Crying at Breast

[@llli*emaurerr]

I currently have a 7 week old who has developed some frustrating (for both!) problems. She was a fairly good nurser up until about 2 weeks ago. Now, she will latch on for just a few seconds to up to 2 minutes, and then delatch and start hysterically crying (sometimes she just won't latch from the beginning and start crying with me just putting her in position). At first, she would do this at one or two feedings a day, but now it has escalated to almost every feeding. Sometimes, I can get her calmed with a pacifier and then latch her on for another 5 minutes before she starts again. In the rare instance that she does nurse without crying, she latches and delatches constantly and pulls at the nipple, to where I still doubt she is getting in a good feeding. About the only feeding she has not cried at yet is her middle of the night feeding around 2am or 3am, but that one is not without the latching/delatching/pulling/falling asleep.

She was diagnosed with reflux around 4 weeks and is on medication for that. So, at first, I was thinking this behavior was related to that. I have also tried to eliminate dairy from my diet, but that does not seem to be helping. I introduced the bottle this week, and she will take my breastmilk from a bottle with no fussing at all . I would think she wouldn't take my milk at all if there was something wrong with it.

So, with all that said, I am desperate to find a solution so we can start enjoying breastfeeding again. I don't think either of us enjoy it just yet. I try not to let my frustration show while feeding her, but I have admittedly had my meltdown moments right along with her.

Any insight/support would be wonderful!

[@llli*sentimental.geek]

Do you think you might have a forceful letdown issue? I had major problems with this and didn't start noticing problems until DD was around 6 weeks old.

Check out this link and see if any of it sounds familiar - if so, there are things you can do about it! My DD would also take a bottle no problems, but I couldn't blame her; it was just a slow drip and my letdown was a fast spray (I could literally shoot across the room!).

Also, regarding the reflux - what positions are you using to nurse her? Reflux babies like to be upright, and this goes for during nursing too. You could try nursing upright in a sling or wrap, or you could try a "biological nurturing" type position - lean back and get comfy propped up on pillows/cushions, and put your baby tummy to tummy with you, but upright. Most times they will latch themselves on with little to no help from mom, and feeding upright could help make the reflux hurt a bit less.

[@llli*elimaka]

with sentimental.geek I had OALD too and same latch-unlatch and pulling issues.and nursing in the sling is definitely a lifesaver!
keep us posted!

[@llli*megmog]

Hi - I had a very similar experience as you describe and it was all down to silent reflux (and I suspect OALD in the early weeks complicated things).

Are you keeping a close eye on the meds? My daughter is on weight based meds (Ranitidine & domperidone) and it seems that every 3 weeks (or sooner if she's had a growth spurt) means feeding is tricky. In fact she's now 7 months and she was crying at her bedtime feed tonight as she's rocketed in weight again.

Bionurturing positions seem to work well for OALD and reflux. Oddly lieing down to feed seems to be good as well (although this doesn't make sense for reflux I know!).

It does get easier the older they get as the reflux improves and they learn to cope with how your milk works.

[@llli*julisuz]

I posted with the EXACT SAME problem! http://forums.llli.org/showthread.php?t=79295
I know how frustrating it is, mama! My LO does the crying/delatching all day except the middle of the night. I tried everything for OALD and gas, and he is on zantac .35mL 3X/day for suspected reflux. I have no idea what the issue is, but I wanted to let you know that you're not alone. We had him in for an upper GI last week and we are waiting on the results. I'll let you know what the Dr says, but I'm right there with you, mama!

[@llli*emaurerr]

Thank you all for the support, and it's comforting that someone is going through the same thing right now (although I hate that you have to go through it at all julisuz)! I spoke with a lactation consultant today, and she suggested temporarily trying a nipple shield to see what happens since she will readily take the bottle. First try - no crying at all and she nursed really well! I'm hoping this is a temporary solution, as I know the problems with using the nipple shield (diminished milk supply, etc.). However, in the mean time, it's working!!

Her last feeding - she took the breast with no fussing after first putting her on with the nipple shield and then taking it off when she took a break!

I'll be pumping to assure that my supply stays up, but for now, my sanity is temporarily back in order.

Julisuz please do keep me posted on what you find out with your little one!

[@llli*baby.mum]

It seems that the problem is OALD and since the nipple shield prevents the full force of the gush to enter your baby's mouth at once, it will help. The biological nurturing position and side-lying positions both help with controlling OALD, can you try them both w/o the nipple shield to see if it truly is a forceful letdown?

[@llli*julisuz]

I just wanted to let you know that my LO's Dr called with his upper GI results and it appears that everything is normal. So I guess I'm ruling out reflux as his problem. Which is good and bad, because now I'm back at square one. I saw my LS yesterday, though, and she seemed to think it was just a bit of colic and only seems to affect him when he's eating. I interpreted that as being really gassy and having tummy pains that maybe aren't being helped by what I've been trying. So maybe that's part of the issue with your LO as well. I agree with people saying that the OALD has a part in it, although my LO doesn't cry during let down, it's usually well into the feeding when he starts crying for the first time. But it sounds like you're doing what you can and doing everything right, which is all you can really control. Sometimes I just put my LO in his sling or swing and let him calm down for awhile, and then when he wakes up I try again if he seems hungry. I guess the "this too shall pass" mentality is what's needed with something like this. Hang in there, mama, I think you're doing a great job and someday will look back on this and be glad you stuck it out!

[@llli*emaurerr]

I have tried both positions, and they seem to get the same result as all the other positions. Saturday mornings first two feedings were beautiful - no shield, calm, perfect. Then, the rest of the day, she started fussing either well into the feeding or before even latching, but she took to the shield or bottle just fine. Today has been a bad day to where she will not latch without the shield, and she is fussing at that a little too.

I totally agree that the "this to shall pass" attitude has got to be taken, otherwise we'll go insane! :-)

[@llli*subelite]

emaurerr,

Hang in there! You are doing a great job! I am also subscribing to the "this too shall pass" motto.
I'm logged on now to get some support to help me "hang on" for another day.

-Gabe's mom