Distressed baby pulling off breast

[bdoing]

Hi - I am exclusively bfg twins, now ten weeks old. We have thrush - oh joy of joys. Being treated now for ten days, still not quite resolved.

Anyway, my daughter - until recently a very easy baby to feed - has become extremely fussy at the breast (this started before we started being treated). She is pulling off randomly, crying/screaming inconsolably - some days at every feed, other days only some. Sometimes it is from the beginning of the feed, other times part way through. Sometimes I can calm her and get her back on and she'll feed ok. She burps fairly well but rarely vomits. It's been suggested it could be that the thrush is affecting the taste of the milk, but I have expressed and given her the milk immediately via a bottle, and she has been completely calm. (The last feed of the day is a bottle of EBM and she is always fine with taking it albeit a bit unenthusiastic). Her mouth is clear of thrush sores, so I don't think it is pain. No problems with supply, let down eetc. She is more or less herself in between feeds, possibly sleeping a bit more and a bit more grizzly, but not badly. I reckon it has been going on for too long to be a growth spurt. Baby boy is fine.

Any ideas on what to do or what could be causing it?

Thanks a million.

[goldenpeach]

Download this leaflet (copy and paste in browser)

www.biologicalnurturing.com/pdfs/Poster%20for%20web%20site-locked.pdf

I'm a breastfeeding helper and this position has solved many problems, including the fussy baby one... Worth a try.

[goldenpeach]

If you have any concern, of course you need to consult health professionals. A good site for breastfeeding info is kellymom, which is evidence based.

[bdoing]

Thanks Goldenpeach. Anyone else out there with any ideas? Thanks

[goingnowherefast]

Hi bdoing

I'm not on for long tonight but thought I could maybe help as I'm a peer supporter, and also I experienced almost exactly the same with my little girl.

Firstly, you are doing a wonderful job exclusively bfing twins! I had this problem and we were never 100% sure what was causing it. It was worse on one side than the other, and I think I had fast milk flow as she used to cough sometimes on the milk - is your daughter doing this? If you think it is this, some suggestions you might want to try include lying back to feed, almost feeding "uphill"- to help slow the flow. The biological nurturing positions as suggested by goldenpeach could really help as well.

We also wondered if it was thrush causing it for my daughter as I did have thrush, but what eventually helped was treating it as a "nursing strike" - lots of info on this on kellymom - lots of skin to skin, offer the breast when relaxed and calm.

Another thing that helped with DD was seeing a cranial osteopath. If you want more information on this I can provide some.

I hope some of this helps. Good luck and let us know how you get on.

[cece]

could she have reflux

[goldenpeach]

I second Kelly Mom, subject here

www.picosearch.com/cgi-bin/ts.pl

[goldenpeach]

Sorry, wrong link, here

www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/baby/fussy-while-nursing.html

[bdoing]

Hello - quick note to say thanks to everyone...the info has helped, situation not fully resolved, but getting better. I reckon it has been several issues (fast flow, medication, etc). Thanks - ps kellymom is great.