baby fussing and wriggling at breast

[catlike1979]

My 4.5 month old DS is exclusively breastfed, for the past few weeks at some feeds (not all), he has started kicking, wriggling and fussing at the breast towards the end of the feed. He sometimes buries his head in my boob and shakes his head (ouch!!) and grunts and kicks his legs furiously - he seems like he's getting quite angry/frustrated.

It's not wind as he's burped well, I don't think it's colic as if I take him off the breast the behaviour stops and he is calm. I am wondering whether there's not enough milk/slow flow? Or whether he's actually finished and this is his way of telling me?? Anyone else experienced this?

He's healthy, has lots of wet and pooey nappies and is gaining weight very well.

[nudeynuderson]

My ds did this, is now 8 months and I think it was to try and trigger a second let down. He seemed to grow out of it and now feeds fine. I think they just go through a fussy phase. He now gets distracted feeding so I have to feed him in a separate room from any people or he'll start looking around and let milk spray everywhere

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Not sure on this one. Have you spoken to one of the Bfing helplines?

[chocfireguard]

My baby does this. It usually works if I switch boob at that point, and then switch back after 5 mins or so... No idea why?!

[Writingdragonfly]

ex breastfeeding peer supporter here, this is usually a response to low milk supply or just more hungry and no longer fulfilled by that amount, you can use expressing, more fat content in your own meals (healthy fats) and up your water intake, possibly using fenugreek or similar to up your milk supply, if you express in the morning when you have more milk you can offer it to him at the end of the feeds or evenings if he is fussier in evenings when milk supply is lower to top him up? Has it been going on long? Could be a growth spurt causing this and itll settle when the milk naturally increases? :)

[catlike1979]

thanks so much for replies. Writingdragonfly - it's been going on for about 4 weeks now, seems to happen mainly in evening but can be at any time. He's now doing it at start of feed too. Last night I topped him up with some expressed milk and he guzzled it down so I'm pretty sure it's low milk supply causing it, however he is gaining weight normally and has plenty of wet nappies.

Should I express in between feeds - will this help my supply in evening? I'm reluctant to keep giving him expressed milk as a top up as shouldn't I let him keep trying to stimulate my breasts to produce the extra milk he needs?

[ACubed]

Don't really have any advice but my nearly-three month old has been turning his head from side to side and kicking his legs while feeding on and off for the past month or so too. It feels like he's stretching my nipples, I really hate it! I was actually going to post on here asking if anyone else had experienced it. He is also growing normally / pooing/weeing fine. It seems to lessen a bit after letdown, so maybe it's frustration at slower milk flow. I'd love to know the cause.

[Writingdragonfly]

Not sure how old your baby is now OP possibly you're getting to the stage where baby might need to start weaning?
Expressing more often stimulates the breasts to make more milk and if you express when your supply is higher (usually first thing in the Morning) then a couple of times through the day, keep the milk and offer it when you have given a full feed from both breasts and baby is fussing for more so baby is more satisfied and you've upped the demand anyway during the morning. Have you dropped night feeds? Usually if you aren't using and stimulating the breasts at night when your prolactin is highest your supply can drop which is a pain, pop down to Holland and Barrett and ask for fenugreek it's brilliant to help boost supply.

Both OP and ACubed are describing what sounds like frustration associated with low supply, growth spurts and approaching weaning, totally normal but so annoying lol be persistent, it doesn't last forever :)

[ACubed]

That makes sense, my baby has started feeding less, sometimes not at all, during the night - maybe I should wake up and express some milk anyway. Thanks so much for the info!

[Ffitz]

I'm no expert, just my experience, but mine did this when it was very warm and I assumed they were thirsty/wanted liquids but not hungry. I have no idea if this was the real reason. I didn't express or offer bottle and it resolved itself eventually.

[catlike1979]

thanks so much Writingdragonfly - v interesting!! I've started on fenugreek today. DS is 5 months but only 4 months corrected as was prem, he shows no interest in food yet so think prob too early for weaning.

He's been going from 7pm - 5am which has been amazing but prob why milk supply has gone down, however I think we're in the dreaded 4 month regression as he's started waking every 3-4 hours again at night...

It is so annoying when he fusses and wriggles and squeals, I find it really frustrating and irritating when he's kicking against me then I feel soooo bad for feeling like tha as it's not his faultt :-(

[Writingdragonfly]

It is so hard! That regression is good (I know it doesn't feel it) that's his instinct kicking in to bring the supply up! Hopefully it all brings things back to a good level again, remember to drink plenty and eat well also!