Why is my baby fussing while breastfeeding?

Understanding Baby Fussiness During Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding can be a beautiful bonding experience, but it can also come with its challenges, particularly when a baby becomes fussy at the breast. This fussiness can stem from a variety of factors, and understanding these can help parents navigate this common issue.
Common Causes of Fussiness
One of the primary reasons a baby may fuss while breastfeeding is related to milk flow. If the milk comes too quickly, the baby might struggle to keep up, leading to choking or sputtering. Conversely, if the flow is too slow, the baby may become frustrated and unlatch frequently, expressing their displeasure through fussiness.
Another significant factor is reflux. Babies with gastroesophageal reflux may experience discomfort during feeding, causing them to fuss or cry. This condition can make breastfeeding a less enjoyable experience for both the mother and the baby.
Positioning and Attachment
Proper positioning and attachment are crucial for a successful breastfeeding experience. If a baby feels unstable or is not latched correctly, they may become fussy. A poor latch can lead to sore nipples for the mother and inadequate milk transfer for the baby, resulting in frustration. Ensuring that the baby is comfortably positioned and securely latched can alleviate some of this fussiness.
Growth Spurts and Developmental Changes
Fussiness can also be linked to growth spurts. During these periods, babies may want to nurse more frequently, leading to increased fussiness as they seek to increase milk supply. Additionally, developmental milestones can cause temporary changes in behavior, including fussiness during feeding times.
Overactive Milk Ejection Reflex
For some mothers, an overactive milk ejection reflex can lead to a situation where the baby is overwhelmed by the flow of milk. This can cause the baby to arch away from the breast or become agitated. In such cases, mothers might consider adjusting their feeding position or expressing a little milk before latching to help manage the flow.
Gas and Colic
Lastly, issues like gas or colic can contribute to a baby’s fussiness at the breast. If a baby is experiencing discomfort from gas, they may fuss during feeding as they try to find a comfortable position.
Conclusion
In summary, a fussy baby during breastfeeding can be attributed to several factors, including milk flow issues, reflux, improper positioning, growth spurts, and gas. Understanding these potential causes can empower parents to make adjustments that enhance the breastfeeding experience. If fussiness persists or is accompanied by other concerning symptoms, consulting a healthcare professional or a lactation consultant can provide additional support and guidance.

How do I know if my baby has an intolerance to breastfeeding?

MSPI symptoms

​fussiness or excess crying before, during and after a feeding	​stools may be infrequent, watery, have mucous, or be bloody
​reflux	​spitting up
​nasal congestion	​skin rash, eczema, hives, dry skin
​weight loss	​repeated vomiting
​sudden waking with discomfort	​

Why is my baby grunting and pulling away while breastfeeding?

Some mothers have a strong milk ejection reflex. This means that your baby can get a lot of milk with each suck. Your newborn may find this amount of milk hard to handle. This may make your baby pull away from the breast when the flow is strongest.

Why is my baby unlatching and crying while breastfeeding?

Not enough milk at the moment.
Baby isn’t getting as much milk as they would like at that moment. A baby popping on and off for this reason tends to bury his head into the breast, then yank back with the nipple still in his mouth before popping off and crying.

Why is my baby suddenly fighting breastfeeding?

Pain or discomfort.
Teething, thrush or a cold sore can cause mouth pain during breastfeeding. An ear infection can cause pain during sucking or lying on one side. And an injury or soreness from a vaccination might cause discomfort in a certain breastfeeding position.

How do I know if my breastmilk is upsetting my baby’s stomach?

If symptoms occur such as fussiness, irritability, crying, gas, increased spitting up and/or drawing their legs up due to tummy pain, write down everything you ate that day. This lets you carefully look at your diet instead of getting rid of foods that may not be the cause of your baby’s distress.

Is my baby in pain or just fussy?

Watch for these signs of pain
Changes in usual behaviour. Your child may eat less or become fussy or restless. Crying that can’t be comforted. Crying, grunting, or breath-holding.

Why is my baby thrashing around while breastfeeding?

Overactive letdown (known medically as hyperlactation) can make it hard for a baby to keep up with the steady stream of milk. As a response, they may twist and tug to try and make the milk flow slow down or stop.

Why is my baby squirming and pulling while breastfeeding?

Why do babies push and strain when breastfeeding? Pushing and straining is normal and is part of the baby’s learning process. At birth, babies have a gastrocolic reflex that allows them to eat and have a bowel movement within a few seconds. That is why when they start to suckle, you hear their tummy moving.

Why does my baby keep latching and unlatching repeatedly?

Oversupply and overactive milk ejection reflex are two reasons your baby may pop on and off your breast, while breastfeeding when there is too much milk coming at them too fast or faster than they can handle. Your baby may come off your breast choking and sputtering or need to burp more often.

Why is my baby suddenly fussy while breastfeeding?

If the fussy behavior is mainly in the mornings, it might be due to a faster than usual let-down if baby has just had a longer sleep period and mom’s breasts are fuller than usual. If baby is fussier during evening nursings, it may be due to the normal fussy time that most babies have during the evening.