This is weird - any ideas?

Hey guys,

My little one has really started fussing at the breast when we are doing our normal sitting positions. She pulls her knees up and screams blue murder. Now, she hasn't poo-d for a good few days - but this seems to be the norm for her just now - I thought it might be a sore tummy.
Tonight I thought I'd try lying down to feed her on the couch (as that is the way she feeds in bed at night as we co-sleep and never have a problem with her fussing) and it worked a treat!! She fed like a wee trooper - as if she'd not had a good feed for ages (which she actually hasn't as she's been fussing so much today).

Any ideas on what it might be that is upsetting her? I mean, she is kind of lying down feeding when I am sitting normally anyway. It's so weird, I just can't think what might be distressing her so much feeding the normal way. I'm going to feed this way from now on if it is going to be less stressful for her but obviously can't when we are out and about!
She does favour my right breast over my left - and really doesn't fuss all that much over the right. And it was my left that I tried to give her tonight when she just lost it.
She has reflux but is on medication for that and it's working really well for her, so I don't think it's that.
Hmmmm...... I'm at a loss.


Your thoughts and ideas are very much appreciated!
Sue xxx

Perhaps she's just expressing a preference for how she feeds?

i agree with marcellus.
it's kind of like how DD screams when I sit down while holding her.. i'm forced to be standing at all times except feeds (thank God)

I agree with the above posters....She just must love cuddling up to mummy lying down like at bedtime! My DS sometimes screams at one boob and then settles down at the other if I switch him, whether lying down or sitting, almost like that boob wasn't what he wanted at that time!!? LOL! I have no idea why swapping sometimes works but it does. They certainly develop their preferences!

You could try chiro/osteo or something to see if she's got a crook in her neck perhaps that means she prefers one way over another. could just be a personal preference, though.

My DS2 starting fussing and refusing the boob at around 5 weeks of age. It started with one side, and then he started to refuse the other side. It got to the point that I had to express, and the only way I could get him to feed was when he was half asleep. THEN he'd have a really good feed off either side. We fed in the traditional pose - I've never mastered being able to lay down ... so half your luck! :D

I chose to see a chiro. Long story short - the bones around his neck and skull needed some very gentle manipulation to "free" him up a little in the general head/neck region. Chiro said DS2's birth (natural and not troublesome or long) would most likely have been the culprit. DS2 went to to the chiro approx every 2-3 weeks until a month or so ago (he doesn't need to go back now till he's a little more mobile) however his BFing improved within three days of his first visit. If you go the chiro route, just make sure whoever you chose has plenty of experience working with infants.

BFing in the early days can be such a headache, can't it. Good luck.

My DD has been fussing since we got back from hols a few days ago, and feeding was borderline painful too. It took me until today to realise that she's grown so much we don't need the pillow on my lap anymore, and we weren't fitting together properly to feed well itms? I realised I hadn't been using a pillow whilst away and obviously neither of us missed it. Have dumped the pillow at home and feeding is back to normal - could it be your LO has grown a bit and you need to try variations of your normal positions to accomodate a growing bub?

Good point Human Bean!
If i am sitting in a chair with sides and feeding cradle hold, bubs feet hit the chair so she kicks against the chair. A few weeks ago, this wasn't an issue. Is there anything that may now be pushing against bub when you sitting feeding?

I love feeding laying down, my bub is most calm in this position. I have wondered whether this is because she associates it with nightime, or whether it is just most comfortable for her too.

Can't say I blame her - I loved bfing lying down too! Especially at night, when it meant a few extra zzzzz's. ;) You might find both of you are more relaxed in this position and that's helping your let down too.

Thanks so much for all the responses girls! I'm actually thinking that she is really uncomfortable sitting on me - she is getting bigger (6.4kg now!!) and I am quite a petite person and she is hanging off my knee a lot of the time. Poor wee thing!
I'm just going to have to be creative when we are out though!

I did take her to a chiro for her reflux and she screamed all the way through the session so am not going to take her back for fear of traumatising her, the chiro and ME! LOL

Thanks again girls.
Sue xxx