Episode 89-Baby Feeding Expert: The Surprising Reason Your Baby Could Be Unsettled and Crying

Irritable tummy and milk oversupply pose some of the most common challenges for new parents. In this week’s episode, Meg collaborates with Sammy Hammond, a feeding therapist who shares her experience of having her first child and the unexpected difficulties encountered with breastfeeding. The topic, 'The surprising reason your baby could be unsettled and crying,' is a discussion that many parents find enlightening and relatable.

The Surprising Reason Your Baby Could Be Unsettled and Crying

Meg and Sammy, both professionals in the field, delve into the challenges and surprises faced during the transition to motherhood.

When asked about transitioning from professional practice to motherhood, Sammy reflects on her initial confidence, thinking she knew how to handle a newborn due to her experience working with babies. However, she feels overwhelmed and unprepared when her own baby, Kyla, arrives, a situation mirroring Meg's early parenting journey.

The Milk Oversupply Challenge

Sammy details breastfeeding challenges, such as an overabundant milk supply leading to discomfort for the baby. She notes that everything about breastfeeding was fine at the hospital, but once home, she continued to have the baby on her breasts almost throughout, experiencing an overabundant milk supply. Failing to read the baby’s cues well, she kept feeding her, leading to a vicious cycle that made Kyla uncomfortable. Eventually, a lactation consultant had to come in to assist.

Explanation of Infants' Irritable Tummies

Meg explains that all babies are born with an inadequacy of lactase to break down the lactose in milk. Too-frequent overfeeding may overwhelm the baby and not manage to break down the lactose, causing a gassy, irritable tummy.

Strategies to Manage Irritable Tummies

• Eliminate cow's milk from their diet, as it's one of those boxes that is easy to tick and makes a difference most times.
• Stretch feeding intervals: Gradually extend the time between feeds to three hours.
• Consider test weighing: While controversial, test weighing can provide insights into the baby's intake; however, simply stretching feeding intervals to three hours is a valid starting point.