why would my baby be crying while breastfeeding......?

Ashley - posted on 12/23/2009

thank you all for your advice!! we have switched to breast milk bottles all the time now. she is still getting all that she needs and using a bottle just fine.

F - posted on 12/21/2009

My son had the same problem, after I was admitted to hospital and couldn't breastfeed for near two weeks, where before he was exclusively breastfed. The breastmilk comes out in spurts, every time bub sucks, where from a teat, there is a constant drip of liquid, whether or not she puts in any effort. I still have problems when he reaches the hind milk (a month later).
If she's not doing it on the bottle, and is content, buy some nipple shields, as she might associate easy feeding with the plastic. It takes a bit of sucking to get the breastmilk down, so hand-express into it before attaching it and offer it to your daughter.This ensures that when she's sucking, there's always a tiny drip of milk, in the tip where there's still an space for just under less than a teaspoon of milk.
Nipple shields also have been said to reduced milk supply by up to 22%, so that's a plus, maybe, to weaning.

Jodi - posted on 12/15/2009

It could be frustration over the difference in flow from the bottle. Or perhaps she is teething early? My daughter started teething at 4 months and would do the same thing. It hurts their sensitive gums to make the sucking action when they are teething. Try giving her baby orajel a couple of minutes before nursing and see if that helps. I wouldn't know whether or not she would act the same for a bottle if that is the case as my daughter has never had a bottle in my presence! Best of luck!

Sinead - posted on 12/14/2009

It could be something as simple as needing to burp mid-feed if she's taking air in. When she cries and pulls away have you tried burping her?

Renae - posted on 12/14/2009

It could be a range of things. It could be that it is taking too long for her to get a let down and she is getting impatient. It could be that your milk comes out slowly as you said. It could be that she has pain when she feeds (reflux or colic) but if this is the case she will behave the same whether given breast or bottle (in which case you need to describe her behaviour to your doctor). If she only does it breastfeeding, I recommend seeing a lactation consultant, they are so experienced at baby feeding behaviour they will probably be able to tell you straight away what is going on.

Pia - posted on 12/14/2009

It sounds as though she may not be getting enough from your breast. If you've started to wean her onto a bottle your milk supply may be drying up. My son did the same thing when my milk supply began drying up. He just wasn't getting enough and it was frustrating him.

Vicki - posted on 12/13/2009

You could also have a fast let down? Hard to know over the net. Maybe contact a group like La Leche League for more advice. Using formula will reduce your supply. Do you need to wean early? World Health Org advises two years breastfeeding as a minimum.

Adrienne - posted on 12/13/2009

Is your milk supply sufficient? She could be frustrated because of that. Or because a bottle nipple is easier to get formula from that a human nipple. Or she may have an issue like thrush?