Struggling with feeding

[paige23]

Hello everyone, first time ive posted properly on the forum since lo was born. Ive been really struggling with breastfeeding.
Lo is 3 weeks and 5 days old now!
And for the past two weeks or more he has been fighting me pretty much everytime i feed him! He fusses about getting really worked up. Unlatches himself and then tries to relatch, he ends up getting himself in such a state it takes nearly an hour of shushing, rocking at times to settle him again.
The only time he seems to be content is when he falls asleep at the boob.
We are currently treating him for reflux, have tried burping lots, different positions, even tried some formula in a bottle and breastmilk in a bottle, well two different types of bottles! And the problem continues! Have also tried a dummy but he wont take it at all.
Im at my wits end with it all! I love breastfeeding him! I really want to continue!
Ive had the hv over and been to support groups and no one seems to have an answer as to why we are struggling so much! Oh and its not painful either.
Has anyone got any advice as to what option i can explore next. Feel so sorry for my lo as he never seems happy! Oh and forgot to mention that he does great at night time. I have him in bed with me at the mo and he goes through the night until about 6 ish, only waking for feeds and doesn't get fussy then!
Any advice would be much appreciated xx

 

[ScotchEgg]

Is he getting distracted by things? If there were people around or noises my lo used to do this (I think he also had reflux but didn't realise some of his behaviours weren't normal until much later so didn't treaty it). I used to take him into his or our bedroom to feed him during the day if he fussed about. He got over it with time (although is super nosy now) but like yours he would be much better at night and first thing in the morning.

It is around 4-6 weeks that they suddenly get feeding and are much better at it so hang in there

 

[tiggy85]

Hey Hun, totally sympathesise. My little boy when that age was just as you described, he was usually fine with night needs but so so fussy and fighting during being fed in the day, he also had treatment for silent reflux (ranitidine). He wouldn't nap in the day apart from when being rocked in the pram or in our arms. He would also cry for the one to two hours between feeds in the day but refuse to feed.

We are not really sure what happened but it all went away around 10 weeks and then he was happy to feed.

I think ultimately he was in pain and struggled to feed. I also had a oversupply and over active let down, do you have symptoms of this?

I did (around the time he stopped fussing and fighting) try block feeding. Not sure if he just improved as a result of age but my supply dropped (which is what I wanted) then I went to feeding normally (one boob then offered the other one) and he was fine to feed then!

Well worth perserving as we breastfed him till he was a year. Only stopped as I was working long hours by then. It was such a lovely experience after that hard start,

 

[T84]

My lo was the same and I ended up expressing for 9 weeks hon. Hard but sooo worth it. There's a breastfeeding support group on baby and toddler page x x ps your doing AMAZING to get so far x x

 

[paige23]

Thanks for your replies ladies.
I don't think he is getting distracted as going into a quiet room doesn't help
Do you mind me asking what block feeding is?
And ive had the hv over again today and she thinks it could be thrush so picking a prescription up tomos. So fingers crossed!
Im having so much pressure from my oh's family to switch to formula, they think its the answer but my lo has put on nearly 2 lbs since birth so he's getting more than enough milk! Keeps me going!
I have sooooo much respect for all the ladies that have battled through this! X x

 

[willow76]

Have you tried laid back breastfeeding. My little one behaved similar and this worked for me. I would lie on bed and place LO on me close to my nipple. She would wriggle about then latch herself on. Felt like she had more control so would get less wound up and I felt more relaxed.
Other suggestions are hand expressing a little before a feed in case you are having fast let down which is to quick for him.
Last suggestion is a dummy, he may be wanting to suck for comfort and not feed so gets upset when they get milk.
Good Luck with the breast feeding