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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

why is he screaming at me?

12 replies

beela · 10/04/2011 17:36

DS is 6 months old and has been ebf with the introduction of some purees recently.

He has started crying at the start of a feed - by which I mean I offer him a boob, he cries (was not crying beforehand), then realises there is a boob there and latches on and feeds normally.

It sometimes takes a minute or so of upset from him but then he'll have a long feed, so he is hungry.

What am I doing wrong? Could it be teething related? Or has he gone off breastfeeding for some other reason? Sad

Any thoughts welcome...

OP posts:
Original poster
beela · 10/04/2011 17:49

I should add that today he screamed so much that I fed him a bottle of ebm and he drank all of it, got upset when it was finished but still refused to feed from me. Calmed down when dp took him for a walk round the garden.

Currently typing one-handed and pumping to stop boobs exploding. I feel like I am being a bad mother for trying to feed him Confused

Help?!

OP posts:
JiltedJohnsJulie · 10/04/2011 17:55

Really don't know sorry beela but have you had a look in his mouth for teetch coming through?

Original poster
beela · 10/04/2011 18:19

Yes, he is definitely teething, second tooth on its way, fist in mouth and drool everywhere.

Hopefully that is the problem, do you think it could be?

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cobweb1979 · 10/04/2011 18:44

No idea, but I feel your pain. Mine is only 8 weeks old but screams at every feed (reflux) :(

ewille · 10/04/2011 19:25

Hi Beela,
You poor thing. Your son isn't screaming at you, he's just feeling rotten and expecting his magic Mummy to help. This is frustrating when you don't know how. It really does sound like a teething thing, although I am no expert. My little girl (who is 10 months) gets really upset when teething and goes off things that she has previously loved. Its mostly food related and not boob related but when she doesn't eat things that I have lovingly slaved over that previously she has gobbled down I sometimes feel like I've got something wrong.

It sounds like you are doing everything right and its nice that you have your DP on hand to help calming him down as it is very upsetting. And I would feel awful if my daughter didn't want to feed from me. All I can think of is that sometimes their ears can hurt when teething and if their gums are sore too, it is more effort to take a boob than a bottle. Your son still loves his Mummy very much and I'm sure he'll start feeling better soon. You could try giving him some teething powder a few minutes before a feed. My Health Visitor said to me to not be afraid to keep dosing my daughter with Calpol (not exceeding the recommended dose) when she's poorly with teething as it does help.
Don't feel bad, you are a great Mummy and doing a wonderful job.
Liz xx

Paschaelina · 10/04/2011 19:43

Someone on MN suggested ibuprofen rather than calpol given about 15 mins before, teamed with teething stuff, would work, and she was right. It wasn't for every feed, just the evening one.

TruthSweet · 10/04/2011 20:38

You can also give a frozen face flannel/small muslin for baby to chew on (brand new flannel/muslin, washed with boiling water, then rinsed/dried and dampened with cooled boiled water, pop in plastic bag and freeze). It gives them something to chew on and cools their gums.

Or if that sounds like a bit of a faff teething gel (calgel/bonjela/own brand teething gel) rubbed on with a baby toothbrush works well too (you can give it to baby to do as well as they know better than us where it hurts).

debka · 10/04/2011 20:42

The sucking hurts their gums where they're teething apparently, think it's related to how you can't smoke when you've had a tooth out because the suction can dislodge the scabs (yuk). Bonjela before every feed?

Original poster
beela · 11/04/2011 09:47

Thank you ladies :)

We had a wakeful night but he fed ok, this morning it took a bit of persuasion. The teething does seem bad (damn those teeth!!) so I will dose him up on the calpol / ibuprofen / bonjela / frozen flannels and see if that helps.

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ewille · 11/04/2011 11:34

Hi Beela,

Have read Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Breastfeeding and one of the things she says could possibly be a problem in breast refusal is oral thrush. It sounds to me like it really is teething but check your LO's mouth for white patches on the tongue which are red underneath. Have you had antibiotics or a thrush infection yourself recently (you don't have to tell me!) as this could possibly be a reason? Its very easily treated so don't worry if it is. But I really think that your baby is teething.

JiltedJohnsJulie · 11/04/2011 17:53

Beela you could also try givig DS chunks of cucumber straight from the firdge to chew on. They are nice and cooling.

Original poster
beela · 12/04/2011 10:38

I think the tooth is cutting through right now as we speak, so hope that the problem will be sorted soon.

Will also get some cucumber in today's supermarket trip :)

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