Baby Fussing At Breast

We know the benefits of breastfeeding are amazing for both the mother and her baby. Breastfeeding can be a real bonding experience for a mother and her baby, toddler, or older child.

You can read an entire article just on this topic in BellyBelly’s 5 Benefits Of Breastfeeding For Baby and Mother.

Breastfeeding can, however, be frustrating at times.

Babies can be really fussy when breastfeeding and mothers can find it hard to deal with it. After all, isn’t breastfeeding supposed to be natural and easy?

Do you find yourself wondering why your little baby might be squirming, crying, or pulling on and off the breast?

Rest assured that many young babies display these behaviors at some stage.

Read on for more information.

Why is your baby fussing at breast?

Here are 7 of the most common reasons why this might be happening:

Baby fussing at breast #1. Postpartum engorgement

In the early days, when your breast milk first comes in, your breasts can feel very full and firm.

This is normal.

If your breasts are constantly painfully full, even after your baby breastfeeds, this could be engorgement. As well as being extremely uncomfortable for you, engorgement can make it difficult for your baby to get a deep latch. Babies often struggle to stay latched until the breast softens a little, which happens once some milk is removed.

Engorgement can also happen if your baby occasionally goes too long between feeds or doesn’t drain the breast well.

To help relieve engorgement, here are a few things you can try:

• Frequent feeding (newborns should feed between 8-12 times every 24 hours)
• Apply warmth to the breast prior to feeding to encourage milk flow
• Use cool packs on the breasts after feeding, to reduce inflammation
• Talk to your healthcare provider about anti-inflammatory medications.

For more information, you can read BellyBelly’s article Engorgement – Relief For Breast Engorgement.

Baby fussing at breast #2. Incorrect positioning and attachment

There are many different reasons why your baby might be fussing at the breast.

One important factor to check is correct positioning and attachment. When a baby feels unstable, she will not be able to get a good latch, resulting in sore nipples and poor milk transfer.

When you get positions right at the very start, things will flow much more smoothly.

If you need assistance to help your baby latch correctly, seek help from a breastfeeding specialist, such as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).

For more information on positioning and attachment, you can refer to BellyBelly’s article Breastfeeding | 5 Baby Positioning And Attachment Types.

Baby fussing at breast #3. Slow flow of breast milk

Getting to know your baby and paying attention to your baby’s behavior during feeding can help you figure out why your baby might be latching on and off.

When your baby latches at the beginning of a feed, you might notice there’s a more uncoordinated sucking pattern than there is towards the middle of a feed. These short, shallow sucks help to stimulate the nerves to get the first let down of milk. If you notice your baby doing this for an extended period, your let down reflex might not have been activated.

If you want to help the let-down happen faster, you can express a little bit of milk before attaching your baby to the breast. This lubricates your nipple and starts the milk flow. It can speed up the process for your fussy baby.

Once the milk flow starts, a baby often settles into the feed and starts to gulp at the breast in a regular, rhythmic way.

Breast compression can help to keep the speed of milk flow steady and your baby interested in staying attached to the breast. Breast compressions also help stimulate milk production as more milk is removed at each feeding session.

Baby fussing at breast #4. Fast flow of milk

Babies are still learning to regulate their suck-swallow pattern. Once the let-down starts, some breastfed babies struggle to keep up with the fast flow of milk. If they’re overwhelmed, this can make them pull away.

If you’re particularly full, the pressure in your breast can make it even worse; reverse pressure softening can help.

Another way to manage a fast let-down is to lean back to slow the milk flow. If your little one is resting in a more upright position on your chest or your body, rather than under your breast, she can manage the fast flow of milk much better.

For more ideas, read BellyBelly’s article Overactive Letdown – 6 Tips To Manage It.

Baby fussing at breast #5. Gastrointestinal problems or food sensitivities

All babies are born with an immature gut. In the first few days of feeding, they work hard to draw out the colostrum, which is just perfect for their needs. Then, suddenly, the milk comes in and they have an abundant flow to fill their tiny tummies.

Your body isn’t quite sure yet how much milk you will need, so it gives you extra milk until your baby regulates your supply to meet her needs.

In the very early days and weeks postpartum, the combination of your abundant milk supply and your baby’s immature digestive systems can result in a fussy baby. As your baby grows and the gut matures, common problems such as grunting, squirming or fussing start to fade.

If these difficulties are ongoing or severe, or if you have an older baby who displays these symptoms, your baby could have a food sensitivity.

If you are a breastfeeding mother, it’s important not to restrict your diet in case your baby is reacting to something through your breast milk. Always seek advice from your healthcare provider first.

Baby fussing at breast #6. Maternal stress

Babies are very in tune with their mothers, even as tiny newborns in their first few weeks of life.

If a mother is stressed, a baby might pick up on it. Simple measures such as taking a deep breath and relaxing your shoulders when you bring your baby to your breast will help the flow of oxytocin, and this contributes to a calmer nursing session.

Remember to be kind to yourself. It’s normal for a mother and her baby to take some time to learn how to work together. As your baby grows, breastfeeding becomes easier.

If you are having ongoing feelings of worry, anxiety or depression, speak to your family doctor.

For information about postpartum depression, you can read BellyBelly’s article Postpartum Depression Symptoms | 9 Signs You Have PPD.

Baby fussing at breast #7. Oral thrush

Sometimes your baby’s fussiness can be due to a condition that requires treatment.

If you have noticed a white coating on your baby’s tongue and you have sore nipples, this could be caused by candida albicans, otherwise known as thrush. In a breastfeeding dyad, thrush can be passed from mother to baby and vice versa. The good new is that it’s easily treated with over-the-counter medications.

It’s important for your health care provider to diagnose thrush before you begin treatment, as a white coating on your baby’s tongue might simply be milk residue.

For more information, you can read BellyBelly’s article Nipple Thrush – Treatments For Nipple Thrush.

Other possible causes

If none of the above suggestions seem likely reasons why your baby is fussy at the breast, here are some others to consider:

Teething

Underneath those cute little gums in your baby’s mouth are tiny teeth waiting to erupt. If you find your baby fussing at breast, pulling off breast and relatching, those first little teeth could be moving around and giving your little one some discomfort.

For further information, check out BellyBelly’s article Teething Symptoms | 9 Signs Baby Is Teething.

Tiredness

Breastfeeding your baby to sleep is never the wrong thing to do, and many babies happily go off to sleep at the breast. Some babies refuse the breast and this magical trick doesn’t work for them. Watch out for their cues. If they seem really upset and are fussing at the breast, try another way to help them get to sleep.

Bottle preference

If your baby has had supplemental feeds from a bottle, she might have developed a bottle preference. This is sometimes referred to as ‘nipple confusion’ but it’s much more likely to be the result of the faster flow from a bottle than by your baby being confused between your nipple and an artificial one.

If you are mixing breast and bottle feeding, you can help your baby develop a bottle preference by following a paced bottle feeding method and using a newborn nipple (teat).

You can read more tips in BellyBelly’s article Bottle Nursing | 6 Steps to Better Bottle Feeding.

Growth spurts

A baby goes through developmental leaps and growth spurts at different stages, as the brain makes many rapid new connections. These times of change can understandably make babies really unsettled, cranky, irritable and generally unhappy, as they don’t know why they are experiencing all these new feelings.

Find out more about how to manage in BellyBelly’s article Understanding The Wonder Weeks.

Return of your periods

Some women experience a temporary drop in milk supply during menstruation, causing their babies to become fussy at the breast. If this is the case, you might need to offer your baby more frequent feeds to ensure she is getting enough breast milk.

Pregnancy

As well as when you get your period, your breastmilk can change if you become pregnant, resulting in a fussy baby. Babies are clever and intuitive and can notice when things are a little different. Some babies manage to continue to feed happily during the new pregnancy; some don’t like the changes in the flavor or the amount of breast milk, and might start to show their displeasure.

How do I know my baby is full when breastfeeding?

Babies get so much better at feeding as they get older. They also get better at communicating their needs to their mothers.

One minute you’re being taught to breastfeed for 15 minutes on one breast, change your baby’s nappy so she doesn’t fall asleep, then switch to the other breast. The next thing you know your baby gets on and feeds for five minutes and then pushes away as if she doesn’t want any more.

You’re left thinking your baby hasn’t had as much milk as she would have, had she fed for longer, so you try to latch her on again. This makes the baby feel frustrated; she starts to cry and push you away.

If your baby is able to come to the breast any time she want, she will get very good at telling you when she has had enough. Trust your baby and your body to work together.

As long as your baby is having frequent wet and dirty nappies, is gaining weight and meeting all developmental milestones, she is getting enough milk.

Why is my baby fussing at breast in the evenings?

At the end of the day, you can feel so drained, compared with the start of the day.

It’s understandable you might feel as though you don’t have enough milk – especially when your baby wants to cluster feed in those ‘witching hours’.

Cluster feeding is a normal stage for many newborns and it can continue for several months.

It tends to wear them out after a few hours and they will often zonk out and start to sleep a little longer.

Cluster feeding also helps boost your milk supply and set it up for the next day.

Switch sides and use massage during cluster feeding times, as it can push more milk out or trigger another let-down.

What can I do if I can’t figure out why my baby is fussing at the breast?

If you’re worried and nothing you do seems to work, then reach out for help. This is the first and best thing you can do for you and your baby.

Some babies are fussy when they’re unwell. Your doctor can rule out any medical concerns, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, food sensitivity or allergy.

The Australian Breastfeeding Association or a International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) are the experts and can guide you with breastfeeding tips, assess what might be going on, or reassure you if you’re still worried.

Just remember – you are not alone. So many mothers are right there with you at the end of the day when everyone is most tired and cranky.

You’re doing an amazing job of being the best mother you can be for your baby. Well done!