Is this normal for a nursing infant?

Question

My baby is almost six weeks old. Lately she has been pulling off of my breast in the evenings. She acts like she's not getting any milk. She nurses great during the night and in the morning, but once 5 or so rolls around she doesn't latch on and nurse well. This continues until about 10 o'clock when she usually just gives up and goes to sleep. Is this a normal pattern? I tried pumping last night after she kept pulling off and I was only able to get an ounce out of both breasts. Why would this be? She seems to be getting plenty of milk throughout the rest of the day. Also she has plenty of wet diapers. Along with this, she gets a red rash on her cheeks when I nurse her. It looks like baby acne bumps but they turn red when she eats and then the redness goes away a while after. Is this normal? I have an app with her doc today, but wanted to check on here also.

Answer 1

You have just entered the Great Growth Spurt, as I like to call it. Babies go through many growth spurts in the first year, but the 6-8 week growth spurt was the biggest for both of my babies. I can look back at their pictures and tell "before" and "after" pictures! Rest assured, your baby begins nursing more often several days before she actually needs more milk to give your body a chance to produce the milk she is requesting.

However, the fact that she is fussy in the evening is a very common problem with breastfed babies. Check out this article on Kellymom about cluster feeding and fussy evenings: http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/fussy-evening.html

Pumping is not a very good indicator of the amount of milk your baby is getting, especially if you pump right after you feed. If you're only getting an an ounce out of both breasts after she eats, it sounds like your body is making just the right amount for her and there is little left over after she is done. Check out the links below about low milk supply to determine if you really do have a low milk supply or not.

I'm not sure about the rash on her face, except I know that when my babies nursed in the early months, sometimes their faces would turn a little flushed. It wasn't really indicitive of any underlying problem, though. Ask your doctor of course, but if it's coming and going and not causing her any discomfort, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Answer 2

I am a mother of a 6 month old and I only recently stopped nursing. I went through the same thing. You do have less breastmilk in the evenings. Overnight your milk supply increases because you nurse less frequently and you are resting. Throughout the day as you continue to nurse, not only does your infant use up the excess, your activity and stress use up a lot more energy.
There are a couple things you can do. I took an herbal supplement called Fenugreek (available at most grocery stores) which really helped. Its says to take it 3 times a day, I only took it twice a day, and it really helped with the milk production. Also, a I have a few friends that drank Mothers Milk tea or some such thing that also seems to help. Make sure you are getting enough water as well, every time I drank less than 2 qts a day (outside my normal diet) my supply decreased a lot.
I dont know about the rash, I'm sorry. Good luck with nursing, I loved it.

Answer 3

Make sure you stay hydrated during the day this will also help with your milk supply. As far as the bumbs go my son had the same thing it was kind of like a mild heat rash. But he was always hot and hated cloths never anything wrong with him just hot by nature. I didn't breast feed long before I went to just pumping and giving him it in a bottle this seamed to help us both alot. I knew how much he was eating and how much I was pumping. Then my pumping became schedualed and the milk started to flow after about a week. I was getting more than 9 ounces per side per session about 6-8 times a day. It was crazy I could have fed 3 kids.. LOL Deffinactly talk to your doc cause every person and child is different.

Answer 4

Congratulations! My son is six weeks also and he does the same thing. I worried about it at first but my son does have enough wet diapers and dirty ones so I don't worry too much anymore. In the evenings babies tend to be fussy. remember they get stressed also and this is just the time when they get their frustrations out. It's hard to be so little and be uncomfortable. If you have concerns talk to your doctor and get him weighed often that's really the only way to tell if she's getting enough she should be gaining about an ounce a day.

About the rash it could be fabric softener or your detergent even your lotion. The same thing happened to my son but I switched to baby lotion and the problem went away. It's hypoallergenic and it works. Also wipe her down with a baby wipe when you see these bumps and they should clear up really soon.

Good Luck

Answer 5

I'd say it's normal, but your doc should be able to give you more reassurance!

It could be any number of things. Your letdown might be slower in the evening, for many reasons. She might not be feeling great - that time of day is the normal 'witching hour' or 'happy hour' for infants. Only it's much longer than an hour, and not normally much on the happy side.

The redness sounds familiar, my son occasionally did that, nothing to worry about. Do you use a fragranced soap, or put lotion on? Try not using fabric softener, and use a sensitive-skin detergent, for your clothes as well as hers. That could be the culprit, though it's most likely just 'what she does'.

One of the hardest parts of being a new mom for me was relaxing and remembering that everything WAS okay.

Answer 6

My daughter did that at night too. It turns out she wasn't really hungry, and that is why she kept pulling away. She was simply tired and couldn't soothe herself.

Some people can't get a lot out when pumping, even if they are producing enough, so don't let that concern you. As long as she is producing enough wet diapers, you know she isn't going without.

It all sounds very normal. Just take care of yourself (as well as you can with an infant). Get enough fluids, food and rest, as they can affect milk production. Tell your doc about your concerns, just to ease your mind.

Answer 7

6 weeks is a prime time for a growth spurt. Pulling off frequently is typical growth spurt behavoir. I know its maddening (been there!) but it will pass once she gets your supply up to where it needs to be.

Im not sure about the bumps, my son had baby acne, but it didnt go away and come back everyday. Could be an allergy? My son breaks out in a rash on his torso when i have strawberries, but he gets the rash and it stays there.

Answer 8

i had the same think with two of my boys exactly what you explained...they were healthy and plenty off wet diapers so i just waited it out...after a couple weeks its got better....i actually figured after a while that maybe my little one wasn't necessarily hungry like i had thought but infact just wanted to suckle and the milk he was getting was topping him off and making him uncomfortable...........by the was the 5-10 is a notorious fussy baby time......wonder why? i do........good luck ......be shure to take what your dr says with grace...they often jump to conclusions and are quick to suggest formula (DONT DO IT)

Answer 9

you may not have a good milk supply yet....keep getting her to suckle cuz that will help produce more milk...also take a look at ur diet and make sure u are getting a lot of nutrients...dont worry it will get better...talkin to a doc is prolly the best idea though

Answer 10

My baby would do that when she had gas. It took me a while to figure out that's what was going on. She WANTED to nurse, but her little tummy was just upset. It was always worse in the evening.