Q.
Got a question…. We’ve been extremely blessed to have a baby that only cries when dirty or hungry. But, the last two days have been a little more interesting. A few times while I’ve been feeding him, he latches and eats well for a minute. But, then it’s like he starts drinking and gulping faster than he can handle and starts screaming. I just try different positions or give him a break and try again. Do you have any ideas what’s going on when he does this? He’s been crying a whole lot. Yesterday he skipped a nap or two and I think he just got overstimulated. To my surprise though he slept for a 4 hour stretch last night and has been napping a lot today. I really have sympathy for mom’s that have babies that cry all the time. It’s very disheartening not to know what’s wrong or how to fix it.  Rachel D.
A.
I really don’t know what is going on. It sounds like you are doing all the right things- giving him a break and changing positions. I don’t know what the screaming is about. Perhaps he just gulped enough to have made a big bubble that he needs to burp? Whatever the cause of his crying, this may be when he is going to start drinking enough at some feedings so that he can sleep longer stretches.

As long as he seems content most of the time, sleeps well for at least 14 hours out of 24, and continues to gain weight, don’t worry about occasional days where he is really disrupted. Whatever he is doing is probably just temporary and will correct itself pretty soon.

Call the pediatrician if he is vomiting a lot, has repeated diarrhea, a fever, is crying incessantly, is not sleeping at all, or is only sleeping. If you get worried, call your doctor, that’s what you have a pediatrician for. Diane

Resolution:
Well, I think I figured it out last night. I started having a weird pain on one breast – hard to explain. So, I called the lactation hotline at the hospital where we delivered. She thought maybe it was the beginning of a clogged duct. It all kind of makes sense if that was the problem. He was probably sucking as hard as he could and not getting what he’s used to, then comes the scream. So, we’ve doctored with heat and ice and most of the pain is gone and he’s eating well from that breast now too. Thanks for your input. Rachel D.