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Infant feeding

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

Why is my baby grouchy after feeding?

7 replies

AngeChica · 02/03/2008 12:46

Hi, my DS is nearly 5 weeks old and after a shaky start (rough experience during my c section meant he got formula top ups in hospital and for a couple of weeks afterwards) I have been succesfully BF exclusively for over 2 weeks and he is thriving, gaining 7 or 8 oz a week (he was 10 lb 14 at birth and is now over 12 lb).

My baby book said babies should be happy and contented after feeds but he usually gets very cross. I try and wind him as much as possible but often he won't bring up any burps. He then has wind pains I think which causes him to be grouchy.

I have been putting him in my sling which works a treat to soothe him most times, but with the result that he lives in the sling for half the day, usually asleep. The rest of the time I am feeding him. He feeds hungrily and for at least 15 mins off both boobs and often begins to fuss near the end of feeds. I sometimes even have to put him back on to the first boob before he seems satisfied. It's exhausting! I also have to feed 2 handed as I cannot support his weight with just one, also need to keep hold of one breast otherwise he drops off a lot. BF counsellor showed me good positioning but as he has grown this now seems to be the only way to do it. Also I've been co-sleeping but feeding lying down seems to be getting more difficult, he cannot find a good latch and gets cross so I end up having to get up anyway.

Will he grow out of this soon? I do use Infacol but is there anything else I can do to make this better? It should be after feeds that he has his activity time etc. and I worry he is getting too little of this.

OP posts:
OneHandedTypist · 02/03/2008 13:05

Blow the prescribed activity time post-feed, your baby obv. didnt write that bit of advice!

Some babies r just tetchy velcro-babes, who need a lot of time to feed. I have one (2 wks old). DS is only happy being held or fed, altho' sometimes manages a 15-30 min. spell in bouncy chair. And might sleep alone w/out me in bed.

It gets better, keep trying with alternative ways of holding him and he will eventually master latching on in different ways.

Activity time can be silly games held in your lap. DS4 gets bicycle legs, & does renditions of the chacha I had him disco dancing (gently of course) 2 Rod Stewart the other morning. If u dont have other children enjoy the time u can just waste sitting, playing & holding & get some books from library 2 read while feeding/cuddling.

Feeding lying down is bliss, worth getting that right. Do you tuck a pillow in the small of your back, so you can position the breast at whatever angle needed?

You can wind a baby while lying down urself -- lie on ur side, prop baby up to lean on u & rub/pat his back.

tiktok · 02/03/2008 14:23

OHT, I agree with you

AngeChica - your baby sounds normal. Many babies are just like this. Many babies thrive best emotionally and physically on having a repeat feed of one breast, or two, or more, after both sides

Forget the book and forget prescribed notions of when and how a baby should have an activity time - truly, any writer who is being dogmatic like this is talking rubbish

OneHandedTypist · 02/03/2008 15:43

Ooh, that's nice that tt agreed w/ what I said!
It's okay to say if you're finding the situation demanding, AngeChica. Been thinking 2 start a thread about that myself. Just that little babies can be SO demanding. Really tires you out.

grumpybum · 02/03/2008 15:55

have you tried swaddling him. mine found it comforting and he fussed less while feeding.

AngeChica · 03/03/2008 16:23

Thank you. yes it is so demanding . DH or I do get a few little times each day when he is happy and playing - i just wish it was more because it breaks my heart when he seems so unhappy . That's why i was wondering if there is a particular time (like with colic that usually goes by 3 months) that they grow out of the wind pains ??

OP posts:
smallwhitecat · 03/03/2008 16:25

This reply has been deleted

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claireybee · 03/03/2008 16:42

angechica-agree with what the others have said and honestly, 5 weeks is still so little! Don't worry about "activity"-at this age just being dressed/undressed is activity to them!

DS was the same after feeding, is now 12 weeks and for the past couple of weeks has been getting much more contented

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