Feeding FAQ: 4-6 months – Breast Feeding

Is there anything I can do to make breast feeding easier for my 4.5mth daughter?

My daughter is very difficult to breastfeed. The problem started at about 8-10 weeks. She takes the first 10 minutes of a breast feed very well. Then it will become difficult .She starts crying and pulling away from breast when offered. If I persevere, she will eventually take the breast and finish feed although the whole process is tiring and time-consuming. Initially I thought that she was full after first 10 minutes. She seemed happy enough but would not settle well for naps and then would be very distressed at 6 pm and cry a lot during feed. I realize now that this was probably a build up of hunger during the day and she would need a top-up of milk I expressed earlier in the day to settle at 7pm. However, over last 4-6 weeks I have stopped expressing and just making sure she takes a full feed at each feed and she settles well for naps and does not need a top-up at 7pm.

This problem is worse in the morning, at 7 am and 11 am. If I manage to cajole her into having a full first feed, I have less of a problem feeding her at 11 and 2:30. Her 6pm and 10pm feeds are fine. I have a strong let-down although this does not to seem bother her too much, although she does pull off sometimes but goes straight back on the breast happily. I have tried leaving her until 8am so that she has had a good play and is tired but this doesn’t really work either. I have also changed position so she is more upright. This helped a little. I also find that she favours the right breast so if she is refusing the left breast I swap to the right breast for a few minutes and then swap her back. Sometimes this works, other times it doesn’t. I also make sure I feed her in a separate room with no distractions. This helps a little. I have also tried to reduce her 10 pm feed. I tried this twice but she woke at 6am.

It is frustrating as apart from this, I have absolutely no problems with her. She is a very happy and contented baby. She presently weighs 14lbs.

My daughter feeds at 7.30am 10-15mins, 8.15am second attempt and will take full feed by 9am. 11am 20mins each side with a lot of encouraging, 1 cube of fruit or vegetable, 2.30pm 20mins each side, 4.30pm 3-5ozs water, 6pm 20mins each side followed by 2tsps baby rice, 10pm 10mins each side.
She naps at 9-9.45am, 12-2.15pm.

There maybe several reasons why your daughter has begun to behave in this way. By 10-12 weeks breast fed babies definitely speed up in feeding. They often only need 10 minutes to be satisfied but, as you found, your daughter does need slightly more in order to settle well. She is also beginning to be more interested in the world around her and does want to be up and looking around, which is probably why she prefers to be more upright and looking around whilst feeding. Making sure she is full enough may take some encouragement on your behalf but is well worth doing so you know she will settle happily between feeds.

Does your daughter need to wind quite a lot after the first ten minutes? As she has taken in most of her feed by then she will be feeling quite full. Giving her a 5-10 minute break, whilst making sure she is fully winded, before offering her the breast again may help. Having a strong let down will mean she is liable to take in quite a lot of air.

Other reasons to look at are your breast milk, and whether through diet or exercise it may taste different to her in the mornings. She feeds for 10 minutes because she is hungry, and then begins to pull off, possibly dragging your nipple in her mouth which is painful. Be aware of what you are eating the night before as strong flavours such as garlic are known to taint the milk. Limit your intake of caffeine and fizzy drinks as well, as these too can cause a baby to be reluctant to feed fully.

Too much strenuous exercise or losing weight too quickly can also affect the taste of your milk. The toxins that are accumulated in the fatty tissue are released into your breast milk, either as a result of dieting too quickly after the birth or through exercising excessively.

You seem to be coping well with the problem, although it is time consuming in the morning, and your daughter is well settled. You may never find the real reason why she behaves like this at certain feeds but persevering with her may see the problem resolving itself and disappearing.

As your daughter is fully breast fed and only recently started to wean she will need her feed at 10pm for another few weeks. Some babies are able to go without it by the end of the first month of weaning, providing they are taking in enough solid food and still taking full feeds in the day. Others may need to continue with this feed into the second month of weaning. Your daughter will probably show you that she is ready to drop it, either by disinterest at 10pm or reluctance to want to feed at all at 7am.