b'ASK A COUNSELLORAsk a counsellorWORDS // BELINDA CHAMBERSBreastfeeding andthe festive seasonQ: My baby doesnt seem to want to feed after the busy Christmas/Festive period? What can I do?A: Spending the Christmas and New Year holiday period withIf your baby is refusing to breastfeed, there are some family and friends can be a lot of fun, although often a littlestrategies to help. Relaxing together with lots of skin-to-skin exhausting, particularly as a parent. There is so much joyin bed or a bath/shower can encourage a child back to the sharing these celebrations with the littlest people in our livesbreast. Trying to feed while walking or standing can be really too! good at getting a child to attach. Its awkward but there is One common call we receive to the National Breastfeedingsome magic in walking and getting a child back onto the Helpline at this time of year is concerns over babies andbreast.children not being interested in feeding or refusing to feed. This can be very stressful to parents. Lets go through some of the reasons why this could happen and some suggestions to helpRelaxing together with lots your child return to the breast.Through missing their usual pattern of breastfeeds, yourof skin-to-skin in bed or a child may get quickly used to a reduced number of feeds, particularly if he/she is on family foods/solid foods. This couldbath/shower can encourage be due to:Your child may be passed between relatives and friends anda child back to the breast. their feeding cues may be missed. Well-meaning people may also try to settle a fussing baby by rocking or cuddling your child to give you a break or just enjoy that special moment of getting a baby to sleep in their arms. It may take some time and patience to get your child With all the fun and excitement of people and new situations,to breastfeed again. In the meantime, look after yourself sights and smells your child may be distracted. by expressing by hand or a pump to keep up your supply Extra trips in the car, particularly long ones, may settle yourand keep your breasts regularly drained. Getting blocked child for extra sleeps. ducts or mastitis, on top of being worried about your child, If they are taking family foods your child may be given extrais something you dont need right now! Offering your child food or drinks, either by yourself or others and get too full toexpressed milk will also help give them the hydration and need a breastfeed. nutrition they need.Through being busy running around or the distraction of aWe have a great list of more tips and strategies and gathering you can just forget to feed your child. Strange, butother information in our website information article: very true! aba.asn.au/breastrefusal All these reasons are very common and understandable.Or our in-depth booklet Breastfeeding: when These situations can be prevented sometimes by beingyour baby refuses the breast from our online shop: aware of what can happen and thinking about ways toshop.breastfeeding.asn.auovercome them beforehand. A couple of tools for managingAny time you are in a stressful situation with breastfeeding this time: or have questions about something unusual happening, Wearing your child in a baby carrier or sling at functions toplease know that the Australian Breastfeeding Association keep them close to you. is here to support you. Call us any time day or night on the Setting an alarm or timer on your phone or smart watch toNational Breastfeeding Helpline (1800 686 268) or contact go and check how your child is going. us via LiveChat at breastfeeding.asn.au (8 pm10 pm Taking your child into a quiet room away from distractionsweekdays AEDST). Or why dont you come visit us at one of our to offer a breastfeed. local support group catch-ups? Find one closest to you at: Making regular stops in the car on a long trip to offer abreastfeeding.asn.au/contacts/groupsbreastfeed.December 2019Australian Breastfeeding Association | Essence |29'