Help! LO latching on and off constantly

lcoutsof

Our LO is six weeks and normally is a great eater. But for the past few days she has been a fussy eater at some of her feedings. She will eat for a while and then latch off and scream, and then latch back on and scream. This goes on for most of her feeding. Not sure what it could be and I know I have plenty of milk. Thoughts of what it could be and how I can help her with a better feeding. It is really frustrating because she seems hungry but will only latch for a few minutes and then gets angry. Thanks for your help!!!

kate1011

How often does she burp during a feeding?  It could be that she has an air bubble, I've notice my DS does that when he needs to burp.

 

lcoutsof

We burp her every 5 minutes or so and get big burps. Should we burp more? She is not constipated, but her tummy feels firm.

Starfish113

I've had a lot of trouble with latching from day 1. The thing that has helped us the most is a nipple shield. Makes it easier for her to get the milk, otherwise she screams her head off!

kate1011

That sounds like it's enough burping.  Honestly more than I do; we only burp at the end of a feeding unless he's acting like he needs to.  Sorry I couldn't be of more help. 

lcoutsof

You were great help!!! Thanks for trying to help.

erin1205

My LO does this too at times.  Sometimes it seems that he needs to burp like PPs said.  Other times, I'm pretty sure I have an "overactive letdown".  You can read more about it here: 

https://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/fast-letdown.html

Maybe that's it? 

jknigh8

Maybe see a lacation consultant, they are extremely helpful

Bride2b2004

When she comes off crying do you spray milk?  That would be indicative of overactive let down (which I have and really isn't much of a problem, b/c if DS can't keep up he comes off and the milk sprays into a burp cloth for a second and then it is fine)... Also, that would only be at the beginning of nursing (when you let down) not throughout.  

What you are describing sounds more to me like reflux or frustration with lack of milk.  Do you have other reflux symptoms (arching back, spit up)?  Or undersupply issues (breast feels empty when DC is trying to nurse, DC is nursing but you don't hear or see the gulping swallowing of milk)?  For the former, you could see if it happens more after you eat something specific (e.g. tomato sauce) or call the pedi for products to help control.  For the later, eat oatmeal, drink plenty of fluids, etc.  ETA-- just saw you said you know you have plenty of milk.  Have you been bottle feeding at all?  Sometimes those nipples give milk much quicker and babies can be frustrated by the work they put into the breast... if that is the case you could switch to a bottle nipple that makes DC work harder (to match the breast).  One more thing, have you eaten anything lately that you haven't eaten in the past or didn't when you were pg (e.g., strawberries are now in season)?  Food allergies made DS#1 act as you were describing (although he also was gassy and fussy when he wasn't nursing too).

 Those are all the ideas I can think of off the top of my head.  GL!! 

vajen

DD was acting similarly.  I thought maybe the letdown was too forceful, but when I posted about it on here others suggested (wisely) that it sounded like she was frustrated trying to get another letdown (like she wanted more milk than she was getting.)  The only thing I did was give her a break for a few minutes and then resume feeding, hoping she'd forget her frustration.  That was about a week ago and she's doing it less frequently now, so hopefully yours will get better soon!

lcoutsof

Thanks all for your advice. She does arch her back and has spit up. So it could be reflux. I am heading to the doctor this week so I will get her checked out. Also when she comes off milk doesn't spray, but she does have milk that dribbles from her mouth. She is on a bottle every other day, but we use a premie nipple. I have a feeling it is overactive letdown, so now time to find a good LC.