Q&A: Breastfeeding

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My baby is six months old, and I am exclusively breastfeeding. She drinks breast milk from a bottle during the day when I am at work. Until now it went very well, but she seems distracted for the past week while drinking. She drinks for a few seconds and then pulls away. She does this on both breasts. Why is she doing this, and what can I do to help her to drink without distraction again?

SISTER LINDA BRITZ ANSWERS Six months of age is a big milestone that you have reached with your baby. You have also put into place the necessary things to continue to provide her with your breast milk, even when you’re apart from her.

Babies grow rapidly and meet many developmental stages in the first year, and a lot changes through this time. Being distracted and getting fidgety at the breast is actually quite normal, especially around this age. Although it can be frustrating, this phase usually passes. Be patient and breathe. She is now much more aware of her surroundings, and any interruptions can cause her to be less interested in feeding and more interested in what is going on around her. She is able to move, and the world is a very exciting, stimulating place that calls on her involvement, even when she feeds. Although she is drinking from a bottle when she’s not with you, she knows the difference and will still enjoy being with you, even though, at times, she may not show it.

Find a quiet familiar area that baby knows. Try not to have too many items in her line of sight to look at. You can darken the room a little, so that she is not stimulated to look around.

Your baby can feel your body language and rhythms. Try and relax and remain calm in the moment, so that she picks up your attitude about the feed time. Rocking gently helps create a gentle feel and connection. It also helps your let-downs to happen quickly, which will require her to attend to her feed.

Play music to help drown any other noises that can be heard that draw attention.

Baby’s hands relate to her mouth, and both are an expression of communication. When your baby feeds and suckles, her hands sometimes need to hold or touch something. Give her a soothing blanket to hold, or let her ”play” with a necklace you wear that’s safe and designed to keep her focused, or hold her hand and stroke her fingers softly as she allows you. Your baby can also feed very effectively at each breast and ”pull off” a volume that is adequate for her within a few minutes and is a pro at getting the milk out faster. It may be that once she is done, she is satisfied and full and starts to indicate this by pushing and turning away from you, pulling your nipple as she twists. This can be really sore and cause you to feel unsure and want to stop breastfeeding. Watch and note her carefully while she feeds, and as soon as she is relaxed, have a finger ready to break the latch as she starts to pull back or wriggle.

Your baby will feed better when she is sleepy. Offer her a feed as she wakes from a nap. Try a different feeding position, and feed more frequently throughout the afternoon.

Usually your baby will feed well when she is really hungry and only start to play around as she feels good and babble to you with a ”milky” smile.

This is a good sign that she is ready to enjoy some solid food, as we do communicate and connect when eating. It’s all part of socialising. Mealtimes are a wonderful way to enjoy company. However, breast milk is still the main source of her nutrition, and although she may be eating solid food meals, her breast milk remains the most important feed, providing her with all the good healthy benefits it has to offer, for the next few months ahead as she weans. ●