16wk breastfeeding changes

[Sheff82]

My 16wk old has reduced the amount of time she feeds for - it now between 10-15 mins max, then she starts wrestling and crying until I take her off. She may then go back say 5 mins later for another 5 min max feed. She previously fed for 25 mins plus and there was never any wrestling, crying etc. In the night she feeds for a bit longer and generally without the crying. She is still doing dirty nappies. The thing that is worrying me is the crying and screaming, it's like she is frustrated but then doesn't want to keep feeding, and she has never done it before. It's very unlike her. Has anyone else experienced this? She's goes 4 hrs between feeds and had been going 7 hrs in the night but now it's 5 hrs. Thanks.

[Plantpot83]

My DD, 25 weeks, started doing this at around four months. Lost interest in food in the day, only had 5 min feeds and if there was any noise in the room she'd whip her head around towards it! I put it down to this
kellymom.com/ages/older-infant/distractible-baby/

She had long feeds in a dark room in the evening and cluster fed in the early morning, so I think that she made up her food intake then. I just offered her the breast very frequently in the day so that she didn't end up feeding all night (she's not a great sleeper anyway) not sure if it made much difference though! Daytime feeds seem to be getting a bit better now.

However my DD didn't cry or seem frustrated she just wanted to see what was going on so might be slightly different reason for your DD.

[Coconut0il]

I think after about 3 months babies become much more efficient at feeding and can be done in 5 mins. DS would feed for 5 minutes every 3ish hours when previously he had taken a lot longer and needed feeding more frequently. He's 6 months now and is done in 5 to 10 minutes. Only the last feed before bed is longer.
Maybe your DD is full after the 10 minutes and is getting frustrated because she doesn't want anymore? I read that babies will automatically latch on if they are near the breast even if they are not hungry.
I would just stop the feed when the fussing starts, if she's having dirty nappies I would say she has just got more efficient at feeding.

[Sheff82]

Thanks for the replies and the link to the article. Well she seems to be back feeding like normal now so I'm not sure what it was all about! I have left her a bit longer between the feeds so maybe I was trying to feed her when she wasn't quite ready.