Why do babies cry and struggle when breastfeeding?

When babies cry and struggle while breastfeeding, this is actually a manifestation of resistance to breast milk, which troubles many mothers. If you want to effectively solve these problems, you must first understand the causes. This is because the baby may be affected by some illness and feel unwell, so he resists breast milk. For example, common vomiting, diarrhea, and jaundice will prevent him from eating breast milk.

1. Sometimes it may be the mother’s own illusion :

1. Some babies turn their heads from one side to the other when looking for the nipple. This is called "home-seeking" behavior. Some mothers think that the child is expressing "no".

2. Some babies have more difficulty learning to suck than others, and the nurse may think that the baby does not want to drink her milk.

3. Some babies around 5 months old can easily be distracted from the breast due to noise and other reasons.

After one year old, some babies will automatically wean themselves off breast milk.

2. The baby may be sick :

If your baby has symptoms of other illness, such as vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, jaundice, or seizures, he may be seriously ill and not wanting to breastfeed. In this case, it is best for the nursing mother to take the baby to the hospital for examination. The following symptoms generally affect infants’ breastfeeding:

If the baby weighs less than 1800 grams

Babies weighing less than 1800 grams may not be able to suckle breast milk. The solution is to help the mother express breast milk and feed the baby with the expressed milk with a cup until the baby is able to suck on his own.

If the baby has a cold, the nose will be blocked

A blocked nose can prevent a baby from sucking breast milk. The solution is for the mother to clear the baby's nasal passages before each feeding. Use clean cloth or absorbent paper to make a pointed twister, then gently insert the tip into the baby's nasal cavity to roll out the secretions. Clean one side first, then the other. If the secretion is dry, you can soak the twist in water and then roll it.

3. Is the breast milk too much and too strong ?

When a mother starts breastfeeding her baby, the milk rushing into the baby's mouth may cause the baby to choke, and the baby will be afraid of breastfeeding. Sometimes milk will flow out of the other breast and make the mother feel breast swelling. This is a sign of excessive milk secretion and active ejection reflex. The solution is:

1. If the mother squeezes out some milk before each breastfeeding, her breasts will not be too swollen and the milk will not flow too quickly.

2. Feed only one breast at a time, and feed the other breast next time. This way the breast is less stimulated, milk production will also be reduced, and the flow will be suitable for the baby's needs.

3. If the mother breastfeeds while lying down, the milk will flow slower than when she is sitting.