Please help - baby feeding for 5 mins, then crying and refusing more

[Vinividivino]

Our DD is 13 weeks old and over the last few days, she has become really upset when feeding. She latches on fine, feeds happily for about 5 mins and then pulls off, starts crying and refuses to go back on. I've tried everything I can think of and the midwife's suggestions (ie putting her down and then trying again, winding her thoroughly etc) but am getting really worried that she is going to start to get malnourished. My flow is quite fast to begin with - could this be the problem, do you think? Is there any chance that she is actually getting enough from those first five mins and I shouldn't try to make her take more? Lots of wet and dirty nappies (although a few green ones) and she has been putting weight ok.

I have been expressing milk and giving her a bottle as well as breastfeeding since birth and DD seems to have the same reaction with a bottle too so I don't think it's purely a breastfeeding problem.

I'd really appreciate any ideas or advice as I am getting really worried about her. Thank you very much.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Have you checked her gums? Know its a bit early but do you think she could be teething?

As for the fast flow, have a read of this, does it sound like what is happening?

Are there any Bfng Counsellors near to you that you could phone or have you tried one of the helplines Vinividivino?

[Vinividivino]

Thank you v much Jilted. Yes many of the symptoms in that link are happening to us. I will definitely try the suggestions. You could be right about teething too which would explain why she also doesn't like the bottle. Perfect storm, huh?!

[Mampig]

My ds same age. He is teething and does this- some days are worse than others. I put teething gel on him between feeds and it helps. My first ds cut his first tooth at 15 weeks so I know from him that although early- it's possible!

[tiktok]

Many older babies only need a short time on the breast. They cry when they are put back on - and get upset at repeated attempts.

No need to insist if she is thriving :)

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Must admit, my DD only ever fed for 10 minutes and I didn't have a particurlarly fast let down.

[KD0706]

My DD (other than evening cluster feeds) used to just take a five minute feed at a time. Actually to be honest it may have only been three minutes on some occasions. And she only took one breast.

Once she was a good bit older, maybe 10 months plus, she would sometimes have a longer sleepy feed.

She seemed to thrive on it. The only problem was that she would take her quick shot on one boob then generally 2-2.5 hours later would want fed again. I didn't mind this but my (otherwise lovely and supportive) mil was adamant DD should feed ten mins from each side every four hours and that I should extend times between feeds by ensuring dd took both sides. Dd did NOT want both sides and on the few occasions I tried to ram the other nipple in her mouth she made that very clear.

I also had a fast flow.

Don't know if any of that is helpful, but you're not alone and the duration of feeds of itself is nothing to worry about IMO.

[catkin19]

my ten wk does the same thing, but she has been doing this since she was about 3 wks old. I figured out when she does this, she has got wind, or needs to burp. Today I started feeding her (bf) and my let down was quite fast she guzzled hungrily at 5 to 2 by two she was fussing, crying it took her till 3pm to pass wind then finally finish her much awaited feed which again was only a few mins before she fussed again. Then another rub on back for a few mins then a happy gurgly smiley baby on the breast content to feed for another five minutes. Exhausting and worrying I know but you are doing the correct thing by offering her the breast when she is hungry. 5 mins on breastmilk is not enough to get the protein rich foremilk which comes in round about 6 - 7 mins or the fat hindmilk at 8-10 mins , according to tracy hogg author of the baby whisperer book. ( good book to have actually) Thus what I tend to do is to keep offering the same breast at the next feed to ensure she is getting all the nutrient rich stuff if I think she has not eaten enough at previous feed. I also put her on a routine so I know at least three hours have passed between feeds to ensure that she is hungry.

Try not to worry too much if she looks happy and healthy and gaining weight I would not worry about the time she feeds either, she may be a very efficient feeder . i read that babies should feed for thirty to forty mins sometimes ect but mine doesn't and hv very happy with the gain of weight.

[tiktok]

catkin, you say "5 mins on breastmilk is not enough to get the protein rich foremilk which comes in round about 6 - 7 mins or the fat hindmilk at 8-10 mins , according to tracy hogg author of the baby whisperer book. ( good book to have actually) "

Tracey Hogg got this totally wrong and she does not understand at all about how bf works, sorry :(

There is no such thing as 'protein rich foremilk' and 'hindmilk' is not sometjing that sits there for 8-10 mins.....it's a common misunderstanding, I know.

Kellymom.com has some good explanations of how this works - far, far better than Tracey Hogg :(