My Baby Fusses While Nursing
A mom asks:
“My baby fusses and sometimes pulls away from the nipple while nursing. What does this mean and should I be concerned?“
This is fairly common and there are several things that could be going on here.
First, nursing babies have different personalities. Some babies are quite relaxed at the breast. Others are more finicky. Not all babies relax during a nursing session. Sometimes your baby will appear downright unhappy. Don’t get discouraged, even though I know it can be disheartening to see your baby protest and pull off the breast during this otherwise miraculous bonding experience.
If your baby fusses while nursing, take note of any potential triggers for this unease. Growths spurts, teething, sickness, and new developmental milestones can cause a baby to fuss. If you baby fusses while nursing at the beginning of a feeding session, he or she may be protesting a too fast or too slow let-down. If baby gets fussy at the end, he or she may want to switch breasts to a faster milk flow or need to be burped.
Some babies experience some soreness or birth trauma and benefit from a visit with an Osteopath or Chiropractor. My second born son, after an adjustment, started nursing with ease. He previously fussed when lying on one side (and nursing on that particular breast).
If your baby suddenly starts fussing after nursing comfortably for awhile, he may have a sore throat or earache. Tell your Doctor about it if you’re concerned. Another possibility is that the baby has developed a yeast infection in his mouth called thrush.
Know that fussing at the breast is common during the first six to eight weeks. If you’re concerned, have a lactation consultant check your latch and rule out any signs of thrush. Otherwise, it’s just another newborn quirk.
Tags: breastfeeding challenges, breastfeeding help, breastfeeding tips
