What constitutes an infant feeding problem?

Kellie Eason RN, RM, IBCLC

Kellie has had over 20 years supporting families as a Nurse, Midwife and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant.  She has a special interest and experience in Infant Myofunctional Therapy and supporting families involved in complex infant feeding issues.  She runs private practices in Essendon & Preston Victoria, Australia

Imagine sitting at the dinner table, simply eating and enjoying your meal...finishing your meal and then getting on with the rest of your day.....

Now visualise this...

• Sitting at the dinner table comfortably is an issue
• You have to hold your breath in order to swallow
• Swallowing is scary because you feel the true fear of choking
• You look at your meal and it automatically reminds you of pain
• You are ravenous, yet fall asleep easily because it is such a huge effort to eat

Let us take this a step further and add some depth to this...
These eating difficulties have been going on for so long, that you start becoming hyper vigilant, irritable and then agitated, really easily
You can't sleep, because you are so wound up that you are unable to relax
The one you rely on for comfort is trying all they can, but they are starting to emotionally crumble as they feel inept

What does an infant feeding difficulty look like?

• Baby is irritable or uncomfortable during or after feeds
• Baby's suck feels weaker than a breast pump
• A nipple shield needs to be worn to keep baby latched
• Baby keeps slipping off the breast or bobbing his/her head to feed
• Blocked ducts recur as baby is unable to drain the breast
• Coughing, gagging, choking during feeds
• Nipple or teat glides in & out of baby's mouth
• Baby falls asleep easily and needs to be prompted to continue feeding
• 'Clamping/biting/sandpaper rubbing' sensation on the nipple
• Nipple compressed or shaped like a lipstick after feeds
• Nipple damage
• Recurrent mastitis, thrush
• Mum reluctant to breastfeed because it has been hurting too much
• Baby unable to open mouth wide enough to fit a small apricot
• Projectile vomiting and infant distress after feeds
• Bottle teat gets compressed causing a loss of suction on the bottle
• Baby takes longer than 40 minutes to feed
• Baby unable to settle for at least 2 hours after feeds
• Baby's fist does not relax after feeds
• Sad baby, gets upset easily
• Breastfed infant needs extra breastmilk or formula to sustain growth
• Insufficient milk supply

Research indicates that early infant feeding difficulties are possible markers for ongoing developmental issues of which outcomes can be improved with early intervention.

Considering this, it is imperative that early infant feeding issues are addressed by someone suitability qualified in supporting infant feeding issues such as an IBCLC, Infant Feeding Therapist, Infant Speech Pathologist or Oral Myofunctional Therapist