She started doing this about 3 weeks ago. She won't take a pacifier or suck on my finger to go to sleep. She'll nurse until she's full then she gets tired but she won't go to sleep on her own.
She nurses and ends up vomiting everything up and then she cries fora few minutes then she wants to nurse again. Last night after it happened I had dh take her while I took a quick shower then I pumped until I couldn't get anything else out and let her just nurse until she fell asleep which took hours :(
I don't know what to doi. I know that by me pumping and then letting her nurse I'm only increasing my supply which is the last thing I need unless I'm planning on feding 5 babies :rolleyes:
Anyone have any advice? This happenes mostly at night right as we're going to bed and I end up having to take all the blankets off the bed so i can wash them. It's getting very frustrating.
Thanks in advance
much love
-Lindsey

Lindsey, are you burping her at all?? I only ask because I was always told that BF babies rarely swallowed air, but Isabella was and still is my biggest burper (and the only BF)
maybe she is getting a lot of air which would cause her to throw up if not burped?? I have ALWAYS been told that you cannot over feed a breastfeeding baby. :confused:

((hugs)) that has to be so difficult and tiring!

I'm guessing she's got a mild case of reflux. Reflux is basically baby heartburn. Drinking makes it feel better because there's warm, soothing milk going down. If she stops nursing that milk turns on her and she gets burning, sour milk coming up. So she nurses till she pukes -- then the cycle repeats.

Just like in grownups, reflux is often worse before bed.

You could try propping her up (at least 45 degrees) for the late afternoon/evening and see if that works.

How old is baby? If she's over 6 months old my doctor had me (I kid you not) give Ben and Milo (both had this) one *quarter* of one extra strength tums. You just put it under their tongue and they mouth it. It dissolves pretty fast. They seemed to like the mild fruit flavor.

If that's what it is, the relief is clear within five minutes. I always held off and gave it to the boys only when they were clearly having a difficult night (otherwise the propping and -- at that point -- formula) was enough. They ALWAYS conked out as soon as the discomfort was relieved. Poor babies.

yep, I burp her all of the time. this happens while she's actually nursing. she'll be nursing fine then all of the sudden it comes up everywhere. I feel so bad because I know it can't feel good for her. but yes, i am burping her all of the time. This doesn't happen every time she eats. Maybe 3 times a week or so. Sometimes once in the morning and once right before we go to bed.
much love
-Lindsey

Okay, I see now that she's still really young. Talk to your doctor. It does sound a lot like reflux and your doctor can give you a liquid antacid made for infants.

You do want to get help with it. I wish I'd been more vocal about getting help. It eventually ended our nursing at 13 weeks. (I'm not a wimp. I nursed Max to two years, nine months while working full time. He never had formula. I pumped at every break and nursed him in bed all night. But reflux in the twins drove us to the edge of reason.)

Alaska

I agree that it sounds like reflux.3 of my 4 boys have had it & my 8yo is on meds for it.Try keeping her propped for 20 min after each feeding and limit any jostling movements after feeding.

Originally posted by PoetMom
Okay, I see now that she's still really young. Talk to your doctor. It does sound a lot like reflux and your doctor can give you a liquid antacid made for infants.

You do want to get help with it. I wish I'd been more vocal about getting help. It eventually ended our nursing at 13 weeks. (I'm not a wimp. I nursed Max to two years, nine months while working full time. He never had formula. I pumped at every break and nursed him in bed all night. But reflux in the twins drove us to the edge of reason.)

Alaska

I do have a doctors appt this coming tuesday and I plan on saying something about it but I thought maybe someone here with more breastfeeding knowledge would be able to help me more :)
much love
-Lindsey

Yes! I have so BTDT. Every one of my baby boys (3 of them) has done this. It starts at a week old and goes to about 8-10 weeks of age. For us, it is just that I have a mega supply of milk and baby likes to nurse so much. The pediatrician says that it is not harmful for them to puke extra milk, it's just messy. We don't do pacifiers. Basically, this is what I do to help:

~ I only offer one breast per feeding, and when the milk comes shooting down, I take baby off and use a cloth diaper to press against my breast to slow the flow down a bit
~ burp them well every 5 minutes
~nurse upright as much as possible (baby on top is a good one when laying down)
~ and have a baby blanket ready to catch the extra milk.

It's rough but it will pass! Big hugs to you!!!

I wouldn't worry about it. This is pretty normal. My 1st did this until she was 3 months old. She just liked to nurse and I was an overproducer. They figure out how to comfort nurse after a bit. "Comfort nurse" is when they nurse but don't get so much milk. She will work it out.

John does this! He is a little over 2 months old. He'll nurse and nurse until it all comes back up - all over both of us! It's crazy messy and means lots of laundry, but I know that he's fine. He's just a very serious eater! Interestingly, he does not ever comfort nurse. He nurses for food and that's it!