baby only nurses if we're moving? fussy and doesn't like to nurse anymore

[cyclamen]

The last few weeks, unless she is very very hungry, DD (2.5 months) will only nurse if we are in motion: rocking, or bouncing on the ball, or possibly walking vigorously. I do worry about her not eating and offer her the breast frequently throughout the day, when she is acting hungry. However, as I said, unless she is very hungry and it has been three or four hours, she doesn't like latching. But she will act hungry and if I rock her, she latches, so I have been doing that: swaddle, rock, and play white noise. Even then it takes a few tries after I let the milk spray off. It's like I have to convince her to nurse. She's not keen on nursing in the carrier like she used to be. I try to spend a lot of skin to skin time with her.

This is a big change from my baby a month ago. Then, she would smile at me a big smile when she would latch on. Now, she seems distressed by nursing.

We've had several problems - her tongue tie had to be cut twice. The second trip to the doctor was on a very hot day and we were on the subway a lot and she seemed stressed out by it and cried much more than she usually does. We also used a nipple shield until she began to reject it. In between, we had thrush and when we used 1% GV for four days, on the fourth day she developed mouth sores that took a week to heal. That was about three or four weeks ago, and since then, feeding has seemed stressful for her.

What can I do to help her feel comforted? It makes me sad when she cries while trying to nurse. She is gaining weight and seems happy other times.

[Mrshawwk]

What a hard time you both have had. It probably does just need to be worked out. If it were me, I would just continue to nurse her while rocking or bouncing or whatever works. I bet she'll get over it once she kinda forgets the past trauma.

I know that's not much help, but nurse often and think of all the excersize you'll get!

[seafox]

my DS just started to be like this a week ago or so. (He's 10wks) I did find though that I could nurse him on just-awakening okay. But after a while awake he'd fuss at the breast and only nurse if I was bouncing him. What I ended up doing would be to bounce him until he was sleepy and then put him on the breast, he'd usually latch and be okay not moving after that.

sometimes I feel like i am force-feeding him, since he stiffens/arches away from it so much but I know he's hungry. And if he goes to sleep it'll be short since he's hungry.

and we haven't had any of the other issues that you've had! breastfeeding was rather easy except for an overactive letdown that only recently improved - but perhaps DS remembers it all too well

I'm hoping it'll subside as his need for motion subsides (supposedly in a month or two, I'm hoping!)