When Feeding Support Changes Everything

Sometimes a feeding strike isn't about eating.

I relearned a valuable lesson recently. Always listen to what the baby is telling us.

Recently, I worked with a new family who found that after the mom returned to work, her 3-month-old suddenly refused all feedings unless directly from the breast. The parents had tried every bottle nipple they could find, but nothing worked. During an oral and feeding assessment, I discovered that the infant was dehydrated and had dropped three percentiles on the growth curve. The oral assessment revealed that the infant lacked specific tongue mobility, making it difficult to feed from a bottle.

A before-and-after feeding weight showed that the baby took in 6 ounces, confirming that the problem wasn’t with breastfeeding. The mom had plenty of milk. She was very concerned about how to continue working and be assured that her baby would eat and grow.

I taught the dad how to cup and syringe-feed so the baby could stay nourished and safe. I also recommended some exercises to increase mobility. This knowledge helped the dad feel more comfortable.

Then I suggested that Mom talk to her employer about the possibility of working remotely again, as she had near the end of her pregnancy. She realized how much her baby still needed closeness and regular access to feeding, and she found the courage to have that conversation. Together, we finished the HR paperwork, and soon after, she received permission to work remotely until her baby starts complementary feeding in three months.

Within one week of mom working remotely and directly breastfeeding her baby, the baby was back on the growth curve and fully hydrated. Dad was cup feeding once a day to help the baby learn skills and continuing with exercises to increase tongue mobility.

One small change — a baby back at the breast — became the catalyst for a more nurturing, sustainable rhythm for both mother and child. Sometimes, helping a baby through a feeding strike does more than restore growth — it restores balance for the entire family.

Every lactation consult isn’t just about milk. It’s about fostering connection, building confidence, and sometimes even sparking a workplace revolution