My 3 month old has GERD, and has had a weak suck/latch for birth. I still have to use a nipple guard in order to nurse. When he was in the hospital (2nd time), a speech therapist came and evaluated him and said that he did have an unusually weak suck and latch, and that I needed to use a paci to help strengthen it. It is better now, but still not where it should be. Are reflux and weak suck related? Thanks,
Poe

Neither of my children would latch on and nurse efficiently, but they were also both premature. So .... I can't say one way or the other. Sorry!

My daugher never latched on. To the breast of to a bottle. She never wanted a pacifier either. Till this day she really doesn't close her mouth to eat purees. They said that she has a high palate and that could be a reason for her poor eating. She is now 14 months old and she still will not drink any liquids from a cup she has to get it from her g-tube.

That is great that your baby will eat with you using a shield.

It would be interesting to hear what the doctors have to say. Please keep us posted.

Thanks.

Ada

Parker always fussed at the breast, he would shake his head around and then latch on with fury like he had to soothe a sore throat and then a couple of seconds later would pull off as if in pain and then it would start again!

Like Gabriella, Evan has a high palate and didn't latch on well at all. Even though he was full-term, we had to use a preemie bottle and nipple with him for ages. He wouldn't take a pacifier either. He also has low muscle tone, including orally. In answer to your question, I don't know if it's common with refluxers, but it certainly was a huge issue here.

Wow...lots of common issues here. Matthew also has a high pallet and we've been struggling with his latch. And he refuses a pacifier and both my other kids loved their pacifiers...it actually was tougher weaning them from their binky than from the breast/bottle!! (but neither of them was a reflux baby).

I've had success with the football hold. If you haven't tried it, you may want to see if a lactation consultant can come to your home for an hour and help you. BM is a natural antacid so if you can foster your BF relationship, it's a great thing for a reflux baby.

Try a search for licensed LC's in your area and call a few...then the one that you like over the phone, have them come out.
I think the La Lechce League's web site has a directory.

We had one come out last week and she was actually the person who identified that Matthew is a reflux baby. It was such a relief in that I knew something was wrong, but had no idea.

Anyway, she helped me with how to support and hold him to get him to take a deep latch (his latch was shallow so he was getting foremilk, but little hindmilk). And b/c of her, we got him on Zantac which has made a world of difference.

Good luck,

Jacqui

Noah also had a weak suck and poor latch as a newborn. The lactation consultant and the OT that evaluated him for his nursing troubles had said that he also has a high palate. They suggested a paci too. Unfortunately for us, it didnt help. After 11 weeks of trying to nurse him, I had to give up because he wasnt actively nursing. He's 10.5 months old now, and I am still continuing to pump and give him breast milk via bottle. Too bad for us though, cause he hates the bottle too.

Owen only pulled away from the breast before he was on medicine. Now that his reflux is well controlled we have no problems with nursing.

We just found out yesterday (I will update more later - in Updates) that Emma has a high arched palate. That could explain some of her issues with nursing, early on. She took to a bottle well, however, and loves her pacifier (but only the Soothie brand which makes sense b/c it "fits" better in her mouth).

Emma's suck is very strong though. I just think she had trouble getting enough of my nipple in her mouth to get a good latch b/c of her high palate.

Hmmm, this is interesting!

I am not sure of the relation but it sounds like there sure could be!