6 month baby and breastfeeding issues

[slothprincess]

I wonder if anyone has experienced this and has any advice for me.
My DD is just 6 months old and EBF. We've just started BLW so she's only having some little tastes of "real" food. She's got 2 bottom teeth that came through without me even noticing about 5 weeks ago.

She and I had fallen into a loose routine for breastfeeds, in that she fed for about 20 mins (10 mins each boob) before her naps and before bed. Over the past 4 days, she's started to get really fussy on the boob, wanting to feed only for a few minutes before pulling off. She then squeals and protests if I try to get her back on. She doesn't seem to be as interested in feeding, even if I try and offer the boob at different times like when she's just got up from a sleep or in the middle of her wakeful period.

She's very aware of the world so I do try and reduce distractions while I'm feeding her. She feeds well and for her usual 20 mins when she wakes in the night.

I guess I'm just a bit worried she's not getting enough milk in the day. I don't have her weighed very often at all but she'd dropped off her line last time I went, which the HV thought was because she was more active. And that was weeks before she'd started this strange feeding behaviour.

Any thoughts or advice? Ta muchly.

It's possible she's become really effective at feeding (can happen quite quickly) and is getting what she needs in less time. If this is the case she's happy and full when you continue to offer her more, which could explain the fussiness.

A few babies can get a bit fussy when solids are introduced, and it could also be attributable to teething and illness. All very vague I'm afraid! Reducing distractions is a good idea. If she feeds well at night can you try to recreate those conditions for feeds when you're at home (and continue to point her towards a boring wall when out & about)?

If you're genuinely concerned about her not getting enough, treat her as you would a newborn and treat yourself to an afternoon in bed/on sofa/in bath with her so she can graze and cuddle as much as she wants for comfort & refreshment both.

On the flip side of that, try feeding when she's sleepy or if she's quite hungry (I'm in no way advocating making her wait until she's starving, or not feeding on demand, but know that babies can 'boredom nurse' same as I boredom eat!)

Could be her top teeth coming through (bottom ones are less trouble as covered by her tongue)

Could be that she wants to go for longer between feeds.

Could be that her nap routine needs tweaking and she's tired and doesn't want a feed?

Dd is 6 months and I've noticed that she refuses feeds sometimes - especially in the afternoon, quite happily going 4 hours. But she can also be too tired to feed and would rather I rocked her to sleep them has a feed on waking.

Another option is it could be your periods returning which can change the flow of milk.

I'm sure she's getting plenty if she feeds at night and has a couple of big feeds in the day plus the odd smaller ones too. Does she look ok?

also just read again - 20 mins is a long time for feeding so I'm sure she's faster! Dd only feeds for that long at bedtime when she's falling asleep.

I would guess first that she's happy enough so long as her weight is maintaining or going up. Don't forget she will be slowly getting more active from this age too..... Sounds like its all ok to be honest and that you are doing really well with introducing food.

Thank you so much for your supportive replies. There's definately some things you've come up with that I hadn't thought of. I think I've been a bit thrown by her change in behaviour as I thought I had things sorted! I suppose I should have expected that she'd shake things up a bit to keep me on my toes!

Here's what kellymom says about nursing strikes, which might be what's happening here.

Also, I found DD got a bit fussy when we started introducing new foods...it passed and she soon returned to her usual routine. If your LO is looking bright and happy don't worry too much about weight (I think they go down a bit when they start solids?). HTH