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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Baby fusses in the evenings and claws my boobs!

10 replies

marushka82 · 30/08/2013 22:08

Hi everyone, I'm wondering whether any of you has/had similar experiences and has some wisdom to share with me! My DD is a month old and seems really unsettled/fussy in the evenings (or really, starting in the afternoon, around 3-4pm).
I'm currently breastfeeding and expressing milk 2-3 times a day (after feeding) to give it to DD late in the evening when she's overtired and I don't seem to have much milk. The last feed of the day (bottle with expressed milk) works ok most of the time and she sleeps for 4-5 hours at night. In the morning when my boobs are engorged she feeds well and it's easy to get her to nap again for about 2 hrs. The later it gets in the day the worse she gets - she sucks for a bit and then either starts nibbling on my nipple and dozes off or worse, gets agitated and starts clawing my boobs and pulling off the nipple (need I add that they are now getting sore?) I've done two weigh ins with her and she's gained weight nicely so far (she's at 50th percentile), has plenty of wet and dirty nappies etc. I don't think it's the latch because in the morning she's sucking actively for 10 minutes and is content and fed... it's later on in the day that she turns into a little monster. I had to introduce a dummy yesterday (only when she's really fussy and I try to take it out before she falls asleep; a lot of the time she spits it out herself though) because without it I don't have time to eat or go to the toilet!
Is this normal? Is it colic or just a fussy phase?
Help!
Sorry for this post being so long!

OP posts:
anonnymousey · 31/08/2013 01:41

Sometimes little growth spurts mean a few days of nork catch up. Baby whisperer had good routine suggestions - very eaSy going and not regimented at all - someone with more recent experience will doubtless be along shortly. I remember first weeks being a bit of a blur of feed feed feed and also resorted to dummies a bit. Swaddling while feeding may help with the wriggles which may be wind or over tired related and you could also try giving expressed milk at a different time of day. My eldest ds did get fussy late afternoon and eve until i worked with baby whisperer book and found he was tired and overstimulated then - more nap time and learning his cues sorted it.

Cavort · 31/08/2013 05:09

My 8 week DD does this when she is overtired. It's like she is trying to keep herself awake by beating me up! Getting her to sleep at the first sign of tiredness seems to sort it.

duende · 31/08/2013 10:34

Watching with interest as my 3 weeks old does it too.
Starts around 3-4pm and every feed seems to be worse, she wants to feed, but pulls off the breast, pulls the nipple, catches it again, cries, screams, it's a nightmare :(

Original poster
marushka82 · 31/08/2013 11:36

Hi, thanks for your replies!
She might be overtired, but the problem is that it's impossible to get her to nap in the afternoon... She's doing it now and I'm honestly wondering what I'm doing wrong...
I doubt I have problems with milk as I'm taking fenugreek, brewer's yeast and drinking nursing tea too! It's so so frustrating and I hate to see my baby distressed and hungry!

OP posts:
Bunnychan · 31/08/2013 20:25

It may be that your milk is slower as they can hit out at the breast to stimulate faster flow. They may be frustrated at having to work a little harder to get. As for the napping, try and put them down as soon as they rub their faces, pull their ears and yawn. As soon as they slide down the nipple slightly, break the seal and unlatch then put back on to stop yourself getting sore. I hope this helps- its all stuff I've found out on my bfing journey x

whohellhe · 31/08/2013 23:03

I had the same with DS2, we used to have a little scrap with his arms flailing around. My BF support worker taught me a great little trick wrapping a muslin round his arms like a little straight jacket worked a treat in calming him down.

Mrs81 · 01/09/2013 08:20

My DS (11 wks) does this a bit, its usually within first few mins of feeding. Sometimes he calms himself down but if not then I usually just stop for 5mins and hold him upright. More often than not he burps or poos then is settled enough to feed again.
Seems he just can't multi-task Wink

Good luck op, you'll find what works for you Smile

Original poster
marushka82 · 02/09/2013 16:21

Thanks for your tips and support ladies! I feel she might be impatient as maybe I have a slow let down (how do I test this theory?)
She might also be tired because she barely sleeps during the day. She managed two 40 minute naps today and I had to take her out for a walk so she gets at least an hour and a half....I guess we can count ourselves lucky that she sleeps for 4.5 hrs at night and only wakes up because she needs changing and to feed and usually falls asleep for another 2.5-3 hrs. It's the afternoons and evenings I dread!

OP posts:
Original poster
marushka82 · 02/09/2013 16:23

Wanted to add that I started to suspect colic, reflux etc... But hoping it's just a phase!

OP posts:
Callmedreckly · 02/09/2013 16:37

Hi OP my DD had colic, that was a horrible time. Walking around the garden at 9pm with her.

She is now 18 weeks old, & is still scratching, pinching at boob so I think now its overtiredness, as she refuses to sleep in the day for more than 20 mins.

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