Breast feeding

my child was diagnosed with a heart murmur he is only 7 days old... will that affect his feeding schedule any? is that why he is so fussy during feedings sometimes, or won't latch on for a good 5-10 minutes?

sincerely, a concerned mother

[KatMay]

I do not know if a heart murmur can affect the eating schedule, but I do know mine did not have a heart problem and they did the same things you are describing when I nursed them.   Congrats on your new bundle and I wish you the best.

Kay,

http://www.mothersmilk.ws/?hop=jumpmom2

[filbert143]

Was your baby by any chance delivered early?  Heart murmurs are actually quite common in newborns and most often they fix themselves.  My dd had one at birth and she's fine now.  The only affect that I've heard of them having on feeding is that they will feed more often and gain a little less weight - primarily because their bodies are working harder to compensate for the heart murmur.  It shouldn't affect latching on - that's just an issue with any breastfeeding baby until the mom and baby figure it out :)

Good luck!

[AnnieBrooke]

Talk to a lactation specialist about the latching on.  They should be able to help you a lot.  I don't think it has anything to do with the heart murmur.

[AndiJ78]

My first was born with a  VSD and has a residual heart murmur, my second also has a murmur and I imagine in short order they will notice on in my third. The VSD closed in its own with my first and the murmurs have been ruled "innocent" all have nursed well. My husband has a heart condition and our boys are likely affected by genetics.

I agree with the others, get together with a lactation consultant about the latching issues. They are most likely not related to the heart issue.