DD flailing about, yanking and pulling nipples...why? why? why?

[ElmMum]

For the past two days, DD (6 weeks old) has started behaving v strangely while feeding.

She seems to have forgotten how to suck properly. We haven't had a single good session, with her gulping and swallowing nicely.

Every time, she's sliding the nipple in and out of her mouth, rearing backwards, waving her hands around, and sometimes even crumpling into tears while on the boob.

I try holding her firmly, relatching her, switching to the other side etc.

Eventually, when it gets too much and the nipples feel too bashed, I take her off. Sometimes she will howl with rage, all red in the face, then a few minutes later she's all smiles and kicking her heels in her bouncy chair like it's all fine.

The other change, is that sometimes her poo is a bit greeny rather than yellow/brown, which makes me think all this flailing about means she's not getting enough.

Why would this happen now? Is it nipple confusion?? She has a very very occasional bottle of expressed milk, which she takes fine. But she's been doing that since week 2 without all these problems. Literally, maybe one feed a week is with a bottle. Surely this can't be enough to suddenly cause a problem now.

I am really considering giving up BF if this continues. Any advice??

[noonki]

Oh don't give up just yet ... I had the same with my son and it is so upsetting -

Ring the breastfeeding league there number is: 0870 444 8708 they gace me excellent advice

and the health visitor should too.

Mine sorted it out by going back to skin to skin - long cuddles both no clothes on -

no noise - and I tried to relax, and evebtually he fed, check your nipples are washed just with water - my friends little one hated soap, also try and taste a bit of your milk - if tastes a bit funny tell doctor - can happen if you have a cyst ( me again! umm pus milk!) Also check doesn't need winding, trapped wind can do that - try cycling her legs a bit

don't worry too much if she's getting enough - as long as she is still having wet nappies she won't be dehydrated and as long as she isn't screaming she isn't starving.
I mixed feed my from day 3 and had no bottle confusion. Green poo could just be down to what you've eaten -- which actually could be another

So try those first - but if it doesn't work out they reakon those first few weeks are the really important ones so you've done brilliantly, and don't you dare feel bad or I'll send my ridiculously healthly six foot four DH to sort you out!

good luck sweetheart

[ElmMum]

Thanks noonki. Last two feeds have been a bit of a struggle but I'm holding her very firmly to stop her rearing backwards and eventually she calms down. But not before a few tears have dripped down her cheeks! Poor little mite, she looks so sad!

Am going to a BF drop in clinic tomorrow morning to see what they say. Hopefully it's just a phase.

Really appreciate the encouragement x

[chihiro]

Hi ElmMum

I sometimes have the same problem with my DD - symptoms exactly as you describe - only for some reason she mostly does it at night feeds, seldom during the day.

HV suggested it could be positioning - as she doesn't do it when she is having a tandem feed with her twin bro so different holds could be worth trying. Also agree with noonki that wind could be part the problem - she often calms down the second I hold her upright.

Hope you get it sorted soon. Would love to hear if you get any more tips from the BF centre. I tried to go to our local baby cafe yesterday, but it is from 1-3pm and even though I started getting ready at 12, by the time I had both babies fed, changed, dressed and in the buggy it was 2.45pm!!! Never mind will try again next week.

[PortAndLemon]

It sounds rather like really bad wind, although that doesn't answer why she's getting it. Have you tried Infacol before feeds and/or gripe water afterwards? Plus cycling legs or just holding them up to her chest for a slow count of ten.

[noonki]

Hiya

Hope all went well at the breastfeeding clinic - sounds great- we don't have one of those... let us know how you are getting on x

[didoreth]

Hi, I am frequently getting this kind of behaviour with my ds (9 weeks old). I haven't really worked out what causes it, but he does seem to do it more when he is very tired. He seems to be generally calmer when I feed him lying down in bed. Have you tried long lie ins with lots of skin to skin? If your dd seems generally happy and healthy, with plenty of wet nappies, I'm sure she's getting enough milk - I've no worries about ds on that score.

[scrappydappydoo]

I second portandlemon - my dd does this sometimes and its usually trapped wind somewhere - sometimes it can be patted out other times its waiting game for a poo explosion! If she is faffing about I just take her off - cuddle her for a bit and try again. Maybe try different feeding positions until you get a good latch.

[Essie3]

DS did this, and I was worried. But yesterday, because it was so hot, I stripped him right down and was feeding him with just his nappy on. It was then I realised that he was doing big poos and farting whilst breastfeeding - during the flailing.

That's right, my DS doesn't leave the table to go to the toilet