Hi, am really hoping some of you may be able to shed some light on my LO's recent feeding issues. First a bit of background:
DS was 9lb13 when born and is now 7 weeks- and is just over 12lb now. He's on a 3hr easy. He's always been a very good eater- gulps it down between 10 and 25mins at the most. He has also been a bit of a fidgety eater-likes to bob on and off, but that was usually related to him concentrating on filling his pants, once back on, he'd continue eating happily.
However - in the past couple of weeks we've had the occasional feed where he'd be quite fussy/grizzly-just while I was feeding him, and would be fine once the feed was over and we moved on to changing his nappy or even just walking round with him propped on my shoulder. But the past 2 days, and now today as well, he has done this at pretty much every feed (except the 2 middle of the night ones- he only takes about 25ml during his dreamfeed). His pattern is this:
He drinks fast for about the first 3-5mins, and then starts pulling off (while still keeping suction - ouch
) , makes a little fuss and then looks for the nipple again with mouth open - but the moment he latches on again and does a suck or two, he pulls off again fussing and we do this over and over with frequent burping in case that's the problem, and he gets more and more fussy/grizzly until I give up and put him on my shoulder and the total amount of time he's had drinking is only about 5-10mins max.
I can often still hear a swallow or two so there is still milk there,
I've tried leaning forward in case the flow is too slow,
I've tried leaning back in case the flow is too fast (this occasionally seems to work for a minute or so)
My supply does vary a bit as the day wears on - definitely gets less so that we need two boobs instead of just one. But he fusses just as much for the morning feed when I've got stacks, as he does at his 7pm feed.
He always stops fussing as soon as the feed is over so I don't think it's wind or gas or you'd think it'd keep bothering him - and he doesn't look or sound like he's in pain when he's grizzling/fussing, more like frustrated.
I also haven't changed my diet at all so I don't think it can be the taste - he drinks fine to start with anyway.
What do you think it is
?? He doesn't seem to do this at night when he wakes me for his feeds (every 3-5hrs), just drinks for 8-12 mins or so and then goes to sleep. He hasn't been sleeping any less at night since this behaviour began.
Even though he's opening his mouth like he wants a bit more, he's not acting overly hungry- am I trying to feed him too often??
On monday and half of tuesday I gave him some intensive bottle training (expressed almomst every daytime feed and fed by bottle) cos at about 6weeks he'd suddenly showed resistance to the bottle (which we'd only bothered trying on him once or twice a week before and he'd been fine)- But he showed similar fussing then as well - after the initial few minutes of gutsing (40-70ml), he'd need a burp and then start fussing and refusing anymore. He did start taking more by bottle happily by the end of the day - but would still fuss towards the end of the feed - the most I'd got into him was 125ml. If he hadn't been doing similar fussing on the bottle then I'd be suspicious that he was showing a preference fo rthe bottle over my breast -but he seems to behave similarly on both. Am I trying to feed him too much???
All I know is that my nipples are getting one helluva thrashing! And he's a very strong little boy- I hate having to struggle with his thrashing about and scratching my boobs!
