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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

DS constantly pulling away whilst breast feeding

14 replies

Scarlottio1 · 17/02/2015 23:10

Does anyone know why my 4 month old DS would be constantly pulling away and crying while I feed him? I'm dreading feeding him while I'm out now too as I can force him a bit to eat while at home but not really in public?

OP posts:
Twistedheartache · 17/02/2015 23:14

I don't have the answer, but it could be an age thing? My 16 week old dd has just started doing the same & constantly looking around.
She saves her best screaming for when I give her bottle not boob, but has generally been more unsettled the last couple of days.
She also pulls off when she stops to fill her nappy.

Good luck

Hypotenuse · 17/02/2015 23:16

If it's a new thing it's probably teething or ear ache.

If it's been for a couple of months it's likely stomach ache brought on by colic or a food allergy like dairy intolerance.

Have a feel of gums, it's likely just a tooth.

callamia · 17/02/2015 23:20

Because he's four months... I knew before I opened this thread that's how old he'd be.

My son was a horror to feed at this age. Distracted, quick, crotchety - I thought he'd waste away or something, but he kept on getting what he needed. That pulling and fussing stopped in time too. It's just a phase - an annoying one, but a phase. I just let him feed what he wanted when we were out, and 'caught up' at home. Don't worry though - it's not a reflection of your milk or supply or anything.

TaytoCrisp · 17/02/2015 23:23

Teething? Is there an increase in drool? Red checks? May be hungry but have sore gums which is frustrating and painful. Switching boob can help if there is too much fussiness.

AlwaysOneMissing · 17/02/2015 23:26

Sore gums are aggravated by sucking so it could be teething.

Or, it could be oral/nipple thrush? This happened with my DD and it took me a while to realise what all the symptoms were.

soontobemumofthree · 17/02/2015 23:27

Mine all started going on and off and on and off boob at this age. Looking round, hungry, but boob right there. Got better but can't remember how long it lasted.

Original poster
Scarlottio1 · 17/02/2015 23:38

Thanks all! I will check his gums and maybe get my HV to visit.Im reading wonder weeks which says these are fussy weeks too but worry its stomach problems etc..his late feeds are always easier though..

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BictoriaVeckham · 17/02/2015 23:41

Google 4 month regression - it could be a whole bunch of things from teething to everything else being far more interesting than food.

Ride it out - I used to feed in a quieter setting if possible (not always, but say I'd turn TV down, focus on dd and not on MN )

Original poster
Scarlottio1 · 18/02/2015 10:51

Thank u! Yeah he won't sleep either and up all hours through the night again too! Sooo tired! Zzzz x

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SolasEile · 18/02/2015 18:54

Same situation here for the past few weeks with my 3.5 month old, pulling off and on the bressts, dragging the nipple, fussing and not feeding very long. With me it seems to be an issue related to oversupply and fast letdown where the milk sort of chokes her when she feeds so feeding is stressful for her. She also gets a lot of trapped wind.

I've tried different feeding positions e.g. laid back position so she is feeding 'uphill' and also feeding while walking around and rocking her and these seem to help a bit. In general she is very fussy and distractible though and it's driving me nuts! Feeding while out and about is really hard. I use a nursing shawl to minimize distractions and that helps but she is very loud and fusses a lot. Can't get any help or advice as the view seems to be that she's not newborn so won't starve. I can't take her to the breastfeeding clinic locally as I have an older child and they have regulations on older DC attending at this time of year due to flu risk etc.

It's a nightmare... I just hope it resolves soon. So tempted to give up and just bottle feed, pumped milk or formula, but my DS was bottle fed at this age and he would refuse bottles too sometimes. I guess the upside was that I wasn't getting chewed raw in the process...!

SpaghettiMeatballs · 18/02/2015 19:00

How often are you feeding him and are you convinced he is hungry? He might just want to wait a bit longer for his milk now he is a bit older?

That was the case with mine.

LetticeKnollys · 18/02/2015 19:41

I had all of this when my DS was 3.5 to 4 months (he would have been 4 months to 4.5 according to the Wonder Weeks which dates from the due date), he is five months now and feeds completely efficiently! I went through stages of thinking it was teeth, tummy, a cold and a growth spurt, I think it's just a big developmental push for them at that age really. If I could go back and give myself advice it would be to stop trying to second guess it and just wait it out, because it will pass!

redcaryellowcar · 18/02/2015 20:15

Sounds a bit like reflux to me, does he sleep ok? Ds would wake up after about half an hour screaming in pain. Other sign he had was coughing, we kept being told it was a cold, it most certainly wasn't it was effectively silence (suppose cough wasn't silent??) reflux. We ended up seeing consultant as had seen just about every gp at our health centre and no one knew what it was!

Original poster
Scarlottio1 · 19/02/2015 17:37

Thanks all,it does seem very much in line with wonder weeks which says they go like new borns again and today he's just fed/slept/fed on me really! I'm going to try to wear something bigger then too whilst out to cover him coz he HATES the scarf and it makes me not want to go for lunch! X

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