Help- Breastfed baby dropping weight, fussing at breast

[Klou87]

Hi everyone,

Firstly apologies if I've posted in the wrong thread... brand new to Mumsnet and this is my first ever post (apologies if it's been done to death!)

Basically just looking for a little help re my 11 week old. Since about 6 weeks old, he's been quite fussy when feeding at the boob. Usually he will feed for 2/3 minutes peacefully before becoming very fussy, arching his back and bobbing on and off. I have quite a quick letdown and he seems to cope fine with this, it's almost as though once the milk stops coming as quickly, he becomes frustrated and angry with it.

His 8 week weigh in showed he'd dropped quite a few lines for his percentile (he was a little chunk as a newborn on the 85th percentile but now down to the 25th). Although the GP didn't comment explicitly on his weight, he did make a little comment about how we would need to 'continue to monitor that' (said with a little frown....obviously my paranoid mind is not in overdrive! ). So now I'm stressing about that my milk- supply isn't enough for him. Has anyone had anything similar with their bubba and can offer any advice? Would greatly appreciate any help

Usually he will feed for 2/3 minutes peacefully before becoming very fussy, arching his back and bobbing on and off. I have quite a quick letdown and he seems to cope fine with this, it's almost as though once the milk stops coming as quickly, he becomes frustrated and angry with it.

I had this. DD turned out to have tongue tie.
I think the issue was a combination of a) she couldn’t latch well so once the fast let down slowed, she wasn’t able to feed well and got frustrated just as you say and b) she was gulping during the fast letdown and got full of wind.

So my advice would be, get checked for TT (ideally by a lactation consultant) and also, wind more frequently

I had this. DD turned out to have tongue tie

I was going to suggest TT too. Do any of these symptoms sound familiar?

I'm had similar with my lo. I also think it’s down to my let down. The only thing I've found that helps is to feed laying down side by side. It's not overly convenient but it's stopping my lo dropping more percentiles (she dropped from the 50th to the 25th percentile). Now she feeds without pulling away and is taking in a decent feed. I think laying down makes the letdown less harsh. Maybe give it a try?

It could also be cow's milk protein allergy, soya allergy, reflux or silent reflux, thrush or combination of these. I think you mentioned fast letdown so I don't know whether it could be insufficient milk, but worth considering. A lactation consultant should be able to help.

I hope it becomes clear soon.

Yes agree lying down feeding massively helps with fast let down issues

If there is a TT your baby may struggle to feed lying side by side though - so maybe a useful diagnostic tool!

Thanks everyone, I hadn't really considered tongue tie but looking up symptoms and reading your advice, it does sound like that could be the case so will ask about this at his next check-up next week.

It's hard to know whether it's just him being easily distracted/ frustrated at having to work to get milk or something else. He's usually much better when sleepy (will usually feed 10/15 minutes each side ). I've even wondered if I'm just feeding him too regularly and maybe simply he's not hungry!?

@Aria2015 Good idea... I've actually not tried many lying down positions out for feeding other than the standard holds so will give it a go x

Hmm. Preferring to feed when sleepy can be a sign of reflux.

Unfortunately most GPs and many HVs are not generally very useful on tongue tie, and often not that great on reflux either. Is there any chance you can stretch to a private lactation consultant?