Why Does My Baby Cry While Feeding?

Babies have this amazing ability to let you know when things just aren't right….they wail like a fire engine! Yes, they sure know how to get our attention. So, when a baby consistently cries while breastfeeding, a mom's maternal instinct kicks in and starts to hypothesize a thousand reasons why her baby is crying at breast. Could it be that my baby doesn't like the taste of my milk? Does my baby not enjoy breastfeeding? Do I not have enough milk? And the list goes on and on….. It is enough to drive a mom crazy, which often exacerbates the initial issue.

So what is a mom to do if her baby is consistently crying while feeding?

First of all, I would recommend meeting with a lactation consultant. Sometimes it is the position that is causing the baby to cry while feeding. Sometimes it could be thrush in the baby's mouth. A lactation consultant will watch your baby feed and should be able to figure out what is going on. In the meantime, here are a few reasons why a baby will cry while breastfeeding and a few quick ways to remedy the situation. This is in no way an exhaustive list, nor should it be taken as a substitute for professional lactation assistance from a lactation consultant or pediatrician….it is just a little glimpse into why your baby might be crying while breast feeding.

Thrush: The beasty-yeasty! Oh, the amount of thrush I saw this past summer could last me a lifetime. Sometimes when a baby has thrush, s/he will have white patches in her/his mouth which may itch or burn. Ouch! Look for white patches on your baby's tongue, inside cheeks, roof of his/her mouth, or on her/his gums. If it cannot be rubbed off, like milk tongue, it is probably thrush. Sometimes a baby will have a diaper rash. Sometimes there is no visible yeast at all. Check your nipples to see if they are pink and/or burning while feeding. A yeast infection can make it very uncomfortable to feed, which can explain lots of crying at breast. If your baby has thrush, you can start taking probiotics to fight off the 'bad' yeast and get your body back in check. Definitely make an appointment with an LC or your baby's pediatrician as a follow-up. Babies usually don't need to be placed on medication when they have thrush, as there are many herbal remedies that can take care of the yeast situation.

Check back next week when we discuss reflux and fast let-down.

Why is my baby so fussy in the early evening?

The "witching hour" is what my mom calls it.....that span from 4pm-7pm when babies just fuss and complain and want to be held nonstop.

Why does this happen?
During the first few months of life, babies can be very fussy right around dinner time. Some studies say that this is because young infants become overstimulated very easily and that by the late afternoon they are just completely exhausted from the day. Others hypothesize that this is one of the most energy-filled times of the day. Partners are coming home from work, siblings are home from school, dinner is being made, the TV might be on....that is a lot of commotion for a baby to process. For breastfeeding moms, excess breast milk that accumulated while "sleeping" at night has dwindled and now the baby is removing the milk as it is being made, which may slow down the flow of milk. Lastly, babies are fussy during these hours because they want to eat....they are trying to load up on calories, so that they can sleep for a longer chunk of time at night.

What can I do to get through it and still keep my sanity?
1. Breastfeed often. Lots of small meals during these hours may equal one large feed, which will allow your baby to hopefully sleep a little bit longer.
2. Wear your baby. My son hung out in a baby carrier from 4-8pm every night from 6 weeks until 3 1/2 months. This way, I could bounce him, sing to him, soothe him, and feed him while still preparing dinner, eating dinner, and bathing my older son.
3. Prepare dinner in the morning. Babies are usually calmer in the morning before overstimulation sets in. Use your crockpot, make casseroles and chili, make larger portions and freeze the left-overs. This way, dinner is one less thing you have to think about during your baby's fussy time.
4. Take a breath. Your baby's late afternoon fussiness should subside between three and four months of age. Then she/he will begin to enjoy attention and engagement during these hours.