My LO for the past 2 weeks has pulled off and on at times and just cries and sometimes won't go back on. When he drinks pumped milk in a bottle he never pulls off. I don't think he is getting his milk fast enough from my boob as well I don't think he is getting enough. When I pump he gets 3oz. He is 11 weeks tomorrow. In turn I get so worked up. I called the dr and she mentioned milk protein allergy testing? Has anyone experienced this while bf. I thought it was gas, but I don't know. When I burp him he screams as well. Unless he is fully satisfied from eating which normally only happens in the morning.
-
Could it be gas?
-
If you think it is a supply problem, you can drink more water and/or Mother's Milk Tea.
If you think it is a milk protein (we had this) you can stop milk for about 2 weeks and see if it improves. Allergy testing under 3 years old is really not very accurate.
If you think it is because he has to work harder, you can try putting slower flows on your bottles (i.e. premie nipples).
-
Lo does this sometimes too and I think for him it's usually gas. He also screams while I burp him sometimes but theme latches on better.
-
My LO is 4 months and recently started doing this as well-- in fact, she has basically refused to nurse at all now
I think it is because she has gotten used to the relative ease that bottles offer (I am just going back to work and so the last few weeks we've given her more bottles to get her used to them) and doesn't want to work as hard given that my milk doesn't flow as fast. Unfortunately, I don't have a whole lot in the way to offer, other than to say I am there with you! The preemie/slower flow nipples is an idea-- maybe we will try that too.
-
LO used to get mad when my milk wasn't coming down fast enough for her. All i could do was switch nurse, and it seemed to help. http://kellymom.com/bf/got-milk/supply-worries/letdown/
-
@caffeinated: My LO gets mad if my milk doesn't let down fast enough too.
-
What's the flow rate on the nipples? If it's not newborn or slow then he might prefer the faster flow. When I was giving bottles to both of my boys early on I used the slowest flow so that he works harder to get the milk just like breast feeding.
-
@abmomma. I feel it is the same thing here. I get so frustrated and worked up and just want to cry sometimes bc I can't look at him so sad.
I just can't imagine its something I am eating as it varies when he does this. Never in the am and usually not at night.
If it is gas, what can I do about it other then burping him?
-
@MrsBeachyBaby: It sounds like it could be a combination of things. Have you thought about looking into whether you have a supply issue? I had a bad combination of fast letdown-slow flow-low supply. Things got better once i took domperidone and my supply increased.
-
@MrsBeachyBaby: LO started doing this at about 8 weeks! I met with numerous lactation consultants and they said that if it was a milk protein issue we would be able to tell from his stools. As long as the baby's bowel movements are yellow and seedy then the milk thing isn't usually an issue. If it was they'd be more green and mucousy apparently. From pumping we determined that I let down REALLY fast. So I don't have an oversupply of milk but it basically comes out all at once. That combined with a super gassy baby is not a good combination
I wish I had advice but I've been exclusively pumping and feeding LO through bottles for the past week because I was so stressed out over it. Feedings were turning into long drawn out crying fests (for both of us!!). I totally know how you feel. Hugs! I hope you can figure it out!
-
My la Leche league keeps bringing up laid back breast feeding. It is essentially very slouched with pillows behind you back and baby against your tummy. They say it is good for a fast letdown.
-
@erwoo: we use the level 1 nipples with the dr brown's bottles; I think they are supposed to be low flow? Is there a slower one?
@mrsbeachbaby and @running elley: there have been a lot of tears at our house the last several days as well. I feel like u am failing my LO and have turned to exclusively pumping/bottle feeding too. I think it is having an impact on my supply though (or maybe the supply was part I'd the probl to begin with) as my pumping output is decreasing. So depressing!
-
@abmamma: I feel the same way and, as frustrating as actually nursing was, I miss it a lot!!
-
How would I know if it is a supply issue? His poops vary in color and are sometimes green, but not mucusy.
-
@MrsBeachyBaby: you can try giving gas drops before you feed him (liek 20 min before or so). Our pedi recommended that.
-
@abmamma: You also may want to consider that it may be a growth spurt and he's just getting hungry.
If you are worried about your supply (although three ounces is a lot at 11 weeks), try to see if you could do a pre and post feed weighing. You take the baby to the Dr. or somewhere that has a newborn scale and weigh the baby and then nurse. After nursing (don't change a diaper or anything) weigh him again and estimate how much he took.
-
My lo used to do this a lot. It was so frustrating that I went to all pumping for a while until we could get that under control. I have no advice other than I know what you're going through. I suffered through it and now she is a much more efficient eater.
-
@thehistoryofus
3oz is a lot? He looks like be his starving.
Just now he ate at 6 and again at 915. He ate for 2 min on my left and started screaming on and off. When I pump milk only comes out of two holes. I think he gets frustrated. Then he went to the right and ate himself to sleep. I feel like he has to be content bc he sleeps about 8-9hrs straight then wakes eats and goes back down for 2-4 hrs. I am going to dr today and an going to ask to do a weight feeding. I will update on what comes about.
-
@abmamma: I think that is the slowest. Hmm... Not sure. Maybe try cutting out all gassy foods (broccoli, cauliflower, peppers, etc.) and see how he is. Also, your son's ped's suggestion wouldn't hurt either. A lot of babies seems to be milk protein allergic their first year of life. My oldest was not milk and soy allergic (blood in stool), but he outgrew at 15 months.
-
@MrsBeachyBaby: There is a growth spurt AND wonder week around 12 weeks so it may just be normal "signaling" the breast to produce more milk or just frustration with new mental milestones, either way it's totally normal. If it were a protein intolerance you would DEFINITELY know by more ways than just fussiness.... he'd be gassy, have reflux, green mucousy poo, and possibly a whole slew of other symptoms. I know for P when she comes back from my moms she seems to get more frustrated nursing & sometimes even goes on strike from the breast for a feed or two (we don't bottle feed at home so it's a just wait it out kind of deal).
Kellymom has a great post on bottlefeeding a breastfed baby & as long as we feed P how kellymom lined it out then we don't have any issues. She suggests:
1. Always using the slowest flow nipple.
2. Feeding baby in an upright position (not cradle)
3. Position the bottle almost parallel to the ground (not up & down)
4. Let baby take the bottle nipple into it's mouth like it would the breast (let him control it)
5. Make the feeding last ATLEAST 10 minutesDoing these with P helped TONS. Just remember that babies have lots of growth spurts in the first year and it's in these fussy at the breast times that our bodies are signaled to make more & sustain the nursing relationship. Maybe try nursing him to sleep for naps?.. Or as soon as he wakes up when it's almost like a dream feed? These are my go to feeding "situations" when P goes through spurts, wonder weeks, or nursing strikes. Definitely try and get him on the breast as much as possible to help maintain your supply & give yourself a pat on the back.. you've already made it farther than alot of moms! Keep up the good work! =)
-
@mrsbeachbaby: keep us posted! I'll be interested as to what they say about the pumping in particular as I often feel like I'm not getting as much out as I have in the breast! I'm emaing my lactation consultant today too.
-
Here are some good resources
http://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/pumping/milkcalc/
http://kellymom.com/bf/got-milk/supply-worries/enough-milk/Here are breastfeeding positions. The laid back breastfeeding is recommended for fast letdown.
http://www.llli.org/faq/positioning.html -
Thanks ladies for all the suggestions and helpful tips. Deep down, I had a feeling he is very frustrated and hungry after and during feedings. He is still an active, alert, happy baby, but my assumption was right. We got to the Dr's office today and once he went on the scale he was the SAME weight as 2 weeks ago :(. I felt so deflated and feel like I have been failing him and letting this go on for 2 weeks. The Dr. expressed his concern and suggested supplementing. My husband and I had talking about possibly supplementing, especially when we noticed he was way more fussy in the late evening, like not content, even though after some time he would fall asleep and sleep well.
The Dr. suggested pumping every 2-3 hrs to see how much I am producing and feeding him every 3 hrs with that milk and then 2-3 ounces of formula and come back on Monday. He tested his stool for an allergy, which there was no blood in it, so it was negative. I am going to try this till Monday and see what the outcome is. I was thinking of consulting a lactation consultant regarding increasing my supply, although I just feel like my supply is not filling and made up of skim milk :(. At the 3 pumpings I have done today since being home, I have gotten 2, 4oz bottles and 1 3oz bottle. Seems like the right amount he should be getting, but he is not gaining :(.
-
@MrsBeachyBaby: I know what it's like with the baby not gaining weight. My son has been a failure to thrive since just about the same exact time. It is heartbreaking to not see scale move and it is thrilling when it goes up. He was EBF until he was 6 months old when he got solids and 9 months old when he got formula for a month and went back to EBF with solids.
Look into a probiotic because it will help if there is a reason he isn't digesting. You had mentioned green stools which means that the milk is going right through him (running through too fast). We fought green stools forever. Some things that helped us was probiotics (these were in formula). He was also MSPI through he still didn't gain after dropping those. There are a few baby probiotics you could try.
There are some places you can get the caloric value of your milk evaluated. I couldn't find one but maybe you can.
Your doing the best for your baby. You will get past this and your baby will grow.
-
@MrsBeachyBaby: Please don't feel like you are failing him! I went through the same thing with my LO and i am glad i figured out that it was supply issues that caused a lot of the problems we were having. We had the green stool issue, and i think the low supply contibuted to the slow flow of milk...and LO would just get so frustrated that she wouldnt hang out at the boob long enough to get to the hind milk.
Once i got on domperidone, all those problems disappeared. It was such a relief to no longer be so ANGRY when breastfeeding. If that isnt an option, i would definitely look into supplementing. Good luck!! I know, it is so hard!
-
@MrsBeachyBaby: if its in the evening and not so much you could have a lower supply at night versus morning since it is naturally lower just from the stress and goings on in the day. . My LO went through an agonizing time where she just cried cried cried at the breast. To be honest still not quite sure why? Reflux? Fast let down? Low evening supply? Overtired? Not that hungry? Nursing strike? This was from like month 2-3. It eventually has gotten better while she's gotten older: I'm sorry this is happening
I know how heartbreaking it can be.
I think it is because she has gotten used to the relative ease that bottles offer (I am just going back to work and so the last few weeks we've given her more bottles to get her used to them) and doesn't want to work as hard given that my milk doesn't flow as fast. Reply
Subscribe to our newsletter
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
26 comments