Why does my baby sometimes get anxious during feeds?

[UntamedShrew]

She is 8 weeks old and breasted but with one dream feed of expressed milk. The last few nights she's worked herself up into such a state over that bottle that I've woken up & after much shushing and cuddling, breadtfed her. I thought it was bottle refusal but she's just got into the same 'rage' ( I know it isn't but that's how she looks!) at our bedtime breastfeed.

I eventually calmed her & shoved her on in rugby hold, seemed to work but phew my ears are still ringing.

Never had this with my DSs, both of whom I swear would have been happy with a cup & saucer as long as they got their milk :)

I'd be really grateful for any insight into why this might be happening & how to avoid it happening again. Thanks.

Does she look like she's in pain at all? Obvious I know but mine used to get attacks of wind late at night and try to make it better by sucking harder..

It might help to read about 'paced bottle feeding', OP - you can google it. Sometimes babies get into a state because they cannot control the flow of milk from the bottle in the way they can with the breast - they have to suck and swallow at a pace they may not like. The bottle teat is stimulating the sucking reflux when the baby wants a break...try it and see anyway.

www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/bottle-feeding.html

Thank you all for your replies.

It isn't just a bottle issue, she got just as upset last night while breastfeeding.

It isn't wind, she gets wind as she gets more upset but never has any to begin with from breastfeeding.

So I'm still stuck...! Could be fast letdown from me & fast flow from bottle. Or could be she's been overstimulated by tantrumming DTs at bathtime. Or could be a touch of colic. Oh, can't believe it's a whole 2 years or so til she can let me know in words!

OP, at least try the paced bottle feeding - and then report back :)

Does she pull her knees up to her tummy?

Will do! Or I'll instruct DH anyway as that's his feed. Not sure how I can pace her better on the breastfeeds though..?

No knees up, just red and pushing away with her little fists.

No need to pace the bf - read the link, explains all :)