Why Is She Doing This?

[Jenifer]

My almost 6 month old daughter has begun moaning and groaning while feeding (for 2 weeks now).  It almost sounds like she's trying to push out a poop (tightening her belly) but there's no pooping.  Sometimes she's even crying (with tears).  It always stops when she's done feeding.

Is this teething?

[tiki_mama]

My DD always cries out when she's feeding if her mouth hurts. Didn't know what it was at first, but the more it happened it always tied in with her teething 

[Jenifer]

Would it be going on for weeks at every feed tho?  I don't see any teeth coming at all.

Do you do anything to help your daughter?

[tiki_mama]

Oh ok, didn't realise it was at every feed

My lo has only done it a few times since teething began, not during every feed by any means, and when it happens I just reassure her and she feeds through it.

I'm not sure then, sorry  I hope you get some answers from the experts xx

[Jenifer]

Well, at some feeds its just a little moaning on and off .. then other times its full on groaning or crying.  A couple weeks ago she was biting and tugging on the breast so I thought it was teething for sure. 

I've tried talking to her, singing to her, giving her a blanket to hold onto, rubbing her legs / feet, changing positions, etc.  It all just distracts her for a few moments and then she starts again. 

One thing - she doesn't do it at the dream feed.  However she was biting / tugging at the dream feed a couple weeks ago too .. 

[Samuel's mum]

Have a read through of this fairly extensive list of possibilities:

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/baby/fussy-while-nursing.html

Is any of this possible?

And a daft question - would you say it was definitely unhappy groaning/moaning? Some babies make odd groaning sounds when feeding but not out of unhappiness necessarily.

[binxyboo]

I know my lo would do a little grunting and pull back from the breast with it still in his mouth as a way of stimulating another letdown. A question which might be silly: Do you wait for her to initiate when it's feeding time or do you put her to the breast because according to your routine it's when she normally eats? I remember this being an issue for us at around 6 months because he wanted to drop a feed and I was trying to make him eat

[Jenifer]

Well, I'd say sometimes its just her moaning (or talking with her mouth full) but then it turns into unhappiness - probably when the flow slows down.  When the first big letdown comes (its the only one I really feel) she doesn't squawk too much but starts again when I think it slows down.  When I put her to the other breast its the same (although I can't feel a letdown on that side).  Does it sound like a slow flow issue?

Binxyboo - You bring up an interesting point.  She does seem to be eating for less "time" lately - sometimes 8 to 10 minutes on one side then 5 to 8 minutes on the other (used to be 10 - 15 on first side).   I feed her every 4 hours (so 4 daytime feeds) plus a dream feed.  We are going to be starting solids in a couple weeks.  Do you think she's ready to drop a feed?   

I didn't think they dropped another feed this early  ... I'll have to check the BW book again.

[binxyboo]

Maybe not? My lo was on a little bit of solids by then . If yours isn't, I would assume she would want to eat more.I don't know, it was just our situation. The book is just a guide, my lo certainly never went by the feeding suggestions in it!

[jbepko]

Whenever my LO seems to struggle at the breast (usually flow issues), i would try a couple of feeds lying down in bed vs sitting upright- he seemed to be able to control it much better. If you double side feed and are really coordinated, you could pump while she nurses and then she might get faster flow on second side. HTH.