Find out what causes your baby to cry while breastfeeding

Postpartum is a difficult period for pregnant women because their body has not yet recovered but must take care of their babies and breastfeed their babies. In particular, the baby crying when breastfeeding is more stressful for the mother. Now, if you know the cause, you can resolve it more easily.

Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for the health and overall development of infants and young children. Breastfeeding not only helps provide adequate nutrients for the baby, but also helps to strengthen the relationship between mother and baby. However, it can become a nightmare if you see your baby cry while breastfeeding. Let's join aFamilyToday Health to find the cause of why babies cry.

Clues help you find the cause of your baby crying while breastfeeding

The following clues can help you determine the cause of your baby's crying while breastfeeding:

1. How many months is your baby?

A baby crying while breastfeeding can be due to a baby entering a growth spurt . Infants often experience different growth stages at different times. Some babies can start early, within 7-10 days after birth, others 2 - 3 weeks, 4-6 weeks, 3 months, 4 months or 6 months ...

2. Is your baby distracted by new things?

Young children often develop very quickly and this can lead to many changes in behavior. Babies may be distracted by new skills related to breastfeeding habits.

3. When does the baby cry?

To know exactly what causes your baby to cry while breastfeeding, you need to pay attention to feeding times and when to breastfeed.

If your baby is fussy or fussy while suckling, this could be because the milk is flowing too slowly or too much. A baby crying after a feed may be caused by gas and burp.

If you notice that your baby cries a lot in the morning, this may be because the milk is flowing too much and the baby cannot finish feeding. If your baby cries at night, it could be from the mother's diet or from foods she eats during the day. You can limit the consumption of foods that you suspect may be upsetting your baby, such as caffeine-rich foods (chocolate, tea, coffee), spicy foods, garlic, onions ...

4. Does your baby cry while sucking on one breast or both breasts?

If your baby cries while being fed on one breast, it could be that the breast is flowing too much or too little.

5. Is your baby having any other problems?

In addition to the issues listed above, there are many other causes that can make your baby uncomfortable while breastfeeding. It could be because the baby is sick, the baby teething ...

Baby crying can be caused by one problem or many problems combined. The baby still cannot speak. Therefore, it is very important to observe the symptoms to determine the cause of the baby crying while breastfeeding.

Why do babies cry while breastfeeding?

Here are some specific reasons to help you easily identify the cause of your baby crying while breastfeeding:

• Milk secretes too quickly or too slowly

This is the most common reason babies feel uncomfortable while breastfeeding. Milk produced too quickly or too slowly can stimulate and cause your baby to cry. If you notice your baby coughing or choking while feeding, this could be a sign that the milk is releasing too quickly. On the other hand, if the baby is releasing the nipple, arching the back and leaning against the chest, this means the milk is secreted too slowly.

• Baby wants to burp

Babies crying while breastfeeding may be caused by burping or gasping. As you move your baby from breast to breast, you can place your baby on your shoulder and gently rub your baby's back. Babies four months and older may burp on their own.

• Distracted baby

Infants three months of age and older are often very attentive to their surroundings and easily distracted. If, while feeding, hearing loud noises from another room, the baby may become curious. The fact that you try to feed your baby again can be frustrating.

• Baby is teething

Some babies tend to cry more often when feeding during teething. The reason is that during this time, the baby's gums are sore and the act of sucking on the mother's breast can be uncomfortable.

• Baby is stressed

Babies are very sensitive and can sense when mothers or caregivers are stressed. This can affect the baby, causing the baby to cry while feeding.

• Baby learns new things

Babies develop continuously and sometimes physical or emotional changes can make them uncomfortable. Increased brain activity may interfere with your baby's feeding habits.

• Baby does not want to breastfeed

Sometimes you will see your baby release the nipple as soon as you start to breastfeed or your baby refuses to breastfeed. This may be because the baby is not hungry and does not want to breastfeed. If this is the case, try to calm your baby and not force him to suckle.

• Baby has oral thrush

Oral thrush can be the cause of your baby's crying while breastfeeding. White spots on a baby's tongue or inside of the mouth can be residue, but it can also be caused by oral thrush. This can be painful and uncomfortable when feeding. If you notice that your baby has the above symptoms, you should bring your baby to the doctor right away.

• Baby likes to suck on one breast more than the other

Sometimes babies just like to suck on one breast. Therefore, when feeding your baby from the other breast, the baby may be uncomfortable. If this is the case, you should take your child to see a doctor to determine the cause. Sometimes this may be caused by health problems such as an infection in one ear or pain. If you lean toward the painful ear, the baby will be uncomfortable.

• Baby has a hard tongue

Tongue is a condition in which the membrane under the tongue is shortened or stretched too long towards the end of the baby's tongue, making the tongue almost stick under the floor of the mouth. This makes it difficult for the baby to breastfeed.

• Baby has a stuffy nose

If your baby has a cold or flu, his or her nose may get stuffy, making it uncomfortable to breathe while suckling, and your baby may have to stop feeding for a while to breathe. This will make the baby very uncomfortable. Sometimes, incorrect feeding positions can also make it difficult for the baby to breathe. Talk to your doctor about your positions when you feed your baby .

• The baby has gastroesophageal reflux disease

Normally, when the baby sucks, the milk passes through the mouth, down the esophagus and into the stomach. Here, the milk is partly absorbed, then moved to the intestines. Gastro-esophageal reflux is a condition in which milk flows from the stomach back up into the esophagus. The reason that children have gastroesophageal reflux disease is because the baby's food is mainly in liquid form, the child often lies a lot and the child's esophagus is also shorter than that of adults.

• Baby is sensitive to food

If your baby is exclusively breastfed, he or she will have very little sensitivity to food. However, if you feed your baby other foods, he or she is at risk for allergies to some common symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain or discomfort. You can talk to your doctor about food allergies and learn about its effects on breastfeeding.

What can you do to help your baby stop crying while breastfeeding?

Here are some things you can do to calm your baby:

1. Take your baby out for a walk: You can take your baby for a walk in the park or in the garden. The relationship between mother and baby will be strengthened if you spend more time with your baby. You can also try breastfeeding after taking your baby out.

2. Breastfeeding when your baby is sleepy:  You can feed your baby when your baby is sleepy, for example before going to bed or in between naps. Some babies are very good at sleep and easily forget the things that are causing them to worry.

3. Ask someone to calm your baby: If you feel nervous or uncomfortable, your baby will easily feel this. At this point, you can ask another family member to calm your baby. However, it's important to make sure your baby feels familiar and comfortable with the person.

4. Do not use formula milk: If your baby refuses to breastfeed, you can express and feed it into a bottle. Limit formula feeding before 6 months of age if you have enough breastmilk for your baby.

5. Do not force your baby: When the baby is full, you should not force the baby to continue feeding because it may make the baby fussy and uncooperative. Ideally, you should feed your baby to sleep, scientific activities. If your baby gets used to the schedule, you will know when your baby needs to feed and feed.

6. Breastfeeding in a room with light: Babies are very easily distracted by the surrounding environment, especially babies from 4 months old and up. Maybe your baby is interested in playing a certain toy, is busy observing something. To prevent this, you can feed your baby in a room that's quiet and well lit.

7. Switch breast to another breast:  If your baby cries while feeding on one breast, you can try feeding the baby on the other side.

8. Change position for the baby:  Sometimes the baby can cry because the baby feels uncomfortable when feeding in a certain position. You can try changing other breastfeeding positions to make your baby feel more comfortable.

9. Chest massage: The breast  milk is flowing out too much, causing the baby to swallow, causing suffocation. Conversely, if the milk flows too little, the baby cannot suck it out, the baby will fussy and cry while feeding. Therefore, you should massage the breast before feeding and use your hands to gently squeeze to keep the flow of milk steady. When breast milk production is large, use your fingers to press on the areola to limit milk production. Once the milk volume is stable, you can remove your finger to let your baby suckle normally.

10. Burp your baby's back: One of the ways for a baby to burp is to pat your baby's back. Babies who burp properly after a feed will feel more comfortable.

11. Try to calm your baby: You can calm your baby by singing or letting him listen to a song he likes.

12. Skin-to-skin contact:  Making breastfeeding comfortable is an important factor to help your baby suckle better. The next SSC between mother and baby is placating my discomfort when breastfeeding. When your baby fussy and cries, use your hand to stroke the cheeks, cuddle, pat to comfort the baby.

13. Prevent fussy baby:  If you find your baby is uncomfortable at the same time every day, you can take a few methods to make your baby feel comfortable and relaxed.

14. Calm:  The fussy baby when you suckle can make you uncomfortable and tired. Remember the most important thing you need to do now is stay calm and take a deep breath.

Crying while breastfeeding can make you tired and stressful. However, do not lose your temper or give up. Try to identify the cause and find the best solution for both you and your baby.