Question
A parent reported that their 4-month-old baby recently refuses to directly suckle at the breast, but is able to consume 150 milliliters of breast milk at one time when it is expressed and fed with a bottle.
Answer
Dear Parent, first and foremost, it is important to determine if your baby is consuming any other foods besides breast milk? Are the mother’s dietary habits affecting the baby’s bowel movements? If the mother’s body type is overly hot, it may lead to hard stools in the baby, which can cause bleeding after defecation. Additionally, if the baby has an increased frequency of loose stools, this may be related to the mother’s diet. If the baby primarily feeds on breast milk, it is recommended that the mother take moderate amounts of cooling and nourishing traditional Chinese medicine or tonics, which can significantly benefit the baby’s health.