Breastfeeding Stress

[Fawn68]

Hi my little boy is 14 weeks old. We had a very tough start with feeding due to low weight and no latch etc. So was given nipple shields by the breast feeding coordinator which then helped him latch, so we have been using these up until last week. But now he has decided he doesn't want these at all and is now feeding direct. However he is so fussy and constantly latching on and off and crying.

Does anyone have any advice on what to do as I am getting extremely stressed?

It might be the three month growth spurt. DS had his three month growth spurt at 11 weeks but he was born a week late so it was 12 weeks after his due date. DS was always fussy at the breast but during growth spurts he was extra fussy.

My 3 week old is fussy at the breast mainly for 2 reasons: if my letdown is fast or my breasts are very full so I express a little first, and if she needs a poo or is struggling with gas (it feels like she wants to suckle for digestive comfort but can’t focus). Could it be either of those things?

@seaborgium Thanks for your reply! I wonder now is it a growth spurt. Today my boobs feel so so empty and that's the first they have felt like this. He used to feed every 1.5-2 hours during the day but now he's doing 3+ hours even if I offer him before then he's still just really fussing.

@Clarkey86 I'm really not sure, I've tried expressing before hand a bit and also the laid back approach but he's still fussing 😩 but when he does need too poo (before this fussing started) he would have fussed but only for a few seconds.

I just feel like my breasts aren't full anymore at all.