Fussing and upset on the breast

[Gemsy]

I'm not sure what is going on with my little man, although he seems generally unsettled over the last few days, so may all be related to a growth spurt I guess?

He has been diagnosed with reflux which is being medicated with Domperidone and Rantitadine, which does seem to help although not all the time.

A few times lately he has been beside himself when I go to feed him, and just cries when I put him to the breast. If I persist, he will get more and more upset. The only way I can get him to take the breast is to pop a dummy in, wait till he calms down, then do a quick swap! Even then, he will fuss and moan all through the feed. He is absolutely fine with a bottle (on a couple of occasions, I have ended up giving him an expressed bottle instead, and he takes it well straight away), so I don't think it is related to his reflux.

Any ideas? It is really getting me down

 

[knopk@]

They can become like that when they have a growth spurt/leap or it can be teething. How old is.he? Reflux can mean he might associate it with pain. Do the meds help? My son had CMPI and meds didnt help his reflux, only cutting out dairy did

 

[Gemsy]

Teething already? He's only 8 weeks - they don't get teeth yet do they?

Maybe it is a growth spurt, he's bloody miserable at the mo! I had thought about the dairy, but I would really struggle to cut it out, I'm quite a fussy eater, and a lot of my food is cheese based...obviously, I would do anything for my LO, but I would just need to think what to replace it with!

The medication seems to work sometimes - he seems fine, and then suddenly the reflux is back with a vengeance.

 

[knopk@]

We had moments when i had to walk around and feed to distract him. You can try cutting out for 2"weeks to see if it makes a difference. There are quite a few things out there to substitute dairy

 

[madmillie92]

My lo does this occasionally... I've discovered that its only when he's been up for quite long and is overtired, and he just gets frustrated, guess bf is hard work for them... I just do the same, pop a dummy in, rock him till he calms down and try again which usually works.
Could be related to your lo's reflex though, I wouldn't know sorry I'm a clueless ftm, learning everyday,
If someone had told me this time last year that in a years time I'd be dealing with colic and overactive let downs and other baby related problems I would not have a clue what they were talking about xx

 

[Gemsy]

Its starting to get me down as I am worried about going out without a bottle of expressed for him now in case he does it when we are out and about

You could be right madmillie, it could also be tiredness. He is not good when he is tired, and he is being a lot more awake and active now, and I really have to work at it to make him nap during the day as he doesn't like to miss anything!

 

[Tigger87]

Gemsy if it's tiredness making him fussy and horrible, MAKE him nap!! I've been struggling with jake for weeks - he's never fussy at the boob, but very miserable when tired - I've finally worked out that if I make him nap (feed him then rock him till he's asleep, sometimes need to let him sleep on me for a few hours) mid morning, mid afternoon and early evening, then he's a far happier baby!!!

 

[Gemsy]

Gemsy if it's tiredness making him fussy and horrible, MAKE him nap!! I've been struggling with jake for weeks - he's never fussy at the boob, but very miserable when tired - I've finally worked out that if I make him nap (feed him then rock him till he's asleep, sometimes need to let him sleep on me for a few hours) mid morning, mid afternoon and early evening, then he's a far happier baby!!!

Oh, don't worry Tigger, I do make him nap....its what I spend most of my days doing but it is always a struggle! I have him on a 3 hourly routine, so he naps plenty during the day (unless of course he takes so long to get off that he is hungry again )