I took him to the doctor, who prescribed Gaviscon. He continued to feed ok during the day with no aversion to the breast.

However, I have just battled through his 7pm feed. As soon as I turned him sideways to offer the breast he recoiled and began to yell. Again, it took me ages to get him to latch - we was just pushing me away, or latching and immediately coming off. Eventually he drank for a bit. However, each time I offered the breast we went through the same process. It is like he is afraid of it!

I have a fast let down, which he has normally coped well with, but while being unwell he has not liked it very much. I think it may be because he is having a bit of trouble breathing. We are using saline drops for this.

I understand that reflux can cause pain during feeding, but what I don't understand is why he would refuse the breast BEFORE the feed has even started. Are we dealing with a reflux symptom, or could it be something else? It just isn't sitting right with me. He's starving, but really unhappy that I am trying to offer him food. I have tried almost every hold possible, but getting the same adverse reaction.

I am almost beside myself with worry. Aside from the reflux symptoms generally, there doesn't seem to be anything causing THIS. He had a thorough check over at the doctor's today and nothing was revealed.


Is it possible for babies to refuse the breast before the feed has even begun? What would cause this? Why would it happen, then be fine for several feeds and then happen again?

I am so lost and confused and feeling panicky about this.

Thanks Emma. I have posted over there too. I know I should start trawling through all the posts but I am just feeling exhausted.

I would understand that but I don't get why he would be ok for all the feeds inbetween.

Unless he is already sore and knows that feeding will make it worse?

And if that is the case - is there anything I can do to help him? And if not, is this going to be the end of our feeding or can we recover from this?

Like Emma said, association can be a big thing. The other thing is that Gaviscon does not treat the acid in the reflux, which is what causes him pain. Losec (omeprazole) and Ranitidine (from memory) do treat this, so that material that's reflux is not so acidic, thus doesn't cause so much pain.

I always had problems with Daniel refusing the breast in the evenings, just like you. We started him on omeprazole, initially 5mg in the morning which helped a bit, but it wasn't till we got onto 5mg twice a day, with the second one given at 5pm, that it made a real difference. We still have some bad days, and on those days I give him a bottle rather than keep pushing the BF - it's not worth the battle for me or him.

Is one breast making him more fussy than another - Daniel is really fussy on the right, but much better on the left