2 week old screaming when I try to latch to nipple

[notsureifimbeingur]

Hello, I am looking for some advice.
I have a 2 week old DD, and she is usually very content, feeds brilliantly. However there have been a few times when she has been trying to feed, showing all the signs, but when I bring the nipple to her ( I am also using nipple shields due to suspected tongue tie) she screams and turns her head away. After a while of this she will randomly latch and feed no problem, but she is getting really distressed! What could be causing her to do this? I have tried changing her nappy, winding, offering other side/ positions, skin-to-skin to calm her, but after all of these things she went back to screaming again.
Thanks all

I have posted this elsewhere to try to get more help.

[notsureifimbeingur]

Anyone got any advice please?

[Oly5]

An element of this is normal. My 4 week old acts hungry but sometimes then doesn’t seem to want to feed before latching on and having a full feed. Don’t try for too long if she’s getting v distressed but if it’s just a minute of confusion I wouldn’t worry.
Are the nipple shields new? Might she also not like them?

[littletwofeet]

Fussiness like this is quite common. It sounds like you’re doing all the right things, skin to skin, swapping sides, etc.

Have you noticed a pattern of when she does this?
I used to find mine did this when overtired or very hungry.

When I knew they wanted to feed, I just had to persevere so just kept patting and rocking while trying to get them on. Sometimes I had to stand and rock to get latched.
I used to find if I tried too many things (so swapping sides too much/winding,etc) that it just got worse and worse. I had to just ‘fight’ them on then they would be ok.

All babies are different though so some do better having a nappy change/swapping sides, etc.

Have you thought of craino osteopathy? Can work wonders for a fussy baby.

Are you getting the tounge tie seen to?

[notsureifimbeingur]

Thank you for your replies, I did wonder if it was over tired/over hungry.

It seems to only be in the night she does this.

Nipple shields have been since she was about 5 days old, as with the suspected tongue tie she want seem to latch onto my nipples without them.

We have an appointment on a weeks time to get the tongue tie looked at.

Seems like I will just persevere then and hope for a good night tonight!

[littletwofeet]

Is she cluster feeding in the evening? I used to find if I could keep on me and feed all evening, they were easier to settle when I went to bed.

Also, if you’re not already, co-sleeping (obviously look up safe guidelines) and feeding lying down really helped me. I found mine only stirred, latched on and went straight back to sleep without really waking so never got to the over hungry/overtired phase during the night. Not sure if it would work with the nipple shields though.

Good luck for tonight

[notsureifimbeingur]

Yes she pretty much feeds all evening! That’s why I did wonder if she could possibly be over hungry, as she was feeding constantly!
I wondered if she was having an active phase and I was trying to put her to sleep, and this might have been why she was upset?

Yes I do feed lying down at nights, and this was the position she screamed in. But f I lifted her up to where I was in a sitting position, she fed for a bit then screamed again.

[littletwofeet]

Cluster feeding is completely normal in the evening. It can be hard when they feed constantly though. If she’s got tounge tie too her milk transfer probably isn’t as effective so that may be making her feed even more. Hopefully, once you get the tt sorted, you will see a difference.

It sounds like you’re doing everything right. Often when they scream it can be a bit of a guessing game.

Oh and I sometimes used to squeeze a bit of milk out if they were crying too much to latch on, sometimes that worked.

[Wolfiefan]

Has anyone checked your latch? You say baby is latching on your nipple but that shouldn't actually be all baby takes in their mouth.

[notsureifimbeingur]

No they haven’t checked, but after our tongue tie appmnt we are getting to meet with nursing specialists to help us feed, so will get healed then.
She is taking the nipple of the nipple shield into her mouth but not sure if more of my breast is going in?

She is putting on lots of weight so I think she is feeding well, but could perhaps be better when the tongue tie gets sorted.

Thanks for all your replies.

[musicalmama]

My DS did this when he just wanted to suck but wasn't hungry. He wanted a comfort to fall asleep but would scream at my boob because it was producing milk! Wouldn't take a dummy at this stage (and I think the recommendation is much later than 2 weeks for bf anyway) but this eventually solved our problem at about 11 weeks he started taking a dummy. We bf for 7 months. Not sure if that's helpful but you're not alone!

[Pop24]

I have no answer for you but my dd went through a stage of doing this too. Never did work it out but I put it down to tiredness or wind and we had to put her in the carrier and jig her around until she dropped off. We roughed it out and it stopped and got much easier after 12 weeks. If she’s putting on weight then I really wouldn’t worry. My friend fed perfectly with a shield until 11 months (still feeding at 2.5 but w/o shield) so I wouldn’t worry about that either. Sounds like you’re doing a brilliant job.