8.5 week old baby fussing at breast, not taking much.

[FlossALump]

She has had a double whammy this week of a cold and her first lot of vaccinations. The cold seems to be gone and the vacs were on tues. However she has only really had two good feeds in the past 30 hrs. Doesn't seem hugely blocked up, no more so than tuesday certainly. No fever from vacs. Still smiling on occaision, not sleeping well during the day but still sleeping at night. Have tried different postions, not much improvement. She is routing for the breast and latches on then gets upset and pulls away, almost as though she hates the taste. No new food or drink had in the past few days. Is anyone out there any the wiser as to what is happening? I have an unhappy little dd!

[glaskham]

it should just be a phase, if she's sleeping well at night she should still be fine....if nights are disturbed then you know you have a real problem.....when she does feed is it a big one- to make up for the ones she's missing..... and in-between feeds does she take a dummy at all?....she could be having a growth spurt which some babies drink lots but your dd sounds just like my ds was when he had his....fussing, not settling, i'm sure the cold and jabs haven't helped her, i'd give it a few days but if you get worried at all just phone your health visitor and they will come and look at her and will be able to give you advise or help!!

[FlossALump]

no no dummy - she has occasionally had one but today not interested. at times she will feed for a few minutes then becomes distressed again - most of the time latches on an pulls off immediately. she had a good sleep this pm and hoped it might help but have spent the past hour nearly going through it all again, currently in my arms sucking furiously on her fist.

[Davidsmom]

Hi,

Sorry to hear about your probs it is really difficult when they get upset eating whatever the cause. I have similar probs with DS- turns out he has reflux but I had to get other things checked out first e.g. GP to check out ears/throat as he had also just had a cold. Sore throat or blocked ears can= pain+ can= feeding probs.

I called the NCT breastfeeding helpline who were really good at going through possibilities. 0870 444 8708

All the best

[hunkermunker]

What's your letdown like, Floss? Does your milk spray?

[VeniVidiVickiQV]

I would imagine if she's not fed well within the last 24 hours your let down would be quite fierce.

Have you been expressing?

[FlossALump]

Letdown has been more so like you say in the past day! But I'm not engorged at all, comfortable. Haven't expressed as felt a bit unsure about it right now, previously had been expressing 60mls odd a day. Sorry I buggered off last night! She woke again, and had a good sleepy feed, one more at bedtime, and one early this morning. Sleepy feeds were better than waking ones though iyswim so I will see how things go today! She also took a dummy last night and fell asleep with that. So maybe some of it is to do with comfort sucking? Ah I don't know. the more I think about these things the more confused I become!! Thank you all. I'll update later on!!

[FlossALump]

last feed more of the same. I don't get it!

[VeniVidiVickiQV]

Maybe try feeding her little and often for the time being. Let down is less fierce when there is less space between feeds.

And sometimes, for no apparent reason - they can do this.....They are funny buggers

You sound like you are doing really well though Floss.

[FlossALump]

thank you! She has always been a hungry baby, but being so big we had a lot to keep up with! She's stayed on or just above her 98th centile line all along so far... Heard the nursery nurse telling another mum who's 3/4 month old baby's weight had tailed off slightly to give a formula feed each day. I can't help wondering whether a nursery nurse is qualified to advice on breast/bottle feeding?

[FlossALump]

Oh, and am now wondering if it may be more to do with colick - today we had classic bike cycling legs and painful cries. Ah I don't really know!!

[VeniVidiVickiQV]

No, I wouldnt have thought she was qualified.

i dont know about colic - you could try regular stops to sit her up and wind her - especially if your let down is quite fast.

[FlossALump]

She seems to get in between feeds iyswim. I'm terrible though, every cry I think is a hungry cry. I've always found it hard to distinguich between cries.

[VeniVidiVickiQV]

No - i couldnt either much with DS.

Although, it usually is a hunger cry at that age. There is only tired, hungry, windy or dirty at that age

[FlossALump]

You make it sound so simple! She is a woman don't you know? And of course, anything but!