3 week old yells at me while he's nursing

[akat]

I can't really figure out why. He only does it once or twice a day. He seems to do it more often on my right breast. "Ahhhhh! Ahhhh! Ahahah!" It's kinda comical, but he seems a bit pissed off. He also often hits me while he's doing it. There's not a lot of swallowing going on during, but not much sucking either. My theories, none of which are giving me an "Aha!" feeling, are: breast is out of milk, milk's coming out too fast, or gas/has to poop.

Any of you get yelled at?

[akind1]

not necessarily yelled at; but at that age, DS did distinctly prefer one breast more than the other, enough so that I pretty much just fed him from that side (the left) and pumped the right until he got over it. Mostly I think either the milk wasn't coming down fast enough, or it was coming down too fast.

Also someone mentioned to me, that babies do sometimes prefer the left because it is closer to your heartbeat and that is comforting to them. it kinda made sense

I think so long as you keep offering that side, and you said it only happens once in a while, he will grow out of it. Have you noticed does it happen more on the first breast you offer, or the second?

[LynnS6]

Saw your post in the new posts -- my sister said my nephew did this when the milk wasn't coming fast enough. (He's grown into a lovely adult, so it's not a personality flaw .)

[Llyra]

Could he maybe want to burp? All my kids would start getting really fussy at the breast if they needed to burp, and often just putting them upright for a second was enough to do the job.

My DD2 as a young infant used to kick me and punch me and pull off and holler at me; she'd also thrash her body around, and yank back on the nipple. After awhile, I figured out that she was doing it when the flow had slowed, and I noticed that if I tolerated it for a few minutes, another letdown of milk would occur. Which was great for her, and great for my milk supply I'm sure, but not so great for me, because it only rewarded her for whacking on me!

The thing to do when it starts, I think, if you decide it's due to a slow flow, is to switch sides. Even if you've already used the first side, switching sides will often bring on another letdown and satisfy baby. You can switch multiple times during a single session-- this is a supply-increasing technique called switch nursing, and it's useful in the early newborn period when baby is having frequent growth spurts.

[Marylizah]

My 3 week old does the same thing!! He also tugs his head around. It's usually because he has gas or has to poop. Kind of funny and uncomfortable at the same time.

[marinak1977]

My DS does that as well - usually he needs to burp or be put vertically for a while to settle whatever is bothering him. Then he would nurse again. He looks really pissed off doing it - DS is 7 weeks

[NSmomtobe]

Yeah, I think it's gas. He pulls off and screams/cries/yells, and then latches back on again. Sometimes he poops during these episodes so that's why I think it's gas.

[maptome]

My babe does it all the time for different reasons:
-Really hungry, but milk hasn't let down yet. When the milk starts flowing she'll calm down.
-Milk comes out too fast. She doesn't really want to eat, just suck.
-Doesn't want to nurse bc distracted/not hungry whatever
-Teeth hurt (DD is 7 months)

It's pretty emotional draining when she screams and pushes and hits. If I know she's really hungry, I keep switching sides. If she doesn't want to nurse, I try again later.

Keep up the nursing. You're going a great job!

[honeybunmom]

The other thing to consider is a subluxation in the neck. My daughter had difficulty nursing from one side in the first week. She had a very long pushing phase, so, our midwife suggested we take her to the chiro. A little pinky to the neck and she immediately had full range of motion in her neck and was able to nurse just fine. In the meantime - prior to that visit - I had to nurse her in the football hold on the left side since she otherwise was in so much discomfort due to the lack of range of motion in her neck.

[akat]

Thanks for all the replies. At first, I thought it was gas, and maybe it is, or maybe it is some of the time. The first few times he did it, he pooped right after. But I think sometimes it's a slowdown in the milk, too. Although I think of myself as having an oversupply, at least I did with my first son, so that's hard for me to grasp.

Being 3 weeks old, the pummeling doesn't hurt or anything, and he's not pulling on my nipple. I love the sound of his little voice, too, and it's the only time he 'sings' to me, so I kind of like it...except for the fact that I think he's frustrated/upset, and I can't figure out exactly how to help him out.

I appreciate all the input!

[marinak1977]

Since I've been ECing more I noticed that sometimes my LO does it when he needs to pee, if I offer the potty then he usually acts very happy.

[JayJay]

Bella does this too - usually when it's too slow a letdown and she's had to wait a bit to get the milk in the first place. Usually it's later in the day, too. Bella's best times are in the morning and early afternoon: after that, she starts getting more impatient and is usually quite fussy and cuddly by the later evening. Then, if the milk doesn't come out properly when she wants it, she loses her temper! It's quite cute really!

[mommy2two babes]

DS 3 mos does this if the milk doesn't let down quick enough for him an he is realy hungry ( like after a nap)

[Quinalla]

Usually that means the milk isn't coming fast enough with my baby, but yeah, could be other things too