Miserable

[bartlettpear]

I'm like THIS close to quitting.
He pulls off and screams bloody murder. He doesn't want to latch on and screams bloody murder.
This all started about a week ago. He was nursing just fine and now it's like he forgot what to do, he doesn't want to eat an cries and is so fussy. He can't possibly be getting enough with all that...

Does this get easier? I would think at 8 weeks it would've gotten better but I feel like its getting worse!

 

[schmetterling]

I'm so sorry you're having a rough time!!! First of all, don't give up, you can do this!! You WILL get through this and look back and be so glad you pushed through.

First of all, you need to contact a lactation consultant or la leche league leader. They will be your best resource to figuring out what the problem is.

It could be a number of things. Are you in any pain? My daughter had a couple of times around that age where she did the same thing. I was crying and miserable as well, and to this day am not sure what was wrong. Has someone checked for a tongue or lip tie? Is the latch good? Does it seem like the milk is letting down too hard? Have you started eating anything different the last week?

My suggestion, after you contact a professional, is to try nursing him in a warm bath tub, with no clothes on. The warm water and skin to skin is supposed to take them back to their instinct to nurse. I've tried it with a distracted toddler and it seemed to work. Also, try not to stress (easier said than done, I know). This will get better!!!!!! Wishing you the best of luck! You are a wonderful mama!

 

[schmetterling]

And here is a link to kellymom's article on possible reasons why baby might cry at the breast:

https://kellymom.com/bf/concerns/child/fussy-while-nursing/#problemsolving

 

[Janers]

I second everything that Schmeterling said... I just want to say that I had lots of problems breastfeeding at the beginning and all the work is definitely worth it. You can do it!

Definitely get some help, I saw a le leche league leader, and a lactation consultant both helped me immensely!

I also can't say enough about skin to skin contact, when my girl was still wee I had her in a diaper against my bare chest as much as possible. I had an oversized house coat to wrap around both of us (however my baby was born in the winter).

It is very hard to get through these rough periods, you are doing a fabulous job getting through it thus far! Your baby is lucky to have such a determined Mama!

 

[Kellen]

The same thing happend to me. I knew she knew how, but she would fight me tooth and nail. Unfortunately it just takes time. If you need to, don't feel guilty about putting your LO down, walking away for a couple minutes, taking a deep breath and trying again. Trying having your DH rub your shoulders while you nurse. It helped me to relax and my LO picked up on my calmer emotions and began latching again.

 

[bartlettpear]

Thanks ladies...

His latch is fine but he is pissed that my milk isn't coming faster after the initial letdown and refuses to relatch. I found la leche league near me and I'm calling tomorrow.
I'll have to try the warm bath, that sounds relaxing for him!
And I'm not in any pain... Just he seems to be miserable while trying to eat it makes me so sad! Sad cause he's fussy and noncooperative and MUST be hungry!
Every week I tell myself... Just one more week. So, one more week. Just waiting for this to get less difficult...

 

[Kellen]

I know I already commented. But I just wanted to say "Good Job!" BF is way more difficult that I had initially imagined. So kudos for you for sticking with it even when it makes you sad.

 

[bartlettpear]

Yeah, as I was feeding him I jus was thinking of what I THOUGHT it would look like: easy, sleep, calm, bliss. No. Its quite the opposite. Frantic, loud, screaming, difficult. But when he latches and eats for those 5 minutes I remember why I stick it out every week

 

[Kellen]

Just be thankful you don't have 4 wires attached to him! LOL My LO was in the NICU for six days (she thought the whole breathing thing was overrated). She'd latch, suckle and then pull off and scream bloody murder! The LC was just as confused as I was. I can remember sitting in her room, holding her and crying. At one point I told DH: "She hates me! That's why she won't latch!" We ended up using a nipple shield for about 2 weeks before she suddenly decided that BF is the best thing in the entire world. Now she tries to crawl up my shirt or pull my tops down in order to get her "rang rang" (which is what she has dubbed my breasts). I hope that your LLL is able to help. I probably would have given up if not for the awesome support of my DH and the LC's in the NICU.

 

[CupcakeBaby]

We had/have this. I think it's partly due to her silent reflux. And partly due to my OALD.

She's now used to milk pouring out at her, and when it slows down she gets angry!

 

[Janers]

That is the best thing you can do, take it weeks by week, or day by day!

I really hope that the Le Leche League helps you out, I went there when I was about to give up and they encouraged me enough to keep going! I still go to meetings regularly to help encourage other Mamas.

Good luck!

 

[F0xybabe]

My lo did this around the same time as yours too. I remember continually asking the clsc worker if she was getting enough food. I was positive she was starving and that's why she was crying so much. But she kept gaining weight and kept having wet nappies.

I bought a nipple shield which really helped! She latched much easier, I only had to use the nipple shield a handful of times and I noticed her latch was much better after each use.

Hold out! Honestly breast feeding is soo hard at first and it would be so much easier to switch to formula, but after the two month hurdles it gets a million times easier! It's so worth it. I'm glad I stuck it out! It's all a vague memory now believe it or not

 

[bartlettpear]

I just wanted to thank y'all and let you know that I'm still in this BFing game
It's gotten better and I'm so happy I've stuck with it

 

[Kellen]

I just wanted to thank y'all and let you know that I'm still in this BFing game
It's gotten better and I'm so happy I've stuck with it

Congrats for sticking with!

 

[noon_child]

I just wanted to thank y'all and let you know that I'm still in this BFing game
It's gotten better and I'm so happy I've stuck with it

They often get angrier at slow milk when they are having growth spurt. If it is better now then maybe that's what is was? These usually last 2-5 days so it is worth persisting through the horror!

 

[bartlettpear]

Yeah he wasn't doing well with the slow flow but after a few days it was all good can't blame him, it's gotta be frustrating but now be isn't fussy on the boob anymore, thank goodness!!

 

[joo]

Yeah he wasn't doing well with the slow flow but after a few days it was all good can't blame him, it's gotta be frustrating but now be isn't fussy on the boob anymore, thank goodness!!

I have OALD & LO would get angry when flow slowed. I did breast compressions but yhings eventually worked out. Keep going, you're doing a fantastic job x

 

[NoodleSnack]

Have you ruled out distractions? My LO started becoming distracted around that age and it was a PITA.

 

[bartlettpear]

I'm noticing that be is majorly distracted now (but he wasnt a few weeks ago at 8 weeks). Not fussy but wants to look around all the time! And breast compressions def help the flow!