Breastfeeding Problems
Fussiness is especially worrisome for parents who have a breastfeeding baby. Often their first thoughts are that something is wrong with her breastfeeding, usually that she isn't getting enough to eat, and that she should change to formula. This is almost never helpful. Talk to your pediatrician or a lactation consultant before your fussy baby stops breastfeeding.
A baby who isn't getting enough to eat likely will be fussy. However, in addition to her crying a lot, you should notice other signs and symptoms too. She may not be having regular wet diapers or bowel movements, and she probably won't be gaining weight well.
Mom's Diet
A breastfeeding mother's diet also often gets the blame for a baby being fussy. This is actually less of a problem than most parents believe. While many things a mother eats and drinks do pass into her breastmilk, most wouldn't be responsible for a baby being fussy.
Eliminating some of the most common culprits from a breastfeeding mother's diet can be something that is easy to try if you think that might be the problem. You might start by first eliminating dairy products and caffeine and then observing your baby for a decline in crying. If that wasn't helpful, you might try eliminating a few other foods and keeping a diary to see if the crying improves. Be careful that your partner doesn't limit her diet too much, because proper nutrition is an essential part of effective breastfeeding.
Some of the foods that can cause problems for breastfeeding babies include:
Chocolate
Citrus fruits and citrus juices
Vegetables, especially bell peppers, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, onions, and tomatoes
“Allergic” foods, such as eggs, soy, wheat, and peanuts •• Foods with added spices, such as garlic and curry
If after several days of eliminating a lot of these foods you don't notice any improvement in the crying, your partner can then start to slowly reintroduce them into her diet.
You should also remember that milk is a common ingredient in many foods, including yogurt, bread, cheese, sour cream, ice cream, and cottage cheese. If your partner simply stops drinking milk, but still eats all of these other foods, then milk proteins might still be irritating your baby.
Too Much or Not Enough?
Milk that comes out of the breast too quickly, known as overactive letdown, can cause your baby to cough and choke when she is eating. This may lead to her being fussy, but probably just during feedings. If this seems to be the reason for your baby's fussiness, your partner can trying pumping for a few minutes until the flow slows down a little or just wait until your baby gets used to the quick flow of breastmilk. If your baby isn't getting enough to eat because of an overactive letdown, she may be fussy all of the time just because she is hungry.
The way that your baby breastfeeds can also cause her to become fussy. Some babies who feed very often and don't fully empty a breast at each feeding may be getting too much of the sugary foremilk. This low-fat milk is less filling than the high-fat hindmilk, and can lead to gas and crying. If you think that this may be your baby's problem, your partner should make sure that your baby finishes feeding from one breast before switching her to the other. Or she can just alternate which breast she starts from for each feeding.
