My 5 months old has started to get very fussy when I'm breastfeeding her. She will pull away and grump and hit me and claw at my shirt. I haven't changed my diet and she otherwise seems fine. She is teething, but she has been for about a month and a half and this fussiness just started a couple of days ago. I am wondering if a) she is letting me know that she wants to ween off of the breast, or b) her teething has become even more painful.
Any suggestions or thoughts?
FYI - I already supplement with a bottle of formula at her last feeding of the day and have for 3 months.
2006-08-01 08:39:52 · 7 answers · asked by jwelsh79 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Babies under the age of about 12-18 months do not self wean. The AAP suggests that you keep nursing her until *at least* 12 months.
The first thing I thought when you said she "will pull away and grump and hit me and claw at my shirt" was that there could be a let down problem...like she was getting frustrated that the milk wasn't there quick enough. Then when you said she gets a bottle every day I was like "YEP!" I think that's it.
Is it usually at the start of your feedings? She may be getting frustrated because she doesn't get a fast reward at the breast like she does with the bottle. Try to relax and imagine the feeling of letdown. Sometimes that helps it to come faster.
Also, there is an exercise that some Lactation Consultants recommend to help with letdown. Imagine standing in front of the sink and turning on the water. You can even go do it to get the actions in your mind. Then when you are getting ready to feed, replay those actions in your mind. Imagine "turning on" the flow of milk when you do it.
See if this makes any difference.
Have you started your period for the first time recently or started taking hormonal birth control? Those things might have had an effect on milk supply.
If it's teething, you could try giving her something cold to chew on before nursing to help her feel better. You could also try giving her Hyland's Teething Tablets before feeding. I think the Hyland's works better and it doesn't numb the gums and teeth up so that things don't feel/taste right while she is nursing. I kind of doubt it's teething though if she doesn't seem to be bothered at other times of the day.
Does it seem to happen at a certain time of day? Or at a certain point in feeding? (Beginning, end, middle, all of the above?)
She may just be distracted. She's old enough that she's probably really interested in what is going on around her. Does she seem to pull off and pay attention to something else for a minute? Maybe removing distractions would help. Try feeding in a quiet room, TV off, etc.
See the link below for some more ideas.
2006-08-01 09:06:32 · answer #1 · answered by momma2mingbu 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
At this age, it's usually because she's discovered the real world. A baby does *not* wean herself at 5 months old, and it seems unlikely that the teething has become more painful and it *only* bothers her while nursing.
But it's absolutely textbook for the "look around and get distracted" stage. It is most common right at 5 months. A baby wants to see what's going on, so she pulls off the breast to look, then she gets mad because she's not nursing. It is areally common! It usually only lasts for a short time (next comes the look-around-while-nursing phase--when she twists her head *and* your breast to see her environment). In the meantime, it will likely help if you try to nurse her in a quiet dark room. If you don't have a quiet room, turn on a white noise machine (the easiest is just an electrical fan, but you can also turn on music with a steady beat). If this works, you'll know the reason for the problem.
2006-08-01 15:47:02 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This might be a sign of both. But I think, if I had to pick one, that it's a sign of her teething becoming more painful. She might have new teeth coming in, or the ones coming in now might be hurting her. Typically children stay at the breast for about six months as a primary source of food, but they can be breast-fed for pretty much as long as both mother and child want it.
My suggestion would be to step up efforts on helping her step up her teething pain management before assuming that this is a weaning sign. Get some baby pain medication for her, use teething rings (I like the ones that fill with water and go into the fridge, very soothing and good for painful teeth), and check her teeth regularly to see where she's cutting them in.
http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/general/teeth/teething.html is a good place to learn about teething pains and easing them.
I wish you luck with your baby girl. It's a happy, wonderful time in her life, even if she's acting fussy. Every mother is fortunate, in spite of the hardships that involve being one!
2006-08-01 15:46:39 · answer #3 · answered by Meredia 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm having the same issue. To allay any sore gum issues before nursing, I give my baby Hyland's teething tablets about 10 minutes before I nurse. If my baby is still fussy at the breast, I find that I can pop him off, snuggle or play with him for about 5 minutes, and then try again, using the other breast. I don't know if he is feeling over/under stimulated, just needs my undivided attention, or what, but this has been working really well for us.
Good luck!
2006-08-01 16:46:10 · answer #4 · answered by mylittletribe 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to this website--it offers many different reasons baby might be fussy during nursing. http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/baby/fussy-while-nursing.html
2006-08-01 15:44:23 · answer #5 · answered by jilldaniel_wv 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
she may just be hot... keep trying she probably is just begining to become more aware of her surroundings and of herself
2006-08-01 15:45:30 · answer #6 · answered by leo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ear infection? it would hurt to swallow
2006-08-01 15:43:59 · answer #7 · answered by Library Eyes 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋