More Breastfeeding Help??

Can you define "fussiness?" Like, when is he fussy - during nursing, after? Bottles, because of the way they fit a child's mouth, often don't cause a breastfed baby to suck as much air and keep his tongue down, so he WOULD be less fussy.

Is he fussier when you nurse sitting up versus laying down? If he is, it could be he can't handle your fast flow and is getting over-filled too fast.

Does he nurse at the breast for about 1 or 2 minutes, pop off and fuss, then try to relatch? If he does, he is probably not latching correctly or putting his tongue to the roof of his mouth. Either way, he is getting frustrated with trying to nurse and is probably sucking air, which will make his tummy hurt.

Let me know if you need help - I am a peer breastfeeding counselor and have worked with moms all over the country (and about 10 here on mamapedia who are all nursing well now!)

Peace :)

This happened with my first baby and it was so awful!!! Basically I ended up cutting out the following:
- All dairy and ANY products that contain any sort of dairy (check labels on everything you will be surprised how many things have dairy)
- No tomatoes, onions, or peppers of any kind
- Nothing spicy
- Nothing with soy (believe it or not soy causes a lot of problems from upset tummies, to allergies, to gas)
- No caffeine - including, teas, coffee, and chocolate
- Not much meat

Here is what I had great luck with:
- Lots of veggies but I did better with them if they were cooked (never figured that one out)
- pasta
- fruit
- rice

I also made sure I didn't take anything as far as medications, even things as simple as Tylenol and herbs seemed to upset him. I only took the pre-natal vitamins

As hard as all of this sounds the two great parts of it was my baby felt better and I lost weight in massive amounts and was able to wear a bikini by month 3. = )

Two last thoughts, I tried the formula which seemed to help a bit here and there but ultimately my switching him around made it worse in the long run. I also found that the more I was worked up the more he seemed to have a problem.

I hope this helps, I totally understand you wanting to do the nursing thing. I stuck it out and he ended up nursing successfully for a full year and I never regretted it.

Good luck!

it can take 2 weeks to get all milk/soy out of your system so don't worry. if a kid is allergic to milk very common to both. besides soy is not so good for baby BOYS

My son was allergic to milk, soy and EGGS. (amongst other things).
go a few weeks w/no milk and soy.
if that doesn't work try the egg (that's hard, its in everything) for 2 weeks
if that doesn't work you may want to try wheat or corn.

its hard at first.
you'll figure it out (unless you just go and get a skin test if he's old enough) *we did at 6 months and wish we did it earlier

after you figure it out.if its an allergy.
he'll be happier.
the screaming will stop. just be patient.
use ear plugs, gas meds and just hold him.

i promise
: )

Hey there! You are a great mother! How wonderful of you to be working so dilligently to do what is best for your baby! You should be incredibly proud of yourself.

I totally get your frustration. I was in the same boat. My son went through an incredibly fussy stage for a couple months. I know it was food related. I took out dairy and soy from my diet upon finding blood in my newborn's stool. (The dairy proteins are hard for him to digest and tear up his stomach. Most children with dairy protein issues also have soy protein issues hence the removal of both.) It takes up to 2-3 weeks for dairy to leave your system. I believe the proteins are harder to digest (or there are more proteins--I can't remember which) in lower fat milk. And your milk changes consistency throughout the day (lower fat in the am, higher fat towards evening). These MAY be the reasons for the difference in his reactions in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd nursings.
In my experience, the lactation consultants and doctors often have conflicting opinions. Most pediatricians don't know a lot about breastfeeding unless they've done it themselves. They want to "solve" your baby's fussiness issues, and formula seems to be the easiest route. (I'm not a doctor hater--though I may sound like one here.) Some don't know all the information about the benefits of breast milk with the live antibodies and all the good stuff that helps your baby's brain develop so well.

I would talk to the lactation consultants more. Tell them your issues and concerns. They may suggest an elimination diet. Basically, you keep a food journal for a while and track the baby's emotional and physical behavior. (For my son, it took about 24-48 hours after a dairy-full nursing to see the affects in him.) You will hopefully notice a pattern. Then you take out all the suspect foods from your diet. After a while of doing this, you slowly reintroduce one food at a time. It sounds so complicated, but it is actually incredibly educational. You'll notice things that upset your tummy before that you never thought about. Then not only will you start feeling better, your baby will too. Besides, if you just do the formula, your son will still have the issues. I promise this is doable. I did it.

If you want to talk more, I'd be happy to share what I have learned (as well as any Dairy-Free, Soy-Free recipes I like). Or if you have a day where you just want to cry about not getting to eat real icecream, I'm your girl.

Blessings to you,
Julia

I had a lot of trouble breastfeeding and it is really hard and straining on your emotionally! I would tend to say err on the side of lactation consultant, but I saw LOTS of lactation consultants and not all of them were on the same page either. The doctors know stuff, of course, but the LCs deal with this stuff all day long, so they have more field experience, I think! ;) If this issue really is dairy, it can take 6 weeks for it to be completely out of your system and his system, so you could still see fussiness even after only a day or two. But, it should decrease if you are not adding in any more dairy to his diet, so if you saw any difference/decrease, I would say you're on the right track. I hope it works out for you...I know it's so frustrating!!

With all three of my babies, I had overactive letdown (milk comes out fast) and made too much milk. I was unable to switch sides during a breastfeeding session because baby would get too much sugary, watery, foremilk and be very gassy. Mylicon never did any good. I even had to nurse on the same side for two sessions consecutively before switching to the other side. This is called block feeding. Keep doing what you are doing with the dairy for a while and try block feeding if you have a good enough milk supply. You are doing good - try to relax.

With overactive letdown, you can pump a little at first, not too much because you don't want to over-increase your milk supply. Also, it won't be long before the baby is used to drinking that milk really fast.

Maybe the Dr. suggested no soy because soy produces a lot of gas? I know when I put my son on soy formula for a while, he had lots more gas, as did I from drinking soy milk.

My son had acid reflux no fun for him at all, no fun for mommy and daddy at all either. Something that did help was pumping one breast while in the "football" position nursing him on the other my milk released for him better on the side he was eating on and seemed to calm him down i think the "white noise" of the pump was a calmer too. is your baby still little enough to be swaddled the miracle blanket may help in that too while nursing giving him more soothing stimulation. I always say lactation consultant first doctor who UNDERSTANDS breastfeeding for a breastfeeding mother comes in after the LC. Oh, and calm yourself down with lavender oil on your chest during/just before feeding like you would vicks vapo rub when you are sick, it helps baby too!

Check with the lactation consultant, but I'm pretty sure it takes much longer than 24 hours to get all the dairy out of your system for the baby. Perhaps that is the problem? Continue to with hold the dairy for yourself, and check back with the LC.
R.

I had the same problem with my now 13 week old. I have cut all dairy (milk, cheese, cream, and soy) from my diet since about 5 weeks. It truely made a difference. I have a lactose tolerance problem sometimes and so I was already cutting back. The research I did made a good point....cows milk is for baby cows and human mommy milk is for human babies! Sometimes babies' guts are not mature enough to break down the protein. Plus I read where the formula has way more protein than the baby needs. Women's bodies are designed to meet the needs of our children perfectly. It takes a couple weeks of absolutely no dairy for me to see a consistent difference. She is def a different child. Part no dairy and part in maturation of her gut. I am still no dairy and slowing having bits at one meal a day. I can def tell when I have over done it. She is still not able to handle a milk based formula. I have read on this site about soy having so much estrogen added to it....so we do Nutramigen. Its so expensive, but I do half-n-half with my breastmilk so both of them last me a long time and I only do it when I work...(3days a week). Its so much easier to cut the stuff out of your diet and see a change in your child! It made me feel so good to know I was helping her feel better. We also started using Levisin (SP?) a prescription from the dr for colic. It wasnt really a miracle drug, but I think a combination of everything helped. I hope this helps you! Dont let this discourage you! Remember every baby is different! I would listen to the lactation consultant. She will give you good advice for you and baby and she prob knows more than most doctors. Im not saying the drs are dumb...they just may not have breastfeeding on the braing.

I've been through that and it was very upsetting to me to think I wouldn't be able to nurse my baby but, I changed my diet, starting with everything else, but dairy, like no spicy food, no coffee, no beans, cabage, brocoli, coliflower, garlic or any foods that can cause gas and it worked before I had to cut dairy!; but I was prepared to do so. I don't know why your doctor cut soy milk, that seems weird.
Any way, the one thing I would recommend is for you to pump during this transition so your milk production doesn't decrease.
Good luck! it can be hard but most of the time, doable.
Reading some other answers, I realized I too had a strong let down that forced me to pump almost all the way through with both my kids AND the fact that the most stressed I got about his gas and me traveling back home (he was born in another country) the more fussy the baby got, so try to really keep your stress to a min. because it does affect the baby A LOT!

Dairy can actually stay in your system for 7-14 days, so keep cutting it from your diet and wait to see if things improve in 1-2 weeks. Be sure to really look for hidden dairy in foods. It can be called whey, caesin, etc. So many foods have dairy in them, it is unreal! I have heard of some babies also being sensitive to soy. Perhaps you could eliminate soy from your diet for 1-2 weeks too and if things improve, then gradually add soy back in to see if he still responds. If he is fine, then you know it is just the dairy.

also, many babies who have the bovine protein intolerance (ie milk sensitivity) also have reflux. That was/is the case w/ both of my kids. zantac (flavored w/ grape from the pharmacy) and cutting out dairy really helped us. zantac is pretty mild if you are concerned with meds for your little one. Do check out kellymom.com if you havent already. Lots of good info there. Good luck!

Keep going!!!!! It can take more then a week for all the milk protein to get out of your system and then another week to 2 weeks for all the milk protein to get out of your baby's system. Eliminating all milk from your diet is a long process where you don't see the results right away. Give it a few more weeks before deciding if it isn't working.

Keep in mind if your doctor isn't 100% on board with breastfeeding he will suggest formula as an alternative. Your milk is the best thing for your baby. Are you sure the fussiness isnt from over active let down??? Typically sensiivities to food in moms diet shows up 20-60 minutes after eating as the milk gets digested.

Overactive let down can cause a fussy baby, cause gas in baby etc....

Why aren't they asking you to look at what you are eating? There is something that you are eating that is bothering him. Maybe you shouldn't be drinking milk or any dairy. Try taking that out only and see if things change. If not milk see what else. My sister found that her daughter had a hard time with milk and certain fruits. SO she removed them from her diet and found other foods with the needed nutrients to replace. ut she had to do some experimenting to rule out which foods. You may want to journal what you are eating and his response to that food.

Milk takes up to two weeks to get out of your diet for it to be out of your milk. Keep it out of your diet longer.. keep pumping to keep up the supply and try agian.

Hi there..I would like to tell you are doing a great job first and more most. Just trying as hard as you are to breastfeed is a great thing. Just keep at it because the end result is the best thing you can give your child. I would highly recommend you contact Bobbi Hosmon a LLL Leader. She is great and has a wolrd full of knowledge. She her self has had problems breastfeeding but knows so much. Between herself and some of the other leaders in the area if she didn't know then someone else would. But for her not to know would be a first. Here is her inofrmation below.

I'm a LLL leader in the Dayton, OH area...if you need to call me, email me: b_luvs_j at yahoo
and I'll send you my phone number :D

She is so easy to talk to and has a lot of new moms call her randomly so don't be scaried. I am just trying to get you the best information so you can have the best experience ever with your child. I hope you are able to get some answers to your questions. Again good luck with your child and keep up the great job. You are doing just fine..:D

Updated

Hi there..I would like to tell you are doing a great job first and more most. Just trying as hard as you are to breastfeed is a great thing. Just keep at it because the end result is the best thing you can give your child. I would highly recommend you contact Bobbi Hosmon a LLL Leader. She is great and has a wolrd full of knowledge. She her self has had problems breastfeeding but knows so much. Between herself and some of the other leaders in the area if she didn't know then someone else would. But for her not to know would be a first. Here is her inofrmation below.

I'm a LLL leader in the Dayton, OH area...if you need to call me, email me: b_luvs_j at yahoo
and I'll send you my phone number :D

She is so easy to talk to and has a lot of new moms call her randomly so don't be scaried. I am just trying to get you the best information so you can have the best experience ever with your child. I hope you are able to get some answers to your questions. Again good luck with your child and keep up the great job. You are doing just fine..:D

I had the same trouble with my son starting at 3 weeks. I am not sure he had acid reflux or was just constipated. Either way we went through the whole thing but I did not start the formula because I read that breastmilk was a natural antacid.

Turned out he had tongue tie as well. We got that fixed then he had to take one of Prilosec/Prevacid and Zegerid until he was 18 mos and I demanded an upper GI with a swallow study. He was still pissy but we were able to take him off the meds.

Give the dairy a try and hang in there. It is a VERY stressful time for baby and mommy. HUGS.