Worried about baby’s feeding

[Woodworm2020]

Hi everyone, I’m a bit of a lurker here but I’m feeling pretty desperate so thought I would write to see if anyone has had a similar experience.
My DS is 8 weeks old and has been exclusively breastfed, up until now he has been feeding pretty well, taking 15-20 mins on each breast on a good feed and 10 mins on each breast on a quicker feed. Recently he has been so fussy and only feeding for a few mins before stopping. He cries hysterically when I try and offer him the breast again. Having him feed for only 5 mins at a time vs 30-40 is so stressful and I’m wondering if anyone else has experienced his kind of behaviour and worked out what the problem was?
Thanks in advance. X

I'd check for oral thrush - this can cause pain while feeding and is quite common. Google some pictures for comparison - a severe case should be fairly obvious. Hope things get better soon OP.

Mine is the same and it's a developmental leap and nothing is wrong. I just settle in with lots of drinks and snacks and accept each feed will take an eternity! To be fair it isn't every feed just most. It won't last.

Is he still giving you plenty of wet nappies? If he's satisfied abs still has a decent output I'd not worry. Sometimes they just become much more efficient feeders.

Thanks so much for your replies - it certainly makes me feel less alone and isolated during this really stressful time. DoubleHelix - I think you may be on to something here with the thrush as I have boob pain and he has a white tongue. He is only 8 weeks old and I have been on antibiotics for about 4 of those weeks so it makes sense. But then according to the wonder weeks app he is going through a leap, I also know I have a very quick let down which I don't think he enjoys - so I guess it could be anything, or perhaps a combo of all. Perhaps like DominicRabbsTravelAgent (LOL) suggests, perhaps he is getting more efficient too - I expressed 140ml in 15 mins at 3am this morning, so thinking he needs to be feeding for 40 mins in total is probably a bit unreasonable. BF honestly messes with my mind - does anyone else feel this way?

This morning we had another 2 minute freak show feed where he got really upset and refused any more. Despite all of the rational reasons it could be, Its so terribly worrying and stressful and almost makes me want to quit BF (which would make me feel like such a failure). I can handle all of the pain and discomfort (also had mastitis and then a major allergic reaction to the antibiotics) if he was still getting everything he needed and wasn't in pain. Anyway, I'm off to the doctors shortly (finally seeing someone in person) so hopefully they can help.
Sorry for the long rant.

Good luck.

Give the free NCT breastfeeding expert advice line a call too if you ever want to chat through what's happening. They have helped me with thrush, cup to breast transition, supply worries, vasospasm all sorts!

Totally agree with calling the NCT BFing Helpline for some support with this.

I just wanted to add that Kellymom have some very good information on fast letdown and thrush. Hope you find them helpful.

Ah my 13 week old is doing the same!! He's definitely going through a leap also but we assumed it was him figuring out the bottle gives him a faster, more consistent flow. I express so my husband can feed him while I'm at hospital appointments, also for mastitis as it happens, unfortunately it turned into an abscess and required surgery so I've spent a lot of time away and he's had a lot of the bottle.

We think he's getting impatient when the let down slows and he has to work a bit harder to get the milk.

We are doing more paced feeding with the expressed milk, offering him boob at every feed and stopping as soon as he gets upset to top up with the bottle until he's full.
He tends to do just over 5 mins on the boob before getting distressed and refusing to latch so im going to try feeding him for just under 5 mins and swap to the other side to see if that helps at all.

Please update us if you speak to someone who has any wisdom, I've been referred to a lactation consultant next week so hopefully they can help get it sorted. Will share any tips

lucy have you tried breast compressions after the letdown has eased? They might encourage him to feed fir longer on the breast.

@DominicRaabsTravelAgent it's usually too late by that point, he's screaming and refusing to even latch back on.
Been having some progress the past few days, he's staying on a bit longer, feeds really well at night and when he's very sleepy. Hoping to wean him off the bottle altogether now 🤞🏼

How are you and baby doing now @Woodworm2020

@DoubleHelix79 - thanks so much for checking in on us. Things are a little better thank you. We went to the doctor and it turns out DS has thrush (as do I) and also silent reflux which could be causing the fussiness. The fussiness is getting a little better as his thrush clears up but he also still has the odd attack and I wonder whether thats the reflux bothering him. The doctor prescribed gaviscon but it is such a nightmare to give - it seems like its better intended for bottle fed babies as he refuses the syringe/spoon. We give him one bottle at night with it but not sure it makes a huge difference. We have also elevated his crib and pram mattress and that could also be helping.

I'm trying not to get too stressed or upset by it because it definitely makes matters worse. We are closely monitoring his weight and if it goes down then for sure we will have to go back to the doctor as I am not ready to switch to bottles. Outside the odd 'attack' he is a happy (albeit snuffly) baby and doesn't seem that bothered by the reflux.

Thanks again for checking on us and I hope everything is good with you

So glad things are looking up for you OP. Fingers crossed that in a few weeks you'll look back and think how much easier it feels.