Newborn who fuses at the breast

Rachel - posted on 04/27/2013

Cynthia - posted on 04/22/2009

Do you only burp after he feeds? I find when I feed my son if he gets fussy (even squirmy first before fussy) I will pop him off the breast, burp and then he will latch right back on and have very little gas. I still try burping him after the feed , but I fiod if I do it right away it works nearly everytime. Good luck with it all.

Marla - posted on 04/22/2009

When I was breastfeeding full time, I found it difficult to burp my baby girl. It seemed like it took forever. You just have to be patient. My husband was always better at burping her, and I would get jealous. My daughter also passed gas and had bowel movements while she was breastfeeding her. The longer I breastfed her, the more she started burping herself! She would burp while eating! It got much easier to burp her, too. She's three and a half months now, and I haven't been having problems burping her for a while. Unfortunately, I am no longer only breastfeeding. I had to supplement my breast milk with formula. My baby wasn't gaining enough weight, but I continue to breastfeed her first thing in the morning, and at least once or twice more through the day. Part of me misses the sole breastfeeding, nut part of me appreciates the freedom of the bottle. I pump my breast milk when I can, and offer her that as an alternative to formula. I plan on breastfeeding my next baby, and I hope that next time, it goes smoother.

Chelsea - posted on 04/21/2009

Before I give you advice on this I would just like to say that there is most likely nothing at all wrong with your milk or you infant. I would suggest getting in touch with your local lactation consultant if the following does not help. I will suggest a few things and since you know your infant best choose what makes the most sense.

Does this happen more at the beginning of the feeding when your milk lets down? You could have an overactive let down which is upsetting your infant. To solve this issue you nurse twice in a row on the same side. This does not decrease your milk supply and if you can't stand waiting to nurse on the other side you can pump or hand express a tiny bit of milk (expressing too much will defeat the purpose of this).

You could have a slow let down. If your baby fuses at the beginning of the feed and stays fussy until your milk lets down. To solve this express a bit of milk onto the tip of your nipple. Also it's very helpful if you pump for a few minutes before you feed.

Your infant could have trush. Thrush is a yeast infection in the mouth of you infant. This yeast infection can also spread to your nipples and you pass it back and forth between you and your infant. If either of you have been on an antibiotic this is more common. The signs of thrush are
1- Fussy at the breast
2- Pulling on and off
3- Cranky
4- Sore nipples (not always)
5- White spots in the infants mouth (not always and don't confuse with breast-milk)
To solve this issue buy some Gingian Violet at your local pharmacy and apply it to your nipples and your infants mouth twice a day. It's purple so watch out that it doesn't get all over clothes you like. It's all natural and works wonderfully. Use for up to four days.

You could have a baby that is prone to gas. A great way to help him during this time when he is most susceptible to gas pain is message. Message his belly bellow his belly button from left to right. Pump his knees up to his chest and back down. Give him mylecon drops before every feed. You should start a food diary to see if you are eating anything that triggers the gas. I couldn't eat beans for 4 months after my daughter was born. I THINK THIS IS MOST LIKELY THE CASE.

As far as the burping goes it works great to hold up his head with one hand like a neck brace. I work at a daycare and this is what works almost all of the time for me. Just be patient some babies need to be completely upright head up and burped for 10-15 minutes.

Good luck this is such a normal issue. Your baby is just getting used to passing gas and having bowl movements so it will take him time to adjust. Again I urge you to talk to a lactation consultant to assist you with you concerns.

Jessica - posted on 04/21/2009

Quoting Charlotte:

hi, my baby is 3 weeks old and im breastfeeding her and she 2 fusses @ the breast in the midddle of a feed.
i think its cause shes got wind and she 2 doesnt give it up easily. what worried me was when the midwife told me breastfed babies dont get wind so i asked my health visitor and she said they do but not as much as bottle fed babies and sugested i get some gripe water or infacol which really helps.
she still fusses but does bring it up easier now.

I used that with my 9weeks old son and he litterally let it all out.....It helped out so much!!  I didn't really want to use medication or drugs, but looking back now it was the right choice, it released his gas and made my baby happy again.  That's what it is all about.

Charlotte - posted on 04/21/2009

hi, my baby is 3 weeks old and im breastfeeding her and she 2 fusses @ the breast in the midddle of a feed.

i think its cause shes got wind and she 2 doesnt give it up easily. what worried me was when the midwife told me breastfed babies dont get wind so i asked my health visitor and she said they do but not as much as bottle fed babies and sugested i get some gripe water or infacol which really helps.

she still fusses but does bring it up easier now.

Maria - posted on 04/21/2009

Don't stress! Breastfeeding needs a lot of patience, at least at the beginning!

I remember at the beginning it was very difficult to burp my baby...and it took some time to manage to make him burp... you must not give up ! It seems pointless to try but you must insist maybe for 20 minutes or more until you manage. Later on it will be easier and even later the baby will burp by himself!

Chris - posted on 04/21/2009

No, it won't help and he can feel your uneasiness, too. I've had 4 and nursed all 4. Be careful what you eat. If it could cause gas, like bvegetables, he will get gas too. There are infant gas drops you can get at Walmart to help with the gas. Rub his tummy and continue to try different positions to burp. The change of positions helps, too. I have laid mine on my knees, had them sitting up with a cloth covering my hand in case of spit ups, crossed my legs and had them tummy down at an angle to burp them on my lap. It's alright and I think it is normal for a breast fed child to be harder to burp. That's just my opinion. But, no matter what, don't give up.