There are situations in which breastfed babies will show disturbances in the feeding process that can cause breastfeeding to end early. To avoid these problems, the role of breastfeeding counsellors and paediatricians is becoming more and more important in assessing and checking for warning signs during feeds.
Assessing the feed:
Breastfeeding professionals should first assess the baby’s oral structures and any situations that could make sucking unsafe or ineffective. These problems can arise at different stages of the feed and give clues to work out what difficulties are occurring.
Assessing sucking:
When sucking is altered or compensated, you may hear clicking sounds from the tongue, difficulty forming a seal with the lips, etc. That is why it is very important for the breastfeeding counsellor to assess what problems the baby may have when latching on to the breast.
Assessing swallowing:
During swallowing, it can be common to see coughing after feeding, choking or regurgitation. We should also take into account the baby’s behaviour during the feed: do they pause? Do they burst into tears? Do they stare while feeding? And so on.
We should also consider whether the newborn skips feeds or sleeps through the night. Babies need to feed every few hours to gain enough weight and thrive. If your baby misses feeds, you will need to wake them and encourage them to breastfeed.
Breathing pattern:
On the other hand, it is essential to check for problems such as refusing to suck, unusual behaviour, hypertension of the limbs or the baby arching their head back. All of these can be signs that feeds are not effective enough.
Of course, if at two weeks of age the baby is below the weight they were born at, or has not started to gain weight, it is a sign that they are not getting enough food and may point to problems with breastfeeding. In these situations, it is advisable to see the paediatrician for more personalised guidance.
On the other hand, warning signs during feeds always have to come from the baby. On many occasions there are problems with the breasts that can make effective breastfeeding difficult, for example breast engorgement, pain that makes it impossible to keep breastfeeding, etc. In these cases, seeking help is essential to make sure breastfeeding is a comfortable process for both mother and baby.