New at breastfeeding please help

[BRmama]

So this is my first time nursing my second son. He's a month old today. He was doing great at bf, still is but with the exception of one thing. Lately especially at night when he's fussier he tugs and pulls at my breast as if he doesn't want to nurse but then gets desperate for my breast again. He's also a little red and sore on his bottom (not sure if that has anything to do with it). Anyway I don't know why he's doing that. Was it something I could have eaten? How do I make it more pleasant for him? I really don't want to give it up especially because I couldn't nurse my first one and this is something I always wanted to do. Please help. TIA

[PatioGardener]

could it be cluster feeding/ the 'witching hour'?  if so it is a normal, but frustrating, phase.

http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/fussy-evening.html

nak

ps WAY TO GO!  bfing is not easy those first 6 weeks or so, so congrats!  and hang in there - it gets so much better! 

[Llyra]

It really is very normal behavior. Mine were like that, too, in the evenings, at that same age. I think sometimes it's that they're really just tired, and want to sleep,. I remember with DD2, when she started pulling and fussing, if I bounced her to sleep, she'd sleep an hour or so, and then wake up ready to nurse again. Also, sometimes they just get fussy and overwhelmed at the end of the day, anyway. That's the time when for many of us, the milk supply is lowest, and that annoys them. It doesn't mean your supply is in trouble, though-- it's normal. That's why babies cluster-feed during that time. Mine often went a few hours basically nursing constantly, before falling asleep for a long stretch.

Six weeks is the peak of evening fussiness-- it should get worse until then, and then slowly improve, for most non-colicky kids. In the meantime, keep nursing-- all that fussing and pulling on and off is actually very good for your supply. He's letting your breasts know that more is needed, which is exactly what needs to happen at this stage. If it drives you crazy, there's nothing wrong with offering a paci for a short time, to calm him down a bit before trying again.

Switch nursing can help-- that's a supply-increasing technique. What you do is every time he fusses, or pulls off, you switch sides-- even if you've already used that side. You may wind up switching sides many times. Often, switching will elicit another letdown of milk, which makes baby happy, and it will increase your supply if you do it for a few days.

Hang in there! It gets so much easier, very very soon, in my experience!

[CherryBombMama]

Originally Posted by Llyra 

It really is very normal behavior. Mine were like that, too, in the evenings, at that same age. I think sometimes it's that they're really just tired, and want to sleep,. I remember with DD2, when she started pulling and fussing, if I bounced her to sleep, she'd sleep an hour or so, and then wake up ready to nurse again. Also, sometimes they just get fussy and overwhelmed at the end of the day, anyway. That's the time when for many of us, the milk supply is lowest, and that annoys them. It doesn't mean your supply is in trouble, though-- it's normal. That's why babies cluster-feed during that time. Mine often went a few hours basically nursing constantly, before falling asleep for a long stretch.

Six weeks is the peak of evening fussiness-- it should get worse until then, and then slowly improve, for most non-colicky kids. In the meantime, keep nursing-- all that fussing and pulling on and off is actually very good for your supply. He's letting your breasts know that more is needed, which is exactly what needs to happen at this stage. If it drives you crazy, there's nothing wrong with offering a paci for a short time, to calm him down a bit before trying again.

Switch nursing can help-- that's a supply-increasing technique. What you do is every time he fusses, or pulls off, you switch sides-- even if you've already used that side. You may wind up switching sides many times. Often, switching will elicit another letdown of milk, which makes baby happy, and it will increase your supply if you do it for a few days.

Hang in there! It gets so much easier, very very soon, in my experience!

  this is great advice! my ds2 did the exact same thing, and all it took was time ...
 

[BRmama]

Thank you everyone for posting. I feel more relieved. I thought it was something I ate. Thanks for the website too. I'm glad this is normal and it'll pass especially now that my breasts don't hurt nearly as much anymore. Thanks again

[JudiAU]

Originally Posted by Llyra 

AIt really is very normal behavior. Mine were like that, too, in the evenings, at that same age. I think sometimes it's that they're really just tired, and want to sleep,. I remember with DD2, when she started pulling and fussing, if I bounced her to sleep, she'd sleep an hour or so, and then wake up ready to nurse again. Also, sometimes they just get fussy and overwhelmed at the end of the day, anyway. That's the time when for many of us, the milk supply is lowest, and that annoys them. It doesn't mean your supply is in trouble, though-- it's normal. That's why babies cluster-feed during that time. Mine often went a few hours basically nursing constantly, before falling asleep for a long stretch.

Six weeks is the peak of evening fussiness-- it should get worse until then, and then slowly improve, for most non-colicky kids. In the meantime, keep nursing-- all that fussing and pulling on and off is actually very good for your supply. He's letting your breasts know that more is needed, which is exactly what needs to happen at this stage. If it drives you crazy, there's nothing wrong with offering a paci for a short time, to calm him down a bit before trying again.

Switch nursing can help-- that's a supply-increasing technique. What you do is every time he fusses, or pulls off, you switch sides-- even if you've already used that side. You may wind up switching sides many times. Often, switching will elicit another letdown of milk, which makes baby happy, and it will increase your supply if you do it for a few days.

Hang in there! It gets so much easier, very very soon, in my experience!

Great advice here. It is going to get better soon!

[Hattie'sMama]

My daughter started doing the same thing around 6 weeks. I've found that she pulls on and off a lot when she is overly tired and can't quite fall asleep. I don't know if you baby wear, but for us, the trick is to nurse her and walk around sorting laundry at the same time. The movement is the only thing that helps her fall asleep!

[BRmama]

Originally Posted by Hattie'sMama 

My daughter started doing the same thing around 6 weeks. I've found that she pulls on and off a lot when she is overly tired and can't quite fall asleep. I don't know if you baby wear, but for us, the trick is to nurse her and walk around sorting laundry at the same time. The movement is the only thing that helps her fall asleep!

I'm new at babywearing but dh and I have ordered a couple carriers and I'll be trying them out on my son soon. Yeah I'm excited to start wearing him and that's a good idea about sorting laundry at this time. Like your daughter, my son also prefers the movement and I'm already late on it so this is a good opportunity to catch up while putting ds to sleep lol