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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

8 weeks screaming at breast

12 replies

Nearlythere123 · 15/12/2013 10:31

My LO is 8 weeks and when I try to BF him he is sucking for a few seconds and then literally screaming and crying at the nipple. He does this during the day but at night he feeds fine.

I end up giving him expressed from a bottle to make sure he's eating.

I thought it was when he was overtired but he's done it this morning straight after an hours nap.

I've tried winding him and it doesn't seem to be that. Could it be the speed of let down or something? Yesterday he seemed frustrated, but today it doesn't seem like that so much.

I'm really finding it difficult to know what to do.

OP posts:
Jinglejohnsjulie · 15/12/2013 10:38

That must be so frustrating. Has he been checked for tongue tie Nearly?

Haven't got much time to post atm unfortunately but give one of the breastfeeding helplines a call and see if a BFC can suggest anything Xmas Smile

SoloXantiaClaws · 15/12/2013 10:38

Have you checked his mouth, throat and tongue for thrush? little white spots or a thick white covering perhaps.

Sucking from a bottle teat is different from the breast, so it could be causing him pain if he has that. I'm no expert though, but very big on bf :)

duende · 15/12/2013 10:40

Could it be silent reflux?

Original poster
Nearlythere123 · 15/12/2013 11:05

He hasn't been specifically checked for a tongue tie as far as I know - who could check for this?

Had a quick look in his mouth & can't see anything but it's hard to look!

I'll have a read up about silent reflux.

He fed fine for about 5-6 weeks & then this started to happen very occasionally & I def put it down to occasions where he was overtired or over stimulated. Then for the last week or so it's become more & more common until yesterday when it was all day. Today is the earliest it's happened. Before it's tended to be afternoon or early evenjng.

OP posts:
duende · 15/12/2013 11:13

Well, if it is reflux, it often starts around 5 weeks, or the symptoms start. This is when my DS started screaming after 20 seconds on the breast. I started supplementing with bottles as I thought breastfeeding was the problem. After a couple of weeks he started screaming after 20 seconds on the bottle :( it took a number of visits to GP to get the diagnosis but he had acid reflux and cow milk protein intolerance.

Google crying over spilt milk, very good info on reflux there.

neunundneunzigluftballons · 15/12/2013 11:15

Over supply caused this for my little man. Have you a forceful letdown. We also had tt which did not help.

Original poster
Nearlythere123 · 15/12/2013 12:41

The letdown on one side I think is quite forceful - I tend to squirt milk everywhere! Altho sometimes when he's like this he doesn't seem to manage to initiate the letdown - or I don't feel it or squirt anyway.

The other side doesn't spray so I don't know.

Typically he's just fed. When he was half asleep. So he's feeding when he's sleepy but not other times maybe?

OP posts:
SoloXantiaClaws · 15/12/2013 13:28

You could try sitting back or lying down so that the milk comes through less aggressively? see what happens like that.

neunundneunzigluftballons · 15/12/2013 15:07

This sorted itself got us but a few days of block feeding helped where all feeds for a period of time are from one boob. I had to dance around the kitchen to get him on which was agony with his shitty latch but at least got him fed. The pump mad things much worse because I was effectively over stimulating my supply do if you can cut that out it might help.

Original poster
Nearlythere123 · 25/12/2013 22:19

Just to follow up on this, in the end I paid for a lactation consultant's visit and I have to say it was well worth it.

LO has a posterior tongue tie and a shallow latch, and my let down is really fast.

So I've been lying back as much as I can when I feed if I'm quite full (I have to sit up if my boobs feel empty) and it really has helped.

Also, talking to an expert gave me some confidence. LO is apparently emptying boons quite quickly, probably helped by the fast let down! So quite often a 5 minute feed is enough for him. I've noticed since I stared feeling more relaxed and confident things have improved massively. I also always offer both sides now. And he often takes both sides too. We still have days where I'm sure he must be hungry but he doesn't feed but I don't worry about it. He feeds when he's ready.

Haven't decided whether to get the tongue tie snipped yet. It's causing my nipple pain - but LO is growing well etc etc so not sure whether there's any point or not. Any advice on that appreciated!

Thanks all for your advice. Really helped.

OP posts:
mummymog · 25/12/2013 22:41

Read your original post and thought Posterior tongue tie! glad it's been spotted for you. If I were you i've get it fixed. It takes seconds, baby cries at being held down but not at the pain of having tongue cut- there's like 2 or 3 drops of blood nothing more.

After we got babies tt cut she actually stays on the breast without bobbing on and off all the time. Her tongue tie wasnt that severe but the difference since getting it cut is amazing, she can flip her tongue over :D

SoloXantiaClaws · 26/12/2013 00:16

Really pleased for you Nearlythere! :) fabulous news and you sound so much happier.

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