Breastfeeding question

[Jen133]

I posted in BF forum, but no one has answered: Help ladies.........

My baby girl will be 8 weeks and 5 days on Monday. Yesterday I was breastfeeding her and at first she was fine drinking away, but like 20 minutes into the feeding she started getting shaky(sp), nervous like and started taking her mouth away from my nipple but then she would look for it again. Does this mean I'm not producing enough milk, and leaves her looking for more?  I switched her to the other breast and she did the same thing.  I want her to be a breast fed baby, I don't want to wean her from it just yet.  Also after I "fed" her she got very fussy.  She was having a hard time going to sleep.  I mean she would sleep but then wake up 10 minutes or so after.  Is my breast milk causing her to be like this or she just wants more and I can't give it to her?

Any advice would be helpful. Thanks ladies

[spade22]

Many women think they do not produce enough breast milk when in reality they do and they ofter start supplementing w/ formula.  This can actually cause your supply to drop because baby will not nurse as much (the more they nurse, the more milk is produced).  If your baby is going through a growth spurt (likely at this age) then she will nurse more (cluster nursing's are possible) and that will stimulate your supply.  Not sure when you gave the formula but she may be fussing because of that also as she will not be used to it.

[LosingMyMindInGA]

she may not be getting enough becuase she's hit a growth spurt and your supply has not adjusted to accomodate that.  Or it could be you ate something that caused the milk to have an off taste she doesn't like.  You could have ate something that didn't agree with her or caused her a tummy ache.  There's many possibilities as to what is happening.  I wouldn't be too concerned right now...just keep an eye that she is gaining adequate weight and is otherwise happy and healthy.

[Jen133]

Yes, I just think she cries because she's still hungry

[spade22]

Are you giving formula because you are concerned she isnt getting enough breastmilk?

[Mumita]

To me it sounds like a taste issue, maybe she tasted something in your milk that wasn't there before, think about what you might have eatten that could have made a difference.  If you ate something spicy could have given her a weird taste that she didn't like.  
I know that moms get nervous, but you shouldn't doubt your breastfeeding abilities unless it becomes a constant problem.
If your baby is gaining wait fine and is pooping and peeing fine, then you are producing enough milk for her. Don't worry about that. She is allowed to have a bad day same as all of us, she'll be fine.

[Jen133]

Thanks guys. I am very careful with what I eat.  I was searching on things that a nursing mother can and cannot eat and I stop drinking cow's milk, chocolate, pretty much anything with caffeine or dairy in it as I read that it can cause gas in your baby.  I'm going to try out Good Start formula today, because everytime she drinks the Enfamil Lipil, she has a hard time going to sleep and she'll pass a lot of gas and when she does she cries.

[Lance06]

There is also a chance that she has reflux...I have heard of this...some women end up not being able to breastfeed because babies have to be put on a special formula. I would just watch her and see if it continues. Maybe she did just have an upset stomach. Give it time and see if it happens more....

I wasnt able to breastfeed my first and I am hoping that this time around the baby learns to latch!!!

Best wishes hun

[spade22]

Ohhh by the way the community leaders in the BF forum are very knowledgeable and helpful but that forum gets a lot less traffic than this one so it will probably take a little longer to get your Q answered there but Im sure it will be answered.

[spade22]

She might be starting to go through a fussy period.  Jazmine went through a stage where she would latch, then delatch, then latch etc. and not nurse effectively but it was just a phase. I agree w/ AJH84, its unlikely that you arent producing enough milk for her.  

Another thing I can think of : is it possible that you ate something your wouldnt normally eat that might have effected her?  A lot of sugar or caffeine for example in the hours leading up to that feeding?

[AHP84]

Maybe she just had a little bit of an upset stomach, which may or may not have anything to do with your breastmilk. I doubt you're not producing enough for her. I'm sure that issue is fine, because your body adjusts to the baby's needs and demands. But maybe you ate something that is now in your breastmilk and it could be upsetting her stomach. Certain foods you eat may not bother you, but can upset the baby's stomach or make them gassy. Have you eaten anything out of the ordinary in the last day or two? Something you haven't eaten in the last 8 weeks, anyway?