Extremely fussy nurser is wearing this Momma out

[katiebee18]

DS #2 has been a fussy nurser since about 2 months old so this has gone on almost 5 months now. He latches on, I hear him swallow (most times) but pulls off and cries. Sometimes after 10 minutes or so of this, I hear him really start swallowing and getting a let down and he stays latched on a minute or a few.

It is really wearing on me. He only eats 5 times a day now and sometimes he gets so mad he misses a feeding. I only feed him every 3.4-4 hours because if he doesn't think I am "full" enough, he will get so upset and not eat anyways. So this is to save us both stress.

I have only ever been able to get him to drink an ounce out of a bottle so that doesn't seem to be an option though I am considering exclusively pumping but have a 2.5 yo too which will make that a little tough.

Any suggestions? I have suspected reflux but my ped doesn't think its terrible (and he doesn't cry all through the feeding or choke often) so I have decided not to medicate. I believe he is intolerant to dairy and soy so I have cut those out of my diet for months now.

I have given him some solids but it seems they really upset his stomach (baby oatmeal and sweet pot).

I feel stuck. Plus he was a big baby at birth but loses a few % each time we go to the dr. He is now 14% weight (but 94% height and 82% head)

Anyone else in my boat or has been? Any suggestions?

DS#1 BF constantly but was such a patient nurser for letdowns etc. so this is all brand new to me.

[*Ali*]

Sorry your post got missed.

Have you tried breast compressions?

[Mom-of-boys]

I am definitely not a bf expert, but do you think he's frustrated that he's not getting milk fast enough?  Could you try hand expressing a bit first to get things going? 

[katiebee18]

Yes I always do breast compressions with each feeding. I have tried pumping or hand expressing (even right into his mouth) but he still is not having it. I am at a loss.

[*Ali*]

Has he every been checked for a tongue tie?

Otherwise discomfort from reflux or intolerance are the only other things I can think of. How are his poops?

[katiebee18]

He had a tongue and lip tie corrected at 6 days old. DS#1 had this done too so I was on the look out early.

His poops are much better than they were before I cut out dairy (3.5 months ago) and soy (1.5 months ago) but he occasionally has a foul smelling one or one with mucous still.

I am wondering about reflux myself. He is spitting up and burping a lot more lately for some reason. Maybe that is what I should address now.

[*Ali*]

I think it is also possible for the cut ties to reattach so it might be worth just getting a professional to check this hasn't happened.

Do you think maybe he could be intolerant to something else if he is still having muscous in his poops? Or could hidden dairy or soy be getting into your diet without you realising?  It is amazing what milk is listed as in ingredients sometimes. Things listed as "flavouring" can have milk in for example.

I'd definitely get the reflux checked again as it doesn't sound right he is so fussy still after so long.

[katiebee18]

I suppose it is possible but I am very diligent about label reading and am a dietitian so I feel I can do it pretty soundly. However, I will double check some questionable items. Mucousy poop happens pretty infrequently but still does happen.

His tongue tie was only a class 1-2 so I doubt that would cause a lot of trouble if it did reattached. His lip tie was a class 4 and it still looks pretty good to me. i don't like where I had it done so I would have to have someone else look at it. I might do that.

Thanks and I guess I will address reflux.

[*Ali*]

Good luck