Not staying on breast...

[melbrad]

My dd is 11wo and has just started to scream and pull herself off the breast at times.  Usually it's about 10 minutes into a feed.  Is this a cue of telling me she is done or something else?

[daisymelan]

It could possibly be.  Does she last as long between feeds as she used to?  I mean, is she still nursing every 3 hours or whatever was her normal?

[Samuel's mum]

It is possible she's done but usually a finished baby just breaks off when satisfied. Does she start screaming when you encourage her to go back on or just completely out of the blue?

[melbrad]

She starts crying when I try and put her back on. I timed it this last feed.  She is now feeding 20-30 minutes, where she was doing 45

[daisymelan]

Do you think she is gassy?  Do you burp her?  Maybe try burping after five minutes and then try to nurse again.

I'm not too sure what it is as it could be many different things.

Also, can you hear her swallow?  That's how I knew when my little one was done.  The swallowing spread very very far apart.

[melbrad]

Thanks!

[Samuel's mum]

I think maybe she's saying ,'mum I'm done! Don't try and put me back on'. 20-30 minutes is a perfectly decent length. If you'd said 10-15 minutes it still would have been acceptable. Babies get faster as they get older - some quicker than others. I would agree that you should study her swallowing pattern. When it starts to slow down she's onto the hindmilk. It might speed up again if you have a new 'let down'. After a period of slower swallowing she should break off satisfied. I would try and follow her cues and see what happens. If she's coming off very quickly - bobbing off - then maybe it could be gas but it's an unusual time to start.

[melbrad]

Thanks! I'm going today to have a pre and post done after BF and check her weight.  just to ease my mind!

[JacobMarksMummy]

I have to agree with the others, some babies can get v.frustrated if you offer and they've had enough. Its probally just a phase she'll have. In a fortnight it'll be forgotten about  How you check goes well 

[Kate A]

dd went to 10 minutes at the this age.  then she went to 6 at 3 month b-day.  She would do the same thing.  cry and get really made when I put her back on.  if she's done she's done.  you might just have an efficient nurser on your hands.  mine is now 6 months and does 6 minutes with both sides..tops 10.  She was gassy though, those efficient ones swallow alot of air.  does she get the hiccups?  mine did alot.  Gripe water saved us.  good luck

[KellyC]

Hi

I would try winding her and if you get a burp try putting her back on again and if she's had enough she won't be interested.  Does she break off when she poops?  They can't do both at the same time when they're little so we often had to have poop breaks!  The other option is that she's frustrated because it's not coming out fast enough anymore or she's finished that breast if she's efficient (I don't think my LO has ever finished a breast!) and you are coming up to growth spurt time.  Does she feed if you put her on the other breast?  As somebody else said a big clue as to whether she's had enough would be to monitor when she feeds and see if she's still going the same amount of time between feeds.

Kelly x