Why does my baby grunt when he breastfeeds?

Most babies mumble while breastfeeding, and many mothers, especially first-time mothers, don’t know if it’s normal or why babies grunt when they’re breastfeeding. What you should know first is that the babies need to grunt and cry. This is the way they communicate with their parents. Whenever they are in need of something or bothered by something, they will grunt or cry. Breastfeeding should be a unique moment between mother and child, a quiet moment, full of affection and exchanges of looks. However, this whole atmosphere of harmony is broken when the baby begins to grunt. It’s normal for the mother to feel distressed without knowing what her baby is bothered by and how to solve it. To help her at this time, we list the main reasons that lead a baby to grunt at the moment of breastfeeding and what can be done to relieve this difficult time for the baby. Know that most of the time the uneasiness of your baby at the time of breastfeeding is not a sign of a serious problem. Reasons that makes your baby grunt when breastfeeding.

• Hunger: The vast majority of times babies grunt at the time of breastfeeding is when he is hungry. This usually happens due to another associated factor, such as pain or incorrect feeding. The baby is annoyed that he can’t suck and cries out of frustration and hunger that he can’t satiate. In this case, the mother needs to be calm and patient, because the ideal is to calm him first and then offer her breast.
• Colic: I venture to say that cramps is the bogeyman of the first three months. It’s only natural that the baby, when he is in pain, wants something to calm him down. As sucking is an immense source of pleasure for the baby at that age, he wants the breast to satisfy and also calm him down. However, when milk falls into his tummy, the baby feels more pain. Colic is caused by an underdeveloped gastrointestinal system. To alleviate symptoms, parents can massage or place a hot water bottle on the tummy and, if the doctor indicates, administer medication that relieves pain caused by gases.
• Poor positioning when feeding: A very common problem that makes the baby grunt during feedings is if the child has not grabbed onto the breast areola correctly and does not feed effectively. He probably doesn’t suck enough to satisfy his hunger. Just adjust the posture and touch his belly with yours. On his stomach, he gets tired very quickly and will be in an uncomfortable position to suck. The baby who breastfeeds inappropriately usually does not sleep well or gain weight. If you are unsure, look for support groups or talk to a breastfeeding specialist.
• Decrease in milk production: Many mothers are concerned about hypogalactia, which occurs when milk production does not meet the child’s needs. Lack of milk is unusual, although many insecure mothers believe it always happens. The decrease in milk can happen due to anxiety or when maternity leave ends, and the frequency of breastfeeding diminishes, no longer stimulating milk production. In this case, the mother who thinks she is hypogalactic should seek an obstetrician to evaluate the amount of milk being produced. There are cases where medication is used to correct the flow. Rest and, above all, letting the baby suck will stimulate milk production. See how normal it is? Babies really do grunt. Just be patient and find out what is bothering him and act in favor of your own well-being as well as your baby’s.

Breastfeeding is still the healthiest way to feed your baby and create a bond of love and harmony. Even if it may be difficult and painful at first, with time and patience, your doubts will answered, and soon you will achieve those delicious moments, full of love and affection during breastfeeding.

Care for mothers when breastfeeding

In addition to the steps mentioned above, in order to relieve the discomforts that babies feel from you at breastfeeding time, there are some routines and measures that moms should take, to bring more health and tranquility to the baby at the time of breastfeeding.

• An example is the smell of food in the mother: Did you know that babies can also be surprised at the mom’s smell when breastfeeding? The baby may find the smell of the perfume or deodorant you’ve come to use as strange. There are cases where refusal occurs because of changes in the mother’s diet, such as when eating very spicy foods, which pass their flavor on to the milk. During this phase, opt for odorless or mild deodorant and be more careful with your food.
• Tense or stressed out moms: In the beginning, moments of tension, tiredness and stress is normal. After all, the family has just gained another member, and parents can feel insecure and anxious. Babies feel this kind of emotion and express themselves through crying. The ideal is to try to stay calm. When the mother becomes stressed, the production of the hormone oxytocin, responsible for the production (It is responsible for lactation) of milk, decreases. Enjoy your baby’s developmental phase with quality and health. For good moments in breastfeeding, it takes patience and a lot of love from the whole family. The tranquility of the mother is the essential fuel for the baby’s calm and milk production.