Marta is here to answer your questions...

[mirellevvi]

Marta is here...

[Sassafras]

Hi Marta, welcome back to the forums. Have fun answering questions tonight. Sassy

[chick_from_tn1]

My 6 month old son has started crying when I try to nurse him. He will latch on, pull off real quick, cry and do the whole thing all over again. It has begun to be a struggle to get him to stay latched on long enough for my milk to let down. Then once the milk has let down he will only nurse for a couple seconds after that then the whole process starts all over again. I am getting frustrated and I know he is too. What can I do?

[mirellevvi]

There are few reasons on why your baby might be behaving the way he is. Some babies have a regular fussy period, often late in the afternoon, for others there might be some discomfort that is happening to him that's causing the reaction. From your description it sounds like he is experiencing some type of discomfort. Has he ever been colicky? Are there any teeth coming out? Maybe he is gassy...Could you describe more of what is happening, when, every time you feed him or only sometimes? How long ago did it start? Does anything seem to make it better? Do you notice any difference in you milk flow? and anything else that you may think that has changed in your lives.

[chick_from_tn1]

This has started over the last two weeks. Last week he had a cold which caused him to have an ear infection but he started this the week before. He never was colicky always a happy baby. I haven't noticed any teeth coming out but I have my suspicion that he is teething. He has actually "nibbled" twice while nursing.

He nurses great at night when I have to wake him up to nurse because I am getting full, of course he is half asleep when I nurse him.

I have tried going from one side to the other but doesn't do any good. Once the milk lets down in the one breast he is goes through the whole spell again. I am seeing a decrease in my milk supply and eagerly want to continue to nurse.

[mirellevvi]

It is possible that the ear infection could be causing these episodes. Although it has started before the ear infection was diagnosed there might have already been discomfort that your son was feeling. It might explain why he is seems fine when you nurse him at night, since you have to wake him up and he is groggy, the discomfort or pain that he is feeling might not bother him as much. There is a few things that you can do:
1. try out different positions - is there one that he does not fuss as much
2. carry him in an upright position before trying to nurse him and try to nurse him in a semi-upright position - laying him down to nurse might put extra pressure his ears.
3. If he is still too uncomfortable with nursing, pump some milk and give it to him in a spoon, cup or an eyedropper.

Try the above and see if there is any difference in his behavior.

[chick_from_tn1]

Thanks for the ideas. Will try them and hopefully this will pass.

[mirellevvi]

Good luck. It's really great that you are so committed.