Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Infant feeding

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

Flip

Original poster

1 week old kicking and screaming at the breast - please help!

14 replies

JRHartley · 12/06/2008 23:38

1 week old ds seems unable to settle when I am trying to get him latched on and kicks his legs, flaps his arms and screams and screams. I am able to eventually get him to feed but it is not easy and is obviously very stressful for both of us and for dp. If anyone could offer and advice I would really appreciate it, thanks.

OP posts:

S1ur · 12/06/2008 23:40

At only 1 week you need to bring this up with your midwife. Give her a call in the morning, it is very important that this is sorted out

katch · 12/06/2008 23:45

As well as midwife, call an NCT BF counsellor - they got me through the horrendous first stage with all three of my babies. A week is very young, and you're both learning - give yourself the best chance of an easier time for all of you.

S1ur · 12/06/2008 23:46

In the meantime here are a few useful links

breasting a newborn

kellymom

It could be flow too quick/ear infection/reflux/poor latch/or something else entirely!

I think you need to be able to show someone and get good advice from rl person

Original poster

JRHartley · 12/06/2008 23:51

Thanks both of you for responding so quickly. Really appreciate that. He has gone to sleep now without feeding, he finished his last feed at 6.30 this evening so has now not been fed for over five hours. Does that sound right or is that a really long time for him to go without? We were advised bt the midwife to wake him every 3 hours.

OP posts:

tiktok · 12/06/2008 23:54

It's a long time....as a one off, no big deal, but generally speaking, week old babies will be enthusiastic feeders, not need to be woken, and will feed often. Look for at least 3 good sized poos a day plus several wet nappies, too.

I wonder if your baby has had something happen at the breast - maybe someone has pushed him on a little too forcefully? This can lead to fighting. Skin to skin and just chillin' at the breast without a struggle to 'make' him feed can 're-set' everything.

I agree with the other posts that suggest getting help from the midwife and bf helplines.

Original poster

JRHartley · 12/06/2008 23:55

Also did contact la leche and spoke to an advisor who was really helpful she is sending me some information, just worried now as he has not fed for so long.

OP posts:

Original poster

JRHartley · 12/06/2008 23:59

Thanks tiktok, he is enthusiastic once he gets going and will feed for over an hour. His last feed was 1 hour 40 mins. Could he just not be hungry?

OP posts:

superloopy · 13/06/2008 01:39

I had problems with my DS when he was only 1-2 weeks old doing the same thing but only on my left side when I was trying to feed him.

I took him to a paediatric chiropracter and she found that his right shoulder was slightly out of alignment. This was causing him to be really uncomfortable when he was feeding, therefore explaining the kicking and screaming.

The chiropracter seemed unsure how this could have happened to his shoulder, it could have been during his birth or just from being squashed a bit while he was still inside me (he was 13 days overdue!! grrr).

After the first treatment I saw a huge difference in feeding him, it was so much easier. After the third visit all problems were resolved and I haven't needed to go back.

Maybe you could take your LO to see chiropracter, osteopath or cranial osteopath and get him checked out. Just make sure you see someone who is experienced in working with babies tho'.

HTH

tiktok · 13/06/2008 08:26

JR - length of time at the breast is not v. important. It's frequency and a week old baby not being hungry and sleeping for long periods between feeds needs checking out.

Ask the midwife to weigh him.

What's happening in his nappies?

slim22 · 13/06/2008 08:59

Sounds like a long time.

Did you try gently bringing him close to your breast whilst still asleep? waking up skin to skin might make him feel very secure.
Maybe he will root instinctively without too much fuss?

Maybe needs to be winded? A lot of bf newborns apparently don't. Mine very often fussy at following feed if not.

Original poster

JRHartley · 13/06/2008 09:56

He is weeing frequently an pooing once a day. I managed to get him to feed last night and this morning. I will get in touch with the nct today, thanks for the advice I think I do need someone to see him on the breast as it's obviously not very easy for him for some reason. We do wind him and he does burp. At first I thought that was the problem, but now I think it's more likely to do with the latch on and milk supply.

OP posts:

slim22 · 13/06/2008 17:01

Good luck

AnyFuleKno · 13/06/2008 20:04

All good advice that has been posted here but I would just like to add my experience. DD did this kicking and flailing thing and I remember it being agony when she would kick my other (engorged!) boob while feeding. In my case I found that wrapping her up tightly in a sort of swaddle helped, as did making sure she was totally tummy to tummy so she felt like she was securely held. After about day 10-14 I don't remember it happening again.

cosima · 13/06/2008 20:07

my lo did this too. it could just be poor latch. is there a bf workshop in your area, your mw should know about them. with my lo it was sometimes cos he was hungry but had wind, and sometimes its cos the milk would come out too fast.

he also fed for hours and hours at a time

Flip