babies crying and pulling at breast
Here is something I just got from Dr. Jack Newman about the reasons babies cry at the breast: "More and more we are hearing of mothers being told that the reason a baby fusses at the breast is that the baby is getting too much milk too quickly from an overactive letdown reflex. This is not always true. Even in the presence of an abundant milk supply, the baby may be pulling and crying at the breast because the milk flow is too slow. A recent patient we saw actually had had a significant decrease in her milk supply, and for this reason the baby was pulling. The stratagems suggested by the LC for an overactive letdown reflex actually made the situation worse (one breast per feeding, etc). Below is part of what I send mothers whose baby is pulling or crying at the breast (I have not attached anything. See the website www.drjacknewman.com The mentioned chapter is in my book, Dr. Jack Newman's Guide to Breastfeeding or in the US, the same book is called the Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers). Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC Babies pull or cry at the breast and get angry for several reasons: a. the flow is too slow for them (this is the most common reason) b. the flow is too rapid for them. c. the baby is full, but wants to continue to suck d. possibly due to reaction to something in the milk (see colic, attached) e. nursing strike (see attached chapter on breast refusal, section on nursing strikes) f. reflux is a possibility here, but this is a "diagnosis" which is made too often. g. a combination of a and b (too fast early in the feeding, too slow later). You can decide which of the first three your baby is doing, by watching the baby drink at the breast. If the baby is nibbling, it is likely a. above, "I want more milk faster". If the baby is drinking really well (see video clips at www.drjacknewman.com) it is probably because flow is too rapid for the baby to handle (this usually occurs early in the feeding), or, a variation of a., the baby is full, got full very quickly, and so wants to continue to suck but does not want more milk. This latter (c.) usually occurs several minutes into the feeding when the baby was drinking very well. Often the baby, after the initial rapid drinking, is content when nibbling and not getting much milk, but if the milk flow begins again, the baby will start to get upset again. The problem of too slow flow is improved by improving the baby's latch using compression, and possibly using other tricks to increase flow (herbs, medication, ). See the Protocol to increase breastmilk intake by the baby, attached, and use the video clips at the websites below to help you use the Protocol. Domperidone could be helpful in this situation, but should be used in conjunction with the Protocol, not as a "magic bullet". Contact your physician to see if s/he will prescribe it for you. The problem of too rapid flow is improved by improving the latch, and letting time do its work. Eventually by 2 to 3 months at the most, the baby will learn to manage the flow. The problem of the baby being full can be improved by "finishing" one side before offering the other, trying two or even more feedings on one side (if it is possible, without the baby being hungry). See attached sheet on colic and chapter on colic. The problem of reflux, if the above approach to too rapid flow cannot be fixed, can be treated with medication. Better this medication than the medication called infant formula.