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Breastfeeding
Help! Screaming at the breast in middle of feeding.
I should start by saying I nurse and pump. I EP'd almost exclusively for the first 7 weeks, then made a successful transition back to the breast for the last 6 weeks (nursing 75% of the time).
A little over a week ago, she started pulling off my breast and screaming bloody murder in the middle of the feeding. She would eat fine for a couple minutes then this would start. She is inconsolabe for awhile (5-10 minutes). Then I get her calmed down with a pacifier cause nothing else works. She slips into a light sleep. I have to wait a couple minutes, then pull the pacifier out real quick and latch her back on, and then she finishes the feeding fine for the most part. A lot of the time, she ends up passing gas or pooping during the screaming, but not everytime by any means.
Each nursing is now turning into an hour long session, and sometimes she is so upset, I don't think she ends up getting a full feeding. She ends up crying again within the next hour and I put her to the breast and repeat the whole cycle. It seems like she is crying so much these days.
Last night was the worst. It got to the point where just setting her in position to nurse sent her screaming and crying, like she knew what was coming, and that breastfeeding was her worst nightmare. She stared into my eyes when I tried to get her to latch and was crying so hard with all these tears, I just started crying too. It broke my heart. I ended up pumping and DH gave her a bottle, which she did fine with. I don't know what to do.
She did so well nursing all this time, why now? Why is she so upset during the feeding, and now refusing the breast? Please help!
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Re: Help! Screaming at the breast in middle of feeding.
I am not sure but just wanted to tell yuo I am sorry you are going through this right now- it's so hard when you go through rough patches with BF.
The only thing that crosses my mind is maybe she wants the faster flow of the bottle? Maybe she's developing a preference for it? I am just guessing....
My son started doing the same thing around that age because of reflux. Maybe you can read up about infant reflux disease and see if any of the other symptoms sound familiar. I recommend discussing with your pedi.
HTH!
-It could be gas pain
-She may need to burp
-You could have a slow letdown and she is frustated, or too fast of a let down and she is choking
-She just want to suck and is frustated by the milk
-I know you will think I'm crazy but it could also be early teething. My ds got his first teeth at 4 months and was teething for several weeks before that it and it shoulds like something he does when he has gum pain.
Good Luck, I know it can be frustating.
This has been happening to me too, starting when LO was 6 weeks. I have overactive letdown... She would suck for a short time and then SCREAM!
What I have been doing :
- pumping for a few minutes before I BF
-feeding her in a more upright position so it doesnt come out so fast
*I have had to pump and give many bottles for the times she wont re-latch and nurse
I hope this helps.
I wanted to tell you that my daughter has started doing the exact same thing. If it's not right when your milk lets down, my guess would be reflux.
If you aren't against it, your pedi can give her an Rx for an antacid & see if that helps.
Good luck! I know how frustrating it is!
First of all, your baby is gorgeous!
My first thoughts were a) gas or needs to burp or b) stuffy nose. DD2 has been doing this lately and it has correlated with her boogeryness... if I stop and clear her out so she can breathe, she latches back on no problem.
Good luck!