Screaming at the breast

[Pumble]

Why is my Dd2 desperately routing but screaming every time she tries to feed-we've been trying for ages now. Does anyone have any thoughts?

[ThreeWheelsGood]

Does she latch on then come off? Might be fast let-down. Does she have wind?

Kellymom has a good page about this: http://kellymom.com/bf/concerns/child/fussy-while-nursing/

[ThreeWheelsGood]

kellymom.com/bf/concerns/child/fussy-while-nursing/ - clickable!

[goralka]

is her mouth sore?

[Pumble]

Thanks for Your replies. Doesn't seem to have a sore mouth and stays on a while before the screaming. She's screaming off the breast too - its been nearly two hours. I don't know what to do.

[ChunkyTurkeywiththetrimmings]

I had something like that earlier with my DS. Was definitely wind, as he seemed content after more winding, burping & farting. He has fed (albeit quite briefly) twice since without the screaming. Could be wind & colic?

[McPheastOfStephen]

My Dd, 23 weeks, does this. Sometimes switching breasts works. No idea why

Failing that, I offer a bit of infacol as a placebo/distraction

Sometimes, she's just so over tired she actually doesn't know what she wants.

Sometimes, I'm so over tired that I don't know what she wants

[Pumble]

She's stopped to feed a little each time but still screaming off the breast. We have had no sleep and dh off to work in an hour and i can't move due to really high temperature and the shivers. What a ray if sunshine I am.

[AndMiffyWentToSleep]

Oh Pumble, that is rough. Hope you feel better soon.

[ThreeWheelsGood]

Can you get in touch with a midwife or health visitor? Sounds like you're worried she's not feeding enough.

[TimeyWimeyStuff]

How old is your baby? mine panicked on and off the breast from birth and arched here back away from me. At 3 weeks the extreme possetting, them vomiting feeds, began and we discovered she had reflux. Def speak to a Health professional to establish the cause. Hope baby is better soon.

[mefisto]

Is this something that happens very frequently or is it just today? Just asking as I had very similar (ongoing) experiences with my DS, from birth until 6 months (he is now 2). He would latch on, feed for a while (sometimes a few minutes, sometimes for only a few seconds) and then pull away as if in pain, screaming. After several desperate visits to HV and GP (including a home visit from HV who agreed that DS was clearly in great discomfort when feeding) we muddled through exclusive BF until 6 months, but it was very difficult as he seemed to be in discomfort much of the time and would get very distressed (as did I!). He was given gaviscon for silent reflux (he wasn?t sick/possety often) but this had no effect. By this point I had suspicions about allergies as he also had terrible eczema. Suspicions confirmed at 6 months when I gave him porridge containing cow?s milk, to which he had an instant allergic reaction (hives, coughing/choking, swelling, vomiting). He has since been diagnosed by paediatric allergy team with severe milk and egg allergies (he reacts on skin contact as well as if he consumes anything containing them) and I was advised by hospital dietician to exclude these things from my diet to maintain BF. I had read conflicting evidence about whether my intake of dairy and eggs would pass into my milk so I was initially not sure it would be effective but I found that his feeding improved greatly (as did his eczema) within a couple of weeks of my modifying my diet and he is still BF now, without problem.

[ThoughtsPlease]

If you've had no sleep I suspect she hasn't so is actually tired, it's possible she sucks for comfort and then thinks no I don't want milk I want to sleep! Also as others have said my DC all did this when they wind, what do you do to try and bring up wind? All mine have been sicky babies, number 3 the worst, but in the early days I made the mistake of trying to feed when crying and they would feed a bit then start crying again, as feeding was not what they wanted.

[ghosteditor]

Sorry to hear about this. If it's a long term issue then the suggestions of allergies and reflux are possibilities.

If it's just today then perhaps she is feeling as poorly as you?

Hope she settles for you

[Pumble]

Thank you for all your support and advice. It was the first time it had happened. She fed properly at 6:30 and then finally went to sleep. She is still sleeping now but due a feed. It's hard to wake her though when she didn't sleep all night. I was delirious with my fever at that feed though so having to rely ob my husband to tell me what happened.

[ThoughtsPlease]

I'd wake her to feed her otherwise you'll be up all night again.

[GrimAndHumourlessAndEven]

The shivery fever - might be mastitis.

Can you get an emergency appt with GP? You might need anti bs

[Pumble]

I'm off to the doctors later as I think it may be mastitis. The confusion I got with the fever points to this too. How long do the antibiotics take to work if that's what it is?

[GrimAndHumourlessAndEven]

A day perhaps til they work fully

Good luck

[Pumble]

Apparantly a very bad bout of mastitis. If I get delirious again or not better by tomo evening have to go to hospital.

[ghosteditor]

Oh you poor thing! Hope you recover quickly and your DD's feeds go back to normal

[GrimAndHumourlessAndEven]

gosh you poor thing

Here's to a swift recovery

[AndMiffyWentToSleep]

How are you feeling this morning, Pumble, and how was your night?

[Pumble]

Feeling a little more human today thank you. My mum was a star last night and bought DD2 to me every time she needed a feed (as my husband had to get some sleep before getting up v eat for work). Breast still very sore and red but at least fever is less which is good.

[AndMiffyWentToSleep]

Bless your mum!
I hope your recovery continues to be swift.