Babies that get a lot of milk too swiftly might exhibit fussiness, irritability at the breast & might be deemed as ‘colicky’. Classically, such babies gain weight favourably. A typical behaviour noted after having begun to nurse is coughing, choking or struggling at the breast subsequent to some seconds/ minutes of having begun. The baby might be coming off the breast & frequently causing the mother’s milk in spraying out. Following this, the infant often would return to the breast, though might show fussiness & repeating the act. The baby might be discontented with the swift milk flow & irritated when the flow halts. This could be a tough time for mother & baby. Rarely, babies might also start to refuse the breasts for many weeks on end, usually close to 3 months of age.

Breastfeeding Tips

• Fixing the latch. This issue aggravates when the infant isn’t latching on properly on the breast. A proper latch is the answer to friction-free nursing. Irrespective of what one might have been notified about how fine the latch appears, always attempt at improving it. Reflect about it in this manner – in case your chin is tucking into your trunk whilst you attempt to drink, would you become beset by the rapid flow rather easily. In case you wish to chug down fast you would be throwing your head backwards, chin mid-air & be capable of handling the swift flow. This too is the type of positioning that the infant’s head must be in whilst nursing her chin deep into the mother breast, her head in a leaned-back pose, her nose up in the air at a distance from the breast & chin at a distance from her trunk. Such a position would assist the baby in handling the quicker gush of let-down.
• In case one hasn’t already tried this then attempt to feed the infant one breast for every feed & in several scenarios, feed also 2-3 feedings on a single breast prior to swapping with the other one might help. In case the non-used breast engorges then expressing just that much milk for feeling comfortable. Bear in mind that when the infant demands the 2nd breast then the mom must be offering it.
• Feeding the infant prior to him/ her getting really famished. Also not holding off the feed by offering water (bear in mind that a nursed infant doesn’t require water even in really hot climatic conditions) or pacifiers. A hungry infant would naturally be attacking the breast & causal to quite active let down reflex. The infant must be fed no sooner has he/ she begun exhibiting any indications of hunger. In case the baby is yet drowsy then it is even better.
• Feeding the infant is a calm, stress-free setting whenever doable with no audible tunes or intense illumination that is non-conducive to a good feed. It has been observed that older infants have a tendency of becoming quite sidetracked as the milk flow slackens. Application of gentle compressions on the breasts firstly & then in a more firm manner as needed for maintaining consistency of milk flow pace would mostly keep the infant interested in latching on to the breasts for more time since he/ she drinks better.
• It also helps when women lie down to nurse. In case feeding side-ways isn’t helping then attempt to lay flat or nearly flattish, on one’s back with the infant lying over you for nursing or attempt to lean back in a chair. Gravitational force would help in decreasing the milk flowing rate. Bear in mind that that the infant might get upset at the inconsistency of the flow hence lying down at the onset when flow is swift & sitting back up when milk flow slackens is important. Infants prefer the supine position; they have a tendency of not fussing with slackened milk flow though tend to doze off.
• The infant might not like the swift flow, though also exhibit fussiness when the flow slackens a lot. In case you feel that the infant is fussing due to slowed flow then it would assist by doing breast compression to maintain proper flow.

When nothing appears to help then try these breastfeeding tips:

• Occasionally offer the infant commercial obtainable lactase (lactose-metabolizing enzyme), two to four droplets pre-feed would allay colic signs. It is obtainable an OTC, though costly & appears to work merely on some occasions.
• Nipple shields might be helpful, though must be used when all else has failed & solely when one is having sufficient assistance sans any respite and would be the 2nd – last option.
• As the final option, instead of change to formula offer the infant breast milk after expression via cups or bottles. Addition of lactase to post-expression milk might also assist.