I have a 5 year old I breastfed until she weaned at 2 1/2. She enjoyed nursing and usually fell asleep at the breast. My second child is so different. I have been writing it off as a difference in personality, but I am wondering if there is an actual issue that needs attention, that could improve our BFing relationship. She is often fussy and cries quite a bit. I am disappointed that BFing does not soothe her.
She is now 4 months old, healthy and strong. She weighs 12lb 3oz (the same as my older daughter at this age).
At birth, she latched on immediately and nursed often, my milk came in 2-3 days and I was never engorged.
When I put her to the breast, she sucks for 2-5 seconds and turns her head crying and kicks her legs, then back on. She continues to do this until the milk really starts flowing. When the milk is coming more quickly, she pulls her head back while sucking strongly and swallowing quickly. I try to hold her head close, but she strongly pulls back with both hands on my breast. She has always made a "clucking" noise when she nurses. To me it sounds like she has lost suction with her tongue. I thought she would outgrow this, but hasn't. After just a few minutes of this fast sucking and swallowing, she goes back to the "fighting" where she comes off and cries and then goes back on. At this point I switch sides. We usually do each side twice in one nursing session. At some point, she is doing more fighting than sucking, so I give her the pacifier which she then sucks on happily.
After nursing, she always burbs and sometimes spits up.
Often, when I offer the breast, she never makes it past the first "fighting" phase and we end up not nursing. It seems to me, unless she is really hungry, she doesn't want to nurse at all.
Once a week, I pump about 1oz and leave it in a bottle for my husband while I am gone for 90 minutes. She takes it eagerly.
She has never fallen asleep at the breast. Getting to sleep involves me laying down with her, her hand on my breast, sucking on the pacifier, while I ssshhhh and pat her back.
Sometimes I think she is mad that I don't have enough milk, but then when the milk is flowing it is like she is trying to slow it down. I would really like to have a more loving nursing relationship. One that is more satisfying for both of us. She never even looks at me while I am nursing.
I appreciate any thoughts or experiences you may have. I didn't realize how sad I am about this until just now as I have typed it out.
She is now 4 months old, healthy and strong. She weighs 12lb 3oz (the same as my older daughter at this age).
At birth, she latched on immediately and nursed often, my milk came in 2-3 days and I was never engorged.
When I put her to the breast, she sucks for 2-5 seconds and turns her head crying and kicks her legs, then back on. She continues to do this until the milk really starts flowing. When the milk is coming more quickly, she pulls her head back while sucking strongly and swallowing quickly. I try to hold her head close, but she strongly pulls back with both hands on my breast. She has always made a "clucking" noise when she nurses. To me it sounds like she has lost suction with her tongue. I thought she would outgrow this, but hasn't. After just a few minutes of this fast sucking and swallowing, she goes back to the "fighting" where she comes off and cries and then goes back on. At this point I switch sides. We usually do each side twice in one nursing session. At some point, she is doing more fighting than sucking, so I give her the pacifier which she then sucks on happily.
After nursing, she always burbs and sometimes spits up.
Often, when I offer the breast, she never makes it past the first "fighting" phase and we end up not nursing. It seems to me, unless she is really hungry, she doesn't want to nurse at all.
Once a week, I pump about 1oz and leave it in a bottle for my husband while I am gone for 90 minutes. She takes it eagerly.
She has never fallen asleep at the breast. Getting to sleep involves me laying down with her, her hand on my breast, sucking on the pacifier, while I ssshhhh and pat her back.
Sometimes I think she is mad that I don't have enough milk, but then when the milk is flowing it is like she is trying to slow it down. I would really like to have a more loving nursing relationship. One that is more satisfying for both of us. She never even looks at me while I am nursing.
I appreciate any thoughts or experiences you may have. I didn't realize how sad I am about this until just now as I have typed it out.
