Babies: 0 - 3 Months
XP- newborn screaming at the breast
She won't latch without screaming bloody murder for a few minutes...
and I feel awful trying to force her on. I feel like I'm hurting her
Once she starts sucking she calms right down. Ideas?
Once she starts sucking she calms right down. Ideas? This discussion has been closed.
Re: XP- newborn screaming at the breast
Mine did that too for a lil while. He only does it occasionally now. I have 2 ideas but not sure if either of them were the case.
-I wondered if it was because he got so hungry and worked up but still wasn't a pro at nursing and just got really frustrated.
-Also, I was wondering if the milk soaked up by the breast pads could have soured and made the nipple taste bad.
Not sure, but keep working on it. It has basically stopped now for us.
I get barely any output from the pump.. .probably because I DESPISE it! She does a little better if I give her a bottle to suck on for a few seconds and then try the breast. I know she is getting enough milk, the nipple shield is always full when I pull her off. I just wish I didn't need so many things to BF- a nipple shield, a bottle... I can't even breast feed without sitting in the recliner at the moment!
My LO did this and still does on occasion - she also thrashes her head around like she is hunting for the breast, even though I'm trying to shove it in her mouth. The Happiest Baby on the Block actually talked about babies like this - said they get so worked up that they can't calm themselves back down, even when you are giving them what they want. It's becuase they have "poor state control" and just need some help calming down.
Keep trying and stay calm yourself - you can do it! It usually takes me 1-2 minutes at least to get LO to latch on, but once she does she is like a little barracuda! One thing that has helped is that I often give her gripe water or the baby gas-x before I feed her. I stick her in a bouncy chair on the table in front of me (usually while she's screaming for food) and put some in her mouth. As soon as she tastes it she knows dinner is on its way and she stops screaming long enough for me to get my breastfeeding pillow and get her situated to eat. Perhaps a routine like that would help you!
Hang in there!