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My 3 month old baby has always been a great nurser. Well... just this past week she has become set on nursing positions. She ONLY wants to nurse if I'm lying down, in my bed, surrounded by pillows. If there is the slightest distraction, she gets upset and refuses to nurse. I use to be able to very discreetly nurse in public... or sitting in my office chair while working on the computer, or sitting on my couch, or in the reclining upholstered rocking chair in the mother's room at church... pretty much anywhere, and she has always been easy going. I usually use something soft to support my arm, and hold her as comfortably as possible, but now none of that is good enough. She also gets distracted and upset by things that never use to upset her so she stops nursing, like a ringing cell phone or something. My last 2 children I breastfed until they were about 16 months old, so I'm definately not new to nursing. Anyone experience something like this, a suddenly picky nursing baby... how can I get my feeding baby back? She stiffens up, screams... than I'm there squirting milk all over the place and she totally refuses to nurse. I try and calm her down, but it makes her angrier, so I have to put her back down, or give her to daddy/grandma for a few minutes before I can try nursing again.
This isn't caused by gas, or spit up or anything by the way... just pure comfort and general upset if she gets distracted.
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Best place to get answers when it comes to nursing!
Funny my 4 month just started doing this too. It took me an extra 1/2hr to get him to bed tonight. Part of the problem I have noticed is if he's tired and nursing and something interrupts him, he's furious then it just starts the cycle of an overtired baby. So I'm trying to feed right after he wakes. Helps somewhat. Another issue I've found is he can last longer between feeds now. Soon if I try feeding before he is truly hungry he is EXTREMELY distract able. Nursing necklaces help somewhat, but pretty much I just give up and try again in a hr or so. Today all these methods were unsuccessful we only had 2 successful calm feeds. Even his bedtime feed was utter chaos, so Im praying its a phase that'll pass sooner than latter. I remember my 2nd requiring pitch darkness and no talking to nurse. Wasn't really possible with a 21 month running around so I was pretty much an open bar, at night. At this point I'd just do what works and cross your fingers and hope it passes quickly!
People have various responses to a cover, but sometimes it can help to have one to block off outside things. Bebe au Lait covers allow you to still see your child while being covered. I would also seek out changing rooms if possible, knowing that the kiddo is easily distracted. I wonder if something else is going on, like an ear infection or teething or she's sick? Is it worse at certain times of day? Have you tried a dream feed to make up for distracted sessions?
I wonder if you were to get/make a nursing necklace... Just something with colorful big beads and things for her to fidget or lay with while she nurses.
You might also try pumping and giving her a bottle instead of directly breastfeeding.
Other than that... I have no suggestions. :/
Whatever you do to respond to her screaming, will tell her that's what she will get when she screams. Do not start catering to her screaming now. Try again to nurse, but if she screams, then put her down and walk away. She will learn very quickly that if she is hungry, she'd better take the breast when she can get it. Practice nursing her in different positions at home that will resemble the positions in public. And I agree with getting a Bebe au Lait cover.
