Hello!

Hi Mums

Long time reader, first time poster.
Looking for a little bit of help/words of support to help my sanity and stress levels

Over the last week, my 12 week old has been screaming at most feeds (BF)
Unless I’m engorged, she ends up losing it after a few minutes

We’ve been seeing an osteo as she is quite tight down her entire left side, however, that hasn’t seemed to help either

She’s having great nappies however, using the scales at home, her weight gain is still going up but slowing slightly

I just don’t know if it’s me or her leap, looking for a little encouragement I suppose ❤️


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  • Have you talked to your GP? There’s a whole range of things (most pretty minor) that could be causing this.


  • Call the breast feeding line but also CAFHS or a good lactation consultant is worth their weight in gold. Also tongue ties, position, maybe a formula top up in a faster teat


  • This is just to share my experience and I will add first, you should check in with your local support to check (Dr, CAFHS etc).
    My daughter started doing this at 5 weeks and turns out my milk was not enough. Once I started mixed feeding, she was great. Her weight also did the same as your little one. Eventually she weened herself from me by 6 months but I don’t think my milk ever came in tbh. I am an older Mum (40) and my hormones were an issue for us to get pregnant.


  • Definitely talk to someone from the Australian Breastfeeding Association – they will be able to give you some great advice and things to try. Their hotline is open 24/7 and is totally free to call. They’ve been an absolute lifesaver for me at times like this where I didn’t know what to do


  • Professional support is always a good idea.


  • First things that come to mind are dairy intolerance (reaction from the mothers diet) and or GORD (gastro-oesophageal reflux disease) my daughters two youngest cousins both had gord, I had it too as a child. While it sounds like something that would be easily detectable with lots of vomiting, most of the time it actually goes back into the stomach. The only baby I’ve ever seen scream during/after feeds though is one of those cousins who had an intolerance to dairy I can’t remember what they specifically called it.. but the baby could not have dairy at all, it ended up causing mucus in the stools and then blood. Once the mother stopped drinking anything and eating anything with dairy the baby was fine after a couple of weeks. It took months to diagnose correctly. Of course, there are many things it could potentially be but if unable to figure it out, talking to your doctor about the possibility of dairy intolerance in the baby might be necessary if you don’t find any improvements soon.


  • I would call the ABA for a more detailed assessment, but l had a strong letdown and it presented like this. You just need to test by seeing how hard the pressure is when you pump by hand. If it goes metres, jsut squeeze off the letdown first


  • You’re doing an amazing job mumma! I’d go to the GP and get some advice


  • Maybe get a GP to check for conditions like tongue tie – but it does sound like it might just be a temporary stage. I wouldn’t worry overly.


  • I wouldn’t worry too much unless it continues and then I would go to a GP for some advice.


  • Oh Mumma, You’re doing a great job! You’re both still working it out. Sometimes babies just aren’t hungry when we think they should be. You can always take her off, play a little, cuddle a little, then try again 10-15 minutes later. I remember a MCH nurse saying to me once “Don’t worry, they will never starve themselves.” You mentioned that she is gaining weight and having lots of wet nappies, so that all sounds good. Every stage is just a stage. If you ever need someone to talk to the Australian Breastfeeding Association has a 24 hour 7 day free helpline – 1800 686 268
    You’ve got this :)


  • Babies go through so many different phases and stages. Don’t stress it too much


  • I hope it was just a phase and you are back on track by now. One of my twins screamed at times while breast feeding and his weight gain was very slow. I topped him up with formula and the midwives kept an eye on the weight gain.


  • i can feel you, dont be stress. babies body changes every week. it will be back to normal. if not just speak to your Gp or midwives. they will help you,


  • I’d talk to your Doctor or baby nurse to rule out any issues but if she is gaining weight all should be good. A different postion might be needed as she is getting bigger.


  • It’s not you. If she is gaining weight, there is obviously no issue with your supply. So long as she’s not losing weight, it’s positive. Maybe see if your GP or a midwife at the family health clinic can get to the bottom of things for you. There might be a reason why she is crying.
    Bottom line – you are a great mum and there is no baby handbook, you can only do your best.


  • You’re doing an amazing job!
    My 7 month old was born with his head turned in to one side and had a time adjusting to face the other to feed. I found changing the position I was feeding helped. Football holds, having a pillow prop up along beside me to rest his read and him laying across my tummy. Also investing in a good nursing chair. He loves being rocked with a sound machine playing. This really was a game changer for us and calmed him down.
    Hope you can find the magic combo that works for you and bub.


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