Help! Why does DD scream when I offer a boob?

[madscimum]

DD is almost 4 months old, and has been, I think, growth spurting for the last several days (feeding almost constantly!). She has also developed a maddening behaviour of often shrieking her little head off when I offer a boob, even though she is clearly hungry.

She'll start with an eager gape, but it quickly turns into a scream and then all she does is scream and cry. I had wondered if I was annoying her by offering food when she doesn't want it (since she seemed hungry SO much recently), but if I can get her to calm down, she almost always will then eat, and for quite a while too.

It's very disturbing, as all I want to do is give her what she wants, and then she gets all upset and screaming. :(

Ooo this was a hard phase, I ended up nursing laying down (slowed milk flow) in bed (nice and quiet and calm). Eek mines wailing now. Best go

Right mines latched on. It sounds like it could be fast let down, or not fast enough. Or does she have tummy ache? Dd would scream if needed a poo.

She never actually latches, so I guess unless she's remembering fast/slow frustration from last time, it wouldn't be those? She is much better at night nursing lying in bed. It's almost like she's overcome with excitement/eagerness and then just screams. She used to give little cry grunt things as she latched, and maybe this is the extension of that?

And it could be tummy upset -- but I'm already using Infacol, and it is different from when before I used that (then, she'd eat a bit and THEN scream - now she screams first).

Is she tugging her ears at all? Or running a temp? Might be worth getting her checked over as it sounds like she wants to feed but is in pain. Smoulder be sore throat/ears. Maybe try small dose of calpol tonight and get her checked tomorrow?

has she just had her 4 month jabs? My son did this and I realised he had bruises on his legs so was uncomfortable when I picked him him up and positioned him to feed.

Oh yea cmt dd did too, forgot the jab bit

I don't yet have personal experience (40+5 with my first grumble) but I've been reading The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding the last couple of days in preparation...

It says that a baby that seems to reject the breast may be reacting like a toddler throwing a tantrum in a sweetshop who screams because they want sweets, not because they don't. As you've found that she does feed once she calms down, it sounds like she does want to feed, she's maybe just getting herself a bit worked up when she sees food is coming!

Food will not help, there is a growth spurt and sleep regression at this time, along with a large brain development. So please don't think about that just yet :)

Try to feed her in a calm room, or have something to distract her, such as a nursing necklace. Its quite a normal phase, and does pass. Try to keep as calm as you can, as she may then calm down quicker if she picks up on it from you.

No jab yet, and she doesn't have a fever. She's been a bit better today; I was able to calm her down a little faster. I tried not pressing and just doing something else for 5 minutes (like a nappy change, go do something in the house) and try again.

She is also doing sleep regression too -- that's on the upswing and she's been feeding less frequently today. So maybe the screaming will slow down too?