Why is my newborn agitated while breastfeeding?

Understanding Newborn Agitation During Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is often portrayed as a serene bonding experience between mother and child, but for many new parents, it can also be a source of frustration and concern, particularly when a newborn exhibits agitation during nursing. This behavior can manifest as fussiness, crying, or pulling away from the breast, and it can occur at any time, although it is notably common around the 6-8 week mark.
Common Causes of Agitation
There are several reasons why a newborn might become agitated while breastfeeding. One primary factor is the adjustment to the outside world. After spending nine months in the womb, babies are suddenly exposed to a bright, noisy environment that can be overwhelming. This sensory overload can lead to discomfort and agitation during feeding sessions.
Another significant reason for fussiness at the breast is related to the baby’s feeding preferences. If a baby has been introduced to bottle feeding, they may develop a preference for the faster milk flow that bottles provide. This can lead to frustration when breastfeeding, as the baby must work harder to stimulate milk flow from the breast.
Physical Discomfort and Feeding Techniques
Physical discomfort can also play a role in a baby’s agitation. Issues such as gas, reflux, or even a tight diaper can make it difficult for a baby to focus on feeding. Additionally, if the baby is not latching properly, it can lead to ineffective feeding and increased fussiness.
Mothers may also experience breastfeeding aversion, a phenomenon where they feel discomfort or agitation while nursing, which can inadvertently affect the baby’s feeding experience. This emotional connection is crucial; if a mother is tense or anxious, the baby may pick up on these feelings, leading to further agitation.
Strategies to Soothe an Agitated Baby
To help soothe an agitated newborn during breastfeeding, parents can try several strategies. Creating a calm feeding environment that mimics the womb—dim lighting, soft sounds, and gentle rocking—can help ease the transition for the baby. Additionally, ensuring that the baby is properly latched and comfortable can alleviate physical discomfort that may contribute to fussiness.
If the baby is particularly fussy during certain times of the day, such as in the evening, it may be beneficial to explore cluster feeding patterns, where babies feed more frequently during specific periods. Understanding these patterns can help parents anticipate and manage feeding sessions more effectively.
In conclusion, while it can be distressing to see a newborn agitated during breastfeeding, understanding the underlying causes and employing soothing strategies can significantly improve the experience for both mother and baby. As with many aspects of parenting, patience and observation are key to navigating these early challenges.

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 is my baby so frantic when feeding?

Baby’s fussing could mean “I’m not ready yet”. Perhaps the baby needs to burp or fill its nappy (or needs a nappy change) before he can relax and enjoy breastfeeding. Discomfort will distract him from feeding, and you may not realise what he needs to do until after the event!

Is it normal for newborns to be agitated?

Babies have many reasons to be cranky in the first few months of life. They have very sensitive nervous systems. As a result, the littlest things such as people talking, a small breeze, or an unusual texture may irritate them and they may express their discomfort with long bouts of crying.

Why is my baby flailing around while breastfeeding?

Hitting and flailing during nursing is simply a developmental phase of infancy. Babies flail, hit, and smack during nursing sessions for a variety of reasons. Your baby needs attention. Your baby might hit during a nursing session simply to get your attention.

Why is my baby so agitated after feeding?

– Distended tummy – Most after-feeding upset is related to trapped gas in the digestive system. This often shows as a swollen, or hardened tummy. – Pained cries – Your baby might cry after feeding more often during the evening feeds, and you’ll recognise it as a more pained cry than their usual cries.

Why is my baby thrashing around while breastfeeding?

Mine seems to do this for multiple reasons. Either he’s tired and just wants to comfort nurse but is mad that milk is coming out; he has gas pains and needs to burp; or he’s cluster feeding and trying to get another letdown/frustrated that milk flow has slowed down (in this case, switching sides helps).

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.

What is the 3 month breastfeeding crisis?

The third crisis occurs after three months, at this stage the baby has much greater suction strength and will take faster feedings as he is able to empty the breasts with greater speed, that is to say, take more in less time, this period coincides with the development of their hearing and vision, that makes everything …

Why is my baby agitated while breastfeeding?

If you are about to feed and visitors arrive, or your phone is not next to you, or you are anticipating pain or a struggle feeding, you don’t release the hormone oxytocin as quickly so the let-down is slower and the baby can get frustrated and pull away. This often leads to an upset baby and it can upset you too.

Why is my baby aggressively latching and unlatching?

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.