Fussy Bub? Don’t Give Up on Breastfeeding Just Yet!

Fussy Bub? Don’t Give Up on Breastfeeding Just Yet!

Have a baby who is fussy at the breast? You are certainly not alone. But while having a fussy breastfeeding bub can be frustrating, it is normal, and many mothers experience this same problem for days, weeks or even months while their baby is young.

Why Is My Baby Fussing?

There are a handful of reasons why your baby may be fussy while breastfeeding: 

  • Your Baby Is Bothered By Something You Ate

If your baby is fussy and you notice other symptoms such as excessive spitting, a rash, congestion or colic, then the fussing may be due to anallergy. Some of the leading foods which can cause an allergy in a baby include soy, wheat, eggs, corn, peanuts and cow’s milk products.

The best way to tackle this issue is to keep a food journal. Record what foods you ate and how your baby reacted to them at different points throughout the day. This will help you pinpoint which foods are causing the problem.

  • You Have A Low Milk Supply

A study from Pediatrics revealed that 60% of mothers stop breastfeeding early, with many of these mothers stopping breastfeeding because they believed that they were notproducing enough milk.

The vast majority of breastfeeding mums are producing enough milk for their bubs. Our bodies are incredibly intuitive and most will create milk on a “on demand” basis. If your baby’s milk needs increase or decrease, your supply will re-adjust itself to accommodate.

A lot of mums believe that they must not be producing enough milk because they are not able to pump “enough”. But do not gauge how much milk you produce and how much your baby is getting by the amount you get through pumping. Our bodies produce more milk while a baby is nursing than when we pump.

  • Your Baby Is Cluster Feeding

Cluster feeding is the leading reason why babies are fussy at the breast. When a baby “cluster feeds”, she will bunch several feeds together at a certain time or times of the day, although this most commonly happens in the evening.

While this may leave mum tied to the couch, keep in mind that cluster feeding is absolutely normal and may be even desirable for mum and bub if you work during the day. No one is sure why cluster feeding occurs, but some experts believe that it is a way for your baby to boost your breastmilk production.

Your baby’s stomach is growing rapidly during these first few months, meaning that your body will need to produce more milk to meet your baby’s increasing demand. Cluster feeding may be nature’s way of making sure you will be able to meet this demand.

Coping With A Fussy Breastfeeding Baby

Your baby will not always be fussy at the breast. You can help yourself and your baby by:

  • Staying hydrated and well nourished
  • Looking for hunger cues before your baby fusses
  • Getting comfortable
  • If you know you’re about to get stuck somewhere for a while, come prepared. Grab your smartphone, the television remote, a bottle of water and a snack, and wear clothing which will leave you comfortable and make breastfeeding a breeze.

Peachymama offers an extensive line of on trend attire which makes breastfeeding at home and on the go easy and discreet. We have abrand new arrivals for Spring which feature some of our favourite fashions including our super chicCherry Blossom Breastfeeding Dress and ourSwing Nursing Tops.

Check out our latest range athttps://www.peachymama.com.au/collections/new-arrivals

Photo byEcho Grid onUnsplash

Further Reading:

https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/pediatrics/131/3/e726.full.pdf

https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2015/09/low-milk-supply-dont-give-up-breastfeeding-just-yet/

 

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