Advice really appreciated on bfing a 4month old...

[kmummy]

My baby boy isnt feeding well over the past week. His morning feed he takes well but from then hes awful! Im finding it hard to get a feed of 10minutes as he does a few sucks unlatches chats and smiles, back on suck suck, then off again for chats and smiles. Im seriously worrying about the volume of milk getting into him as the day goes on hes obviously hungry, he latches on sucks for a few minutes moaning and crying then breaks off...its getting to the point where he cries as soon as i lie him on the feeding pillow

I feel like hes rejecting the breast and dont know what to do as he happily wolf down a bottle of ebm no problems, i so dont want to give up breast feeding, but im not sure what to do? Do i start him on formula or wean early as theres no guarantee even if i wean him onto baby rice hel still breastfeed...im utterly clueless atm....hes pooing every 4days and has a nice wet nappy after the morning feed but they get alot lighter as the day goes on - help!

[theyoungvisiter]

They just get much more lively and chatty and distractible at this stage! Also much more efficient at feeding so a 10 min feed may be sufficient. Both of my babies went through phases like this.

I wouldn't worry at all - just offer frequently, and perhaps try to feed in a quiet place if you feel the distraction is not helping.

Maybe ease up on the EBM and just have a few days total bf if that's feasible?

[babyOcho]

Try feeding in a boring room with the curtains drawn. He's probably a lot more aware of what's going on around him and getting distracted.

As theyoungvisiter they get more efficient with the feeding as well.

If you are worried about the bottle, try using a doidy cup with EBM rather than a bottle.

Good luck.

[Dominique07]

Try giving him a good break from feeding (3 hours) and go back to BF, give yourself 30 mins with a magazine, glass of water etc to feed him. Try giving him space between feeds when he is really distracted to build up a hunger for a good decent feed. I know it gets hard, you worry that they're not getting enough but if you're offering the breast milk regularly and baby gets a few mouthfuls it should be enough.

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

As TYV says, there are 2 things at this age. More aware of surroundings etc so everything is a distraction, and also they feed more efficiently so are getting more milk in a shorter time. I found that feeding lying down on the bed was a help, I also started using a nursing necklace around this time to help keep DS focused on me.
4 months can often be the time for a growth spurt as well so I would suggest dropping the bottles of EBM and just putting him to the breast whenever he wants it to ensure that your supply builds as he needs it too.

Hang on in there, you are doing really well. 4 months is a hard patch but stick with it. I wouldn't early wean, he still only needs your milk at this stage.

[LackaDAISYcal]

If he's used to ebm in a bottle, he may be getting frustrated that he isn't getting the instant gratification when he is at the breast. Your supply is pretty well established now as well, and the engorgement ets of the early days will be mostly gone which might be frustrating him as well, if he has to work to get milk where before it was bursting out of you. I remember starting a thread on here at about the same age with my DD wailing that I'd lost my letdown.....it was still there; I just wasn't feeling it any more.

AS tyv said, they get a lot more distractible at this age as well. could you take to bed for the day tomorrow and have a bit of a babymoon, letting him feed as often as he needs? It's a great way of reconnecting with your baby and often will help iron out any small issues you are having.

Another consideration is whether he might have some earache as a result of a viral thing or from teething which would explain why he isn't happy about laying back on the pillow. Maybe a more upright feeding position would help?

Also, how's his weight? If he is gaining at the same rate as before, then it's entirely likely he's getting enough.

there's some good advice on kellymom regarding fussy feeding.

[LackaDAISYcal]

Oh and the four month growth spurt is a bit of a killer.....if he is in the middle of that, it's like having a newborn all over again.

babymooning will be a good way of ensuring your supply keeps up with his demands.

hang in there; it'll pass

[LackaDAISYcal]

me again

sorry, but it's all coming back to me.....if it's teething, try rubbing gums with bonjela before feeding or giving a teething powder. I used Nelson's homeopathic chamomilia granules which seemed to help immensely. I'd rub them on DD's gums before a feed.

[theyoungvisiter]

sometimes teething can throw them a bit as well - some babies just seem to feed right through it regardless and others are really bothered.

[theyoungvisiter]

x-posted with lackadaisycal - great minds an all...

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

God I'd forgotten about teething - DS used to sort of rub his gums on my nipples, which wasn't painful at all!!! It did make him very fussy at the breast, the breaking off and crying could be that.
The other thing to consider is whether he might have a bit of thrush in his mouth which could make it sore to feed. Can you see any white areas on his tongue or insides of his cheeks?

[babyOcho]

What size teats are you using on the bottles? You should keep to the newborn size (1 i think).

[kmummy]

Thank you ladies for all your replies

Today has been the worst yet, ive finally got him to settle but he has just cried for an hour and hes obviously starving. He took his 5am feed fine, 9am feed fine, fed again at 10am fine, hungry again at 11.20 but he just broke his heart at the breast. Hed calm down as soon as i sat him up but would suck and search for food then as soon as i go to feed him he was hysterical again Im at a loss on what to do, he sucks for a few moments then screams and crys. Ive looked for thrush and theres no signs in his mouth. I hadnt thought of teething but then wouldnt all feeds bother him? My boobs feel so empty, i just feel like im starving the poor thing The only time he feeds well is the first part of the morning, my boobs feel slightly heavy then but after that they feel totally normal, is he trying to self wean? Do i just give in and admit defeate? I have two other lo's so i cant do the babymoon, have been feeding him upstairs lying side by side, he used to love this, but he really isnt having any of it I havent had him weighed were doing that on weds, he was 13lb 10oz at 15weeks, hel be 18weeks on thursday.

[mears]

kmummy - sounds as though he may have earache when he lies down. That can be as a result of teething or ear infection. Try giving him some calpol before next feeding him and also try changing position. I saw that you mentioned a feeding pillow in your last post. That could restrict his position now. Could you try feeding without the pillow and keeping him more upright? Your milk will not just disappear - it is still there.

[LackaDAISYcal]

how are things kmummy? have you tried the calpol to see if it made a difference?

your milk is still there, as mears says, so try not to worry on that score. things do settle down by around this time and you are more settled into a true demand and supply systen, so your boobs don't get as heavy and engorged as they did in the early days.
I would get him to the doctors tomorrow if you can, just to rule out any underlying infection or any nasty viral things, as there is a horrible throat infection doing the rounds here at the minute.

[kmummy]

Ive given him some calpol and its definatly calmed him down. He did have a cold and sore throat over a week ago but this didnt affect his feeding at all, but i think youre right and he may have a bit of ear ache triggered off by this? Hes only wanting to snack and doze but im fine with that, as long as he getting something im happy, i can handle that, the screaming at the breast was worrying me more Im going to get him into the doctors tomorrow so they can give him a MOT as the days going on he isnt himself so maybe he is coming down with something - thank you all for your kind advice, it really has helped put me at ease xx

[LackaDAISYcal]

that's good news that calpol kelped kmummy , but for him if he has sore ears.

Keep us posted after you've seen the doc won't you

[mears]

Sounds more likely this is an ear problem following his cold. It will most likely resolve itself but best to get him checked out. Let us know how you get on.

[IsItMeOr]

Hi kmummy, your DS is almost exactly same age as mine. That crying at the breast is very distressing isn't it? I hope nothing is seriously wrong with your DS, and that the GP is able to put your mind at rest.

I feed my DS in a very upright position, as he had major digestion probs early on. I sit him next to me on the sofa, with him facing me/back of sofa and, because I have such a short body, he is able to lean in and feed very happily. For other people (with longer bodies!) sitting the baby upright on their knee seems to work well.

I think the more upright positions help with focus as he is much less likely to drift off to sleep, plus helps the food go down, and he is able to just lean back when he has had enough, so we don't get into a wrestling match.

HTH.

[Builde]

It sounds like your four month year old is just growing up in a natural way.

At four months they can feed very efficiently. Plus, you are so efficient that your breasts will never feel full even though they are providing lots of milk.