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Breastfed Baby Fussing & Crying During Feeds - What’s Going on?

8 replies

MintGreenLife · 01/09/2021 21:04

My DS is 7 weeks old and exclusively breast fed. Over the last week or so he has been getting increasingly fussy during feeding. He doesn’t fuss at the end of every feed, but it does seem to be becoming more frequent. He feeds fine to start with, but after a while he starts latching on and off and screaming. I try burping him to see if that’s the issue, and often he does let out a big burp, but when I put him back to the breast the fussing continues. Sometimes I wonder if he’s no longer getting much milk from the breast he’s on, so I swap him, and sometimes that does the trick, but more often doesn’t help. It’s quite stressful for us both. I have to cut his feed short otherwise we would go on for ages like that. The only way I can settle him is to rock him to sleep on me. The last week he has been a lot more alert and isn’t sleeping much during the day, so not sure if that comes into play. I have worried if it’s a supply issue, but he was weighed yesterday and is 10lb2 up from 6lb12 at birth, so think that is a good weight gain, plus he has plenty of wet and dirty nappies. Today has been particularly bad and he just never seems satisfied/settled. Any ideas?!

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lucymagoo · 02/09/2021 07:52

Oh gosh this is how mine started and now he just screams when he sees my boobs and refuses to latch at all. As soon as it touches his lips he arches his back and cries until I get a bottle of expressed milk.

Are you giving a bottle at all? I feel like mine has developed a preference for the faster flow so we are trying paced feeding and only offering the breast when he's sleepy to avoid distress.

My only advice would be to ask your health visitor for a consultation with a breastfeeding specialist ASAP. I've just been referred and wish I'd done it sooner when he had just started fussing so we could nip it in the bud. Confused

MintGreenLife · 02/09/2021 09:48

Hi @lucymagoo thanks so much for your reply. I’ve realised overnight that it’s definitely during his awake periods that this happens, as no issues overnight. I think I do have quite a fast letdown, so perhaps he’s getting frustrated at the end of the feed when he has to work hard for it. Nope not giving a bottle at all. I gave one once to trial it though and he properly guzzled it down. Do you mind me asking at what age this started with your DS?

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lucymagoo · 02/09/2021 10:00

I can't remember when it started. A few weeks old, maybe about a month old? It's all a blur!
He's 14 weeks now though and it's definitely been most of his life.

I'm speaking to a feeding specialist later today but it sound like we are possibly having the same issue so will let you know of any advice she gives.

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Fantail86 · 02/09/2021 10:19

Does he maybe want to suck for the comfort but not want anymore milk? Could try a dummy?
Could be overtired and want to sleep rather than feed?

MintGreenLife · 02/09/2021 10:50

@lucymagoo that would be great thank you. Hope they are helpful for you x

@Fantail86 we’ve tried a dummy but he just spits it out. I think possibly overtired too, but he continues to stay awake after the fussing. He’s done it again this morn and have managed to distract him in his bouncy chair for a bit. It’s definitely just happening during his awake times x

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lucymagoo · 02/09/2021 12:23

Mine has a dummy but he is definitely hungry. Will suck very forcefully on the dummy and spit it out and cry, then will guzzle a whole bottle of expressed milk but scream if I try and offer him breast Sad

lucymagoo · 02/09/2021 19:07

So the feeding specialist agreed that my son prefers the bottle and almost doesn't even recognise breast as a source of food anymore which is just miserable. She witnessed how stubborn he was to even latch, tried different positions (him sitting up facing me, both lying down) and encouraged letdown before putting him on. Nothing worked for me but might for someone else.

She's sending me a double pump to help with expressing, and waiting until I'm out of covid isolation to try to help in person.

whateverintheworld · 02/09/2021 21:43

I’m not an expert but it sounds to me like your baby is really overtired if he/she is barely sleeping in the day. Can you look at wake windows and try and make sure your baby is getting regular naps? I think it’s easy to confuse tiredness for hunger when they are that young

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