XP: Fussy at Breast

Mmm79 · May 2013

Over the past few days DS (9 weeks) has become increasingly fussy at the breast. It's not at every feeding, but happened at last night's 7pm feed and this morning's 8:30 (but not at the two overnight feeds). He all os a sudden starts to whimper then cry with my breast still in his mouth. He typically does't pull off but continues to cry. It's getting stressful for both of us. I would assume that if milk was coming too fast, he'd pull off (which has happened occasionally in the past ). I thought it might be milk coming too slow or not at all, but I have tried massaging my breast and this doesn't seem to help either. And I know there's milk there, because when I take him off, I massage and can see it. Any advice? Similar experiences?

Shaungela · May 2013

Maybe hes having some gas issues? Is there something in your diet that changed?

Mmm79 · May 2013

He's actually had a less gurgly tummy this week than the previous two weeks and had 2 poops and 2 good burps around the 8:30 feeding, which makes me think it's not gas (and each time he gets really fussy I will take him off and burp him then return him to the breast where the fussing starts all over). I've tried to think of any dietary stuff that's different and can't really think of anything. I've cut back on dairy due to the gurgles he was having last week.

bethLenell · May 2013

I hate to say it but you may have to cut out dairy completely. On of my good friends had to do it because they found out her DS had an allergy to casein. Maybe start keeping a food journal and see if there are any similar types of food eaten before a fussy feeding.

hopefulmom81 · May 2013

DD went through a few spells of this as well when she was BFing. No cause ever found.

I attributed it to either it being late and my milk flow was too slow and frustrating or it being early and my letdown was too strong and overwhelming. It is possible he is okay for the middle of the night feeds because he is drowsier.

This is kind of silly, but could it be pre-teething where the teeth are moving around under the gums and just causing a bit of pain or maybe an ear infection where the sucking is hurting him? Is he any fussier than normal otherwise?

luvmyducks · May 2013

DD was like this--she had silent reflux. I think she was so sleepy during night feedings that she wouldn't put up much of a fight. We didn't get her dx until 4m

Follow your instincts and make a Pedi appt if you think it is more than just fussiness/gas.

amidkiff · May 2013

DD did this too. I did stop drinking milk, thinking it may have been the cause, but it didn't seem to help. She just kind of grew out of it. I'm thinking it took a took about 2-3 weeks to stop completely.

ct103 · May 2013

My DD has been a little fussy at the breast recently, but as per my above post, I've been feeding her more by the clock than on demand. Meaning, there has probably been several times when I've put my boob in her face when she's not been hungry! No wonder she's been fussy! Not sure if this applies to you as well, but I thought I would share in case it does.

MrsRiceARoni · May 2013

My DD will do this occasionally, she'll drink fine for a minute or two than start fussing. I found that if I switch her to the other breast she will usually calm down and once she empties the second breast I put her back on the first. I think maybe it's when she's more thirsty and she gets frustrated when the flow slows down on the first side and she's still really hungry and doesn't have the patience for the slower flow. Putting her on the second side that is still full allows her to get a little more food quickly so that she can get her hunger quenched a little before the flow slows down again. (Of course I am just guessing on most of this but it seems to work for me.)

Mmm79 · May 2013

Thanks ladies. We had the same issues again yesterday, except that for some day feedings he was fine and others he was fussy. I did notice this morning that when he got fussy he seemed to be pushing against the breast with his little hand, so I am leaning toward it being him getting impatient after the initial letdown. But it's hard to explain to a baby that I need him to do his job and stimulate things in order to get more mile or another let down. I'll bring this up with the LCs at tomorrow's BF group in case they have any suggestions.

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XP: Fussy at Breast

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