Latching Issues

My daughter is also 4 months old and often does the same thing. She'll stay latched on for maybe a minute, but then pulls off. She'll go back and forth like this until she's done. I think she's just getting distracted. She's so much more aware of her environment now. I notice she does it more when I'm talking, her brother is doing something nearby, or when the room is noisy. I've been beginning to wonder if I'm going to have to find a quiet place to feed. We were just at the doctor and her weight gain is fine, so I'm not worried that she's not getting enough milk. She's still eating on the same schedule as she was before this started happening so that makes me think she's getting the same amount of milk. I'm just going to try to keep the distractions to a minimum so feedings don't take forever! Hope this helps!

She could possibly be teething and it might be tender so she's letting go in response. Or, she may be congested and can't breathe thru her nose when she's latched on, so she let's go to breathe. Good luck.

I went through that with my son when he was about the same age. I "think" what is happening is that she is becoming more aware of her surroundings and is being interrupted by even the smallest noise or movements. You may need to start feeding her under a drape or in the darkness of a quiet room for a while.

This is a totally normal thing that breastfed babies do. Don't let anyone worry you. I breastfed 5 children. It is normal. I would not waste my time with a lactation consultant. Doubtful, she has a sore throat, or any of the other things some of these folks are suggesting she may have. It is just a normal thing babies do. Don't worry, you are a good mom for choosing to breastfeed your baby. Good luck.

I'm not sure this is an issue at all. I haven't read the other responses, but at about the same age my daughter started a sort of breast drama that she seemed to enjoy -- she unlatched, wimpered or cried and then comforted herself by finding the breast again. She would do this over and over. Other moms in my yoga group said they had experienced the same thing -- so I let it be. Breastfeeding is a world unto itself. Our babies get so much more than nourishment out of it -- it is a confidence builder as they go through different phases, they can always come back to the breast. It's amazing really, and I don't see it talked about too much. As she grows, the drama changes. My daughter now unlatches and says the new sounds she has learned, or sometimes she stops and says "Mama" -- it's adorable. Wait and see, so many wonderful surprises come from breast feeding. Enjoy!

My son did this aswell but i figured out that he did this because he wanted the "let-down" process to happen faster and on his command. My mother told me to notice calfs when they suck on the utters they do this exact process they latch then they kinda hit the utter and latch again until the milk comes down. Try drinking more fluids and have lots of patience. She will figure it out on her own; it's only human nature, you'll see. My son did and he is now two years old and very healthy. Good luck.

Dear A.,

I too am going through the same exact thing right now. Mine is 3 1/2 months old and she started this two weeks ago. She is also drooling a lot and chomping down on anything she can get her hands on, so she is teething.

What I do is give her Hyland's Teething tablets (just 2) under her tongue 10 minutes before breastfeeding. This calms her down and she can eat better.

We went through something similar at week 7, and I'm not sure if this is going on with yours, but I thought I'd share as it may just be it. My daughter had the same symptoms as you described. At the time we were feeding every two hours. I was worried that she had reflux or colic so we went to the pediatrician. She weighed her and told us that since last weigh in she had been gaining 2 ounces per day instead of the normal 1/2 ounce per day. She told us to stretch the feedings to 3-4 hours apart. As she explained it, my little Korinna was having the equivalent of a Thanksgiving meal at each feeding. She asked us; how would you feel all full & bloated every two hours.

So if yours is gaining weight well you may want to consider spacing out feedings, if this is the problem. If you are already feeding 3-4 hours instead of two then feel free to ignore this part. :)

One more thing I have been doing is when she is in a lot of pain from breastfeeding and I know she is REALLY hungry, I give her expressed milk in a bottle. Usually once a day she gets one, especially in the evening so she has a good meal and can sleep longer. I use the Adiri bottle so its not in her mouth and easer to suck on.

I hope my experience helps. :) Don't worry too much though, she will be fine. I (and her) sometimes break into a sweat trying to feed.

Try burping her. My son is almost 3 months and I notice he does that too when he has gas. The other times he does it is when he is fighting sleep. Suck, suck, pull away, whimper, etc. Good luck!

Sounds like she's teething and the suction is hurting her a bit, it will pass in a couple days. She's getting enough milk, just bothersome to you. You can help by trying to readjust her, show her another position that won't bug her sinuses so much....

I would say she is teething, it hurts to create a vacum in a sore mouth. now hunger will make her eat even if it is painful..and sometimes they just don't eat much for a while. hang in there :)

Yes, sounds like when they start to get distracted by their surroundings. Try going to a dimly lit, quiet room so she doesn't have too much to look at and try going to that same spot every time (whenever possible)so it plants the idea "time to nurse" then playtime after in a different spot! My son would get SO distracted I remember being so worried that he wasn't getting enough! As long as she's still having wet diapers and gaining weight steadily, she should be getting enough. Hang in there!!!

My daughter started doing that (she's 6 months old), so I just waited until she was good and hungry and then she'd stay put, but it's like WWF wrestling with her kicking and arching and bouncing. I have 2 older boys and they were calm BFers. I'm pretty sure sh'es teething, but you never know for sure until AFTER the teeth pop in!

as long as your little one is having the same number of wet and soiled diapers you can assume she is getting enough milk...this happened with both my kids around 3-5 months..they are just coming out of their newborn haze and are noticing things around them so they latch, look around, latch, look around, latch (you get the idea)

one of the best ways to solve this problem I have found is to crawl into bed with your little one and nurse...I usually cover my baby up so she gets that is resting/eating time and that is when she gets her best nursing in...I know others who have been successful nursing in a dark room (if it is dark there is nothing to be distracted by)

hth mama and thank you for giving your baby the very best gift he/she can get...

-L.

If she's not crying when she does it, she could just be going through the phase where she is getting more interested in everything around her and is easily distracted, though they say that happens around 5 months. If she is crying, try burping her (for gas) and keeping her head elevated above her stomach (for reflux)... I usually put an extra pillow under the side where baby's head is.

Also, sometimes baby may stop eating while having a BM. Then just wait.

Keep at it :)

with everyone i talk to it seems to be the norm. its like theyve suddenly realised theres a world beyond the boob and they need to see it. my guy does it every feed. what i do is if he keeps popping on and off, i will put him up on my sholder for a few minutes til hes ready to quit farting around and get down to business. and it works. good luck!

she could be starting to teeth, is why and it hurts a little to suck, its not uncommon at this age to start a few tooths coming in,

Two things could be happening.
Teeth coming in and she will use you as a pacifier to comfort herself. Is she drooling pools?
The other thing is gas. Not the normal gas,but around this time their tummies are developing (getting ready for solids)and they get weird bubbles. This will have lots of back arching and sudden wails of pain. Try the football hold, where they lay across your arm, tummy massages, and constant burping.
Hope that helps.
A.

Hello A.. It sounds to me almost as if she has a sore throat, but if it's been going on for a couple of weeks, I would probably rule that out. I'm not really sure what the issue could be, although I do remember (vaguely because it's been so long) that my son would do the same thing, but it was almost as if he was playing around. No whimpering involved. I'm curious to see what the other moms say about this! good luck to you :)

I have heard that this is a developmental thing. Around 4 months, they want to look around while they eat so they keep delatching. Once they get a bit older, they realize that they can eat and look around at the same time.

I would suggest going to the breastfeeding support group every Thursday from 1 - 3 p.m. at Glendale Memorial Hospital. You can arrive anytime betwee 1 and 3.

The lactation consultants there are great and will put to rest any concerns you have. Also, you can weigh your baby before and after she eats, so you'll know exactly how much milk she is taking in. That can be reassuring that she is getting enough. Good luck!

Go to a Lactation Consultant with your baby and have it assessed.
This is the only conclusive way.

Sometimes, they do this because yes, there is no letdown, or not enough, or they themselves are not latching on properly...thereby they are not suckling, but just "appear" to be.

Make sure she does not get dehydrated. At this age, nursing is still on demand...so hopefully, she is getting enough intake.

Sometimes, this can also happen because they are teething. But, your baby whimpers/cries when she pulls off... so MAYBE she is not getting a full nursing and is still hungry... and maybe she is not able to "suck" properly or, the flow is different..... or she has gas. Try burping her.

Just have it checked with a Lactation Consultant... and check with your Pediatrician as well.

If this is happening, there is usually a reason.
I would check her right away... check your flow and her latching. Again, making sure she is not getting dehydrated. And you want to make sure this is not affecting her regular weight gain/growth pattern.

For "dehydration" symptoms...just go online and look it up, so you can check it.
All the best,
Susan