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Offline TinyTiff51

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Fussy while breastfeeding
« on: February 03, 2006, 22:18:42 pm »
Can anyone give me some insight here?  My son is 8 weeks old, and for the past few weeks, whenever I try to nurse him, he will suck for a few seconds and pull off, suck a few seconds and pull off.  Then, he'll arch his back and throw his head back and cry.

He is currently on Prevacid for acid reflux, but I can't for the life of me figure out why he does this!  It does not happen on every single feeding, but it does happen at least once a day, and not always on the same feeding/feedings.

I have consulted lactation consultant after lactation consultant.  They all have ideas, but none of them seem to be correcting this problem.  Today, I ended up giving him a bottle of my expressed milk because both he and I were having such a rough time.

I need help!  I am about ready to throw in the towel on this whole breastfeeding thing.  It is often times frustrating for both him and me.

If anyone has some insight, I'd greatly appreciate any help you can give me.  Thank you!
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Offline Idahomom

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Re: Fussy while breastfeeding
« Reply #1 on: February 03, 2006, 22:26:44 pm »
How often are you nursing?  I had the same problem with my lo and it turned out I was nursing him too often, every 1 to 1.5 hours.  I was mistaking other cues for hunger.  He also has a cow's milk intolerance, so I had to cut dairy out of my diet.  When we were in the middle of this problem I read that colicky infants will often root for a nipple only to reject it once they find it.  Please don't give up just yet, I know exactly how you are feeling.  I had a very hard time because every time my lo would bob off the nipple, milk would spray everywhere!! I know, TMI, but it was very frustrating!! 
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Offline First Time Mom

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Re: Fussy while breastfeeding
« Reply #2 on: February 03, 2006, 22:37:30 pm »
Do you feed both sides? Around that age my dd got fussy sometimes and would do the same thing so I would switch sides and she would be fine. Sometimes when she continued to fuss and start scream/crying I would give her my finger to suck on to calm her down then we would start over again. Also, is your lo crying before hand? Mine would, causing her to gulp air and get gas, causing her to arch and cry so I would have to burp her and give her gas drops which helped. I agree with the last post about possibly feeding to often as well, this could cause him to fuss if he's not hungry at that time (especially as you mention he does not do this every feed).
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Offline Cassie

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Re: Fussy while breastfeeding
« Reply #3 on: February 04, 2006, 03:43:42 am »
I am having the exact same problem.  It is so frustrating.  Palmer (also 8 weeks) was nursing fine until a week ago, now he often refuses to eat. This results in him being up more at night because he is hungry.  He eats every 3 hours during the day... usually 5am, 8am, 11am, 2pm, 5pm and 8pm but I will feed him earlier if he acts hungry.

Tonight I resorted to getting him half asleep and then nursing him.  He pulls off/arches/cries.  He is also on Prevacid.  We just started it Wed as he was on Pepcid before that.  This all started on Monday so we thought maybe the Pepcid wasn't working.

If you find a solution please let me know.
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Cassie (Formerly Duncan'sMom!)
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Offline aj's mom

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Re: Fussy while breastfeeding
« Reply #4 on: February 04, 2006, 18:48:04 pm »
My DD, now 3 months old has the same problem and about a month ago we even put her on Zantac thinking it was reflux, but it turns out she is teething!  The sucking is painful for her.  I think that in conjunction with the teething, what Idaho mom was saying makes so much sense - I didn'tknow colicky babies would root only to reject the boob - so I am assuming my DD was hurting from teething as well as just being fussy/colicky and I was mistaking her cues.  I also would spray everywhere when she would come off!  Hang in there.  What I have been doing is just if she starts to fuss, I take her off, forget about eating for a little while, calm her down and they try again like 10 minutes later.  It used to be SOOOOO frustrating because I was thinking she was starving and wouldn't stay on, but now I just listen to her - if she fusses, fine, no need to eat right away, calm her down and try again later.  It has saved my sanity!  Sometimes also babies just want to suck - even for like 5 minutes to calm down before a feeding... My DD has started wanting to eat, will eat for a few minutes, fuss, then I give her the paci, she calms down, then I try the boob again (later).  Hope this helps... I feel your pain!!
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Offline potatoe

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Re: Fussy while breastfeeding
« Reply #5 on: February 05, 2006, 03:59:57 am »
hi, He started fussing exactly on the day he turned 4 mths. EVerytime I pull up my shirt to nurse him, he would be screaming and crying. I tried calming him down and start again for a few times eventually gave up after a few times. He is happy to take the bottle with EBM. He can play indpendently, sleeps well too. He wasnt on any acid reflux medicine. I am very worried that this kind of behaviour will stay on. His carer told me my milk is watery, I am worried that this is the sign that my milk is running out. Anyone can help me to get him to at least take the breast at night so that I can keep up with milk production? Even when he would take the breast, he usually only takes one side at a time. is it normal that my milk is not thick?
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Offline kim&savannah

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Re: Fussy while breastfeeding
« Reply #6 on: February 05, 2006, 04:53:39 am »
I ahd a similar problem around 2-3 months and a lactation consultant suggested that my letdown might be either too fast or too slow.  She told me to pump before I fed dd--I would just take out the first ounce or two--that got my flow started and then if it was coming out too fast, it got it past that initial fast let down.  ( I honestly cannot for the life of me remember what I decided about the speed--I'm thinking it was too slow because it seems like she had more issues in the afternoon/evening, which is when my supply was lower anyway, but its been too long and my brain is too far gone to remember details :D)

EIther way, the pumping first really helped us, and it got me a nice supply in the freezer!

~Kim
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Offline Jasper's mom

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Re: Fussy while breastfeeding
« Reply #7 on: February 06, 2006, 01:50:17 am »
Hey there!  Sounds like I did last week...same thing was happening (see "Torticollis" under "Activity" message board).  So last week I went to the lactaction consultant who referred me to the physiotherapist.  Apparently, my son started having these breastfeeding problems because the muscles in the left side of his neck are tight.  May be a shot in the dark, but is your son favouring one side?
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Offline Cassie

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Re: Fussy while breastfeeding
« Reply #8 on: February 06, 2006, 22:16:36 pm »
well Palmer has been doing better the past day or so.  Still so issues with his last feeding, but much better.  So either my dairy/soy avoidance is working or the Prevacid is working.  Or he has just figured it out.  Who knows!
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Cassie (Formerly Duncan'sMom!)
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Offline NewMommy724

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Re: Fussy while breastfeeding
« Reply #9 on: February 12, 2006, 02:36:44 am »
When I read your original post, it sounded just like my son at age 2 mos or so. It was reflux for him. I was going to suggest that to you, but then you said he was already on medication for that. Hopefully you've found that the meds are working. If not, mention it to your dr again and maybe the dosage needs to be increased. My son takes Zantac twice a day and another one (with a really long name) four times a day -- and he doesn't even have it that bad -- doesn't spit up or anything. He was just always fussy during and after nursing. Anyway, hope all's well.
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