When you say "fussing at the breast"....
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Topic: When you say "fussing at the breast"....
Posted By: peanut butter
Subject: When you say "fussing at the breast"....
Date Posted: 17 February 2008 at 10:28am
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What do you mean exactly?
I'm wondering if we are weaning whether we want to or not. Tom is getting less interested in the boob or perhaps he is "fussing". What does this mean? He is basically doing on suck off on suck off Kick kick kick, turn away look around on suck suck off pull bite such off Is this fussing? or is this just distraction? It even happened today when I fed him in bed (usually guaranteed to have a nice calm feed). He isnt unhappy or screaming...its as if he isnt interested? Help! |
Replies:
Posted By: caraMel
Date Posted: 17 February 2008 at 10:43am
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Maybe he is being nosy? I remember both of my kidlets getting really easily distracted while feeding, around that age.
Other idea that springs to mind is teeth. Sometimes when they have teeth brewing it hurts for them to suck. Although if he's not unhappy it probably isn't that. Are you giving him his milk before solids? And milk before water? Or maybe he is ready to drop a feed? Sorry if I'm not much help, just throwing out every idea that springs to mind! Good luck! ------------- Mel, Mummy to E: 6, B: 4 and: 
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Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 17 February 2008 at 11:07am
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Yes, milk before solids (usually about 30min to an hour before). He wont drink water but we try that after every solids in the vain hope that one day he will drink it.
Dont think it is teeth. He seems pretty happy but this turning head whilst mummy's nipple is still in mouth is NOT GOOD! |
Posted By: Bombshell
Date Posted: 17 February 2008 at 11:32am
| when ella self weaned at 6 months or so she simply refused the breast and totally ignored it. Sounds like he might be "fussing" and maybe too much is going on around him...try going somewhere where there are no distractions for a few feeds and see if that helps? |
Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 17 February 2008 at 11:35am
| So they can self wean at that age? It could be because we have introduced formula as I was worried that he wasnt getting enough. I know I know...shouldnt have done it, shouldnt have doubted it but it has turned things around and he is much happier so I think it was the right move. I just wanted to hang on to some feeds myself but maybe its a sign my boy is growing up and becoming independent! (but he still needed mummy's boob for comfort at 10pm last night when he woke up beside himself) |
Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 17 February 2008 at 12:56pm
| Sounds like hes just interested at other things. Quite a lot of the time if you introduce formula they realise bottles are way less work so prefer them and so start refusing mum. If you really want to hold onto these feeds and up your supply its totally do-able. |
Posted By: miss
Date Posted: 17 February 2008 at 3:22pm
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Lily is like that for most of her feeds, though more so n my left side (my weaker side) than my right. She just gets distracted by what is around. The worst is when she pulls off while still firmly latched on. Ouchies!!!! (Lily has no formula, and only EBM once every few weeks) -------------  
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Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 17 February 2008 at 3:25pm
| Is this a situation where marmite on the nipples might work? |
Posted By: kabe
Date Posted: 17 February 2008 at 3:32pm
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Eva has been doing that quite alot lately. I swap her to the other breast and if that doesn't work, assume she's not hungry and try feeding her later. She's usually fine the next time I put her on, as she's quite hungry by then.
------------- http://alterna-tickers.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: TysMummy
Date Posted: 17 February 2008 at 6:33pm
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my man has always been like that.......the nosiest little blitter you ever did see........and then he laughes especially if he knows your somewhere where someone just might see your boob........but he was also teething since 2mnths and he finally got them through at 8mnths phew..........i am still BF but have no got reallllllllllllllly good at him pulling away and when to hide :)
what exactly does marmite do? i hear alot of old wifes tales and have tried them but most of them are just that tales........my boy luves marmite especially on cruskits but wat does it do when your feeding? ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: jaz
Date Posted: 17 February 2008 at 7:30pm
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Caleb does this a lot and its just distraction. Sometimes I just have to put my hand on the back of his head or top of his neck so he can't 'see out the corner of his eye' as such. He then settles into a good feed. Like you Miss, he sometimes pulls off firmly latched (ouch). ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 17 February 2008 at 7:37pm
| I noticed if he has just woken up and is still a bit dopey he feeds better. Thats probably why he feeds so well in the middle of the night. |
Posted By: Salifer
Date Posted: 18 February 2008 at 12:19pm
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LLL recommend spreading marmite on your nipples when baby goes on hunger strike and won't feed from the breast. Apparrently most babies like the taste of the marmite and it gets them back on the boobie....and interested in feeding from mum again. Its sure worth a try if you want to stick with the breastfeeding???? -------------    
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Posted By: TysMummy
Date Posted: 18 February 2008 at 12:29pm
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wow how cool.............sorry i dont get out much......my boy eats heaps but i would be interested to try this.......just for experiement and i really have nothing better to do :) ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 18 February 2008 at 8:04pm
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Oh gee I hate this stage. 3-6mos seems to be the worst and then again after 10ish months if they are still feeding. If they started mucking around like that, I just took them off and tried again later. Could even give a rusk instead if he just wants to look around. -------------  |
Posted By: Mum2ET
Date Posted: 18 February 2008 at 8:18pm
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Ella started to get really fussy while feeding around 4-5 months and refusing feeds and I was really worried that she was going to wean herself, but in the last 3 weeks has come right around and she is feeding really well (I think it may in part be because she has started to become a lot more clingier and wants the cuddles assorted with feeding) To try and get her to feed I always feed her in her room (away from other distractions) with the curtains closed. Or if we are at someone else house I go and feed in another room (otherwise she is far too nosey) ------------- Mum to Ella (5) and Tom (2) |
Posted By: miss
Date Posted: 19 February 2008 at 9:10am
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I don't know if this is a marmite issue, I just think it is developmental and low stimulation is the way to go. If there is something for them to look at they will contort themselves to see it!
But yeah, you can try switch nursing which is going backwards and forwards from one side to the other when the pull off, or removing them fromt he breast whenthey pull off a few too many times then rying again in 5-10 minutes. -------------
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