Breastfeeding - Baby Push & Pulling Away

by Kristen
(New York)

Visitor Question: been experience him pushing and pulling away from my nipple while feeding and do not know why. He will also arch his back while push pulling away. Was wondering if this is possibly gas issues?

He'll eat for a good 20 min, seems have good suction and positioning, will feed off both breasts and will start to even fall asleep but then will start to push pull away and at the same time be looking for more. When he does this it is hard to redirect him back onto the nipple and then he gets very upset.

I've tried different possitions and they dont seem to make a difference. I've tried burping him and that does not seem to make a difference either. He will take a bit more from a bottle, which then makes me wonder if I am not producing enough for him fast enough and or if he just prefers the bottle since it is easier?

He had his first doctors visit yesterday and he has gained weight, which is usually a good indicator that he is getting enough and the doctors says everything is good. He is also going through diapers exactly as everything on line says he should.

Is this normal for newborns to go through and or is there anything else I can try or do to encourage him to breastfeed better?

Breastfeeding Magazine Response: If he has eaten for that long before it happens, there are a lot of reasons for this behavior. Your breast may be covering his nose, he may really want to suck for comfort and NOT eat, or there may something else going on entirely.

The best way to find out for sure is to call your local Le Leche League or hospital lactation consultant and have someone watch you feed him. They can usually help you make slight adjustments that can make all the difference in the world.

Good luck!