Advice for an angry BFing baby?

mgg

Nothing is consistent with the BFing... But often Ivy will just start screaming bloody murder at my breast. Sometimes it's right off the bat. Sometimes its after she's been nursing for 5+ minutes. Sometimes its on the first breast, sometimes its after I switch her to the other. Sometimes she doesn't do it at all. Sometimes its during the day and sometimes its during the night. It doesn't seem to have any pattern at all, but it happens at some point during probably 90% of our feedings. Its so frustrating. She gets herself so worked up that I have to stop trying to nurse during that feeding because she just is over the top upset and its pointless to try anymore. Any ideas or advice? I've tried switching positions - sometimes that works, and sometimes it doesn't. Its so.damn.frustrating. I just want breastfeeding to be a peaceful time for both of us...?

MrsOlson

Does she need to be burped?

Kari Merks

I find it easiest if I feed her before she's fully awake.  She's more relaxed and will latch easier and nurse comfotably.

Danyielv1

How is your supply? ?That would be the first thing I would thik of.

MrsVictoriaB

She could have reflux. That will often make babies cry while nursing from the pain. Has she been checked for this?

SumnerBride

Is your latch good?  Is she needing a burp?  Does she have a sensitivity to dairy (if you're eating any)?

mgg

She hasn't been checked for reflux - she's not a spitter-upper, could she still ?have it if she doesn't usually spit up? I usually stop and burp her when she screams like that and that's inconsistent too -but I'll pay more attention now to trying that... My supply is great - especially on my left side, so I don't think that would be the issue... And I haven't done any diet elimination yet... Perhaps I'll give that a shot as well.?

pivey

MrsOlson:

Does she need to be burped?

That's what I was going to say. Take her off right away, burp her and see if that works. Mine does that too sometimes. It hurts them.

tiffyr0se

What about your letdown?  Are you spraying her?  I can't feed DS first thing in the morning because my letdown is too much when I'm full.

choirgirl

Heya...miss you on the local board.

My LO does the same thing.  For him, I used to think it was his need to burp, but that doesn't always work.  Now I think it's sometime his reflux and sometimes my let down.  But almost always that he's tired, even over tired.

Not always let down because he'll be off and I can see I'm not spraying him (and sometimes I am).  Not always reflux because sometimes it's 30 minutes after he got his zantax (and other times he's about an hour till his next dose).  Reflux can be "silent" (not spitting or not much spitting).

Anyway, now one thing I do is when he starts losing it, I put the paci in his mouth while he's still in the BFing position, and let him calm down. When he's totally calm again, I'll offer him the breast again.  If he takes it, then good.  If he starts screaming again, I switch sides and give him the paci to calm down and then offer that side. If he goes bonkers again, I've found it's actually that he's tired, and can't decide if he's more tired or more hungry.  Then I make the decision for him and help him go to sleep.

I just wanted to say I totally feel for you.  I think for me anyway I think it feels worse because he'll start and those loving hormones kick in and then he starts screaming like a sheet and banging his head into my boob and yanking on the nipple.  Sort of even more insulting with those lovey hormones kicking in on my end, you know?

Good luck!

williamcaitlin

DD used to do this A LOT. It turned out it was my let down. It was too much for her and she'd always pull off screaming. I always let her calm down and then switched to the other breast. Eventually, she would stay latched and eat. She only did it for a few weeks and then she either adjusted or my supply adjusted and the letdown wasn't as intense. Either way, it didn't last forever. GL!