Please help! DS suddenly only wants to feed lying down!

[Lou15]

I would be so grateful if anyone could help. My 3 month old DS is EBF and has always preferred to feed with us both lying down side by side. However, in the day, he has always been happy to feed with me sitting up too - until now. Suddenly he won't feed at all if I am sitting, he will just cry and cry and then if I do lie us both down he is quite happy and will feed well. This is fine when we're at home, but I need to be able to feed him when we're out or have visitors! Has anyone else had this problem or have any advice? Thank you!

 

[ThunderPearls]

My LO has started to do this, he is combi-fed (majority FF atm but trying to get him back on the boob!) and he has started refusing to be held whilst feeding, especially in the evenings and will only feed whilst lying down. This is easier to do with the bottle but its so difficult to get the position right when trying to breastfeed as I have large breasts and I just cant angle it right!

My HV (absolute cow) when I mentioned this to her, told me I 'must have done something to upset him and he doesnt want to be held' !! Which I know os a load of tosh and I felt like slapping her! And thats all she said about it... So I have no answers or advice unfortunately!

Ill be following this topic for any clues and tips!

 

[Lou15]

What a terrible thing for your HV to say! (as you say, absolute rubbish!). Hopefully someone will be able to help us!
Just been having a look in Matthew's mouth as he is now completely refusing to feed, and think I can see a tooth starting to come through so am wondering if lying down to feed has been comforting him or been less painful on his poor gums?

 

[ThunderPearls]

Funnily enough it might be related to teething as Im sure my boy is starting to teeth too! Hes only 7 and a half weeks though and no one believes me... I think I can see a difference in his gums on the bottom and he is more irritable, he is drooling A LOT and chewing his hands almost constantly.

 

[Lou15]

I believe babies can occasionally be born with teeth already through so not impossible that your LO has started! I have given Matthew some Calpol, which seems to have helped- he has fed now (still lying down but any improvement on not feeding and crying lots is great!). I'm going to get some sort of teething gel in the morning. So frustrating when they're too little to chew on any of the teething things!

 

[rose.]

We don't feed lying down but I have had real issues feeding Alfie this week - he screams and arches his back when I try to Feed him as if he really doesn't want it, but then when he does eventually latch on he feeds vigorously for a few minutes and then stops. I have come to the conclusion that it is teething thats the problem, as when I put teething gel on his gums he seems to latch better. Perhaps that's the issue for you too? And as he finds lying down more preferable he only wants to feed like that at the moment as he's feeling off?

From when Alfie was Born we could only really bf using the football hold. About a month ago we got good at the cradle. But during this fussy period he only wants to Feed football again.

 

[ThunderPearls]

Well my boy definitely has a tooth Me and my mum noticed a small white dot on his bottom gum when he was born but couldnt feel anything... But now I think it has broke through as I can feel it with my nail.

Since it popped through a couple of days ago he hasnt been feeding on the floor so much either... Coincidence?... I think not!