Signs of difficulty when feeding

Stress signs to look out for

Your baby may be having trouble feeding if you notice they are:

• losing a lot of milk at the corners of their mouth
• spreading their hands or waving their arms and legs 
• getting irritable and pulling away from the teat or nipple
• holding their breath
• making frequent gulping noises
• holding milk in their mouth
• breathing faster and irregularly
• losing the latch on the teat or nipple.

Signs of aspiration

Aspiration means food or liquid enters the lungs instead of the stomach.

Let your nursing team know if you notice any of the following signs during or immediately after a feed:

• coughing or spluttering
• wet or gurgly voice after swallowing
• tear-filled eyes
• wet or noisy breathing
• choking
• changes in heart rate (very low or high)
• changes in oxygen levels [what does this mean?]
• changes of skin colour (pale, blue or mottled).

If you see stress signs during feeding, speak to your neonatal nursing team.     
If you see signs of aspiration, talk to your speech and language therapist.