Squirming and unhappy during feeds

[flipper99]

For the last couple of days my 7 wk DS has been not happy during his feeds - pushing at me with his hands, squirming his head around, bringing his hands up to his face. It's not all his feeds and I thought it was just that he was due a poo (he only goes every 5 days or so) but he did one this morning and it's still happening. When he comes off the breast he's quite unsettled and is crying a lot more than normal and not taking his naps - although he has been happy on occasion too!

Any ideas gratefully received!

DD did this too (still does on occasion!)

With DD it was an issue with my letdown.

If letdown is too fast, try to hand / pump express a small amount before latching baby on so that the letdown has slowed.

If letdown is too slow (this was the case with us when DD did this during cluster feeds) then try to cup your breast and gently stroke your breast in the direction of the nipple to encourage faster letdown and flow.

Hope this helps.

My 10 week DD has been doing this. My ideas have been; teething (she pulls at her ears a bit); boredom (she is better at night when she's sleepy); letdown (as QoP said); nipple confusion (she's loved her soother recently); nipple shields (which we use). Isn't BFing complicated? I wish she could just tell me

We have this issue with wind.

sounds quite normal - just a growth spurt. Try to feed as often as you can (you may be tied to the sofa for a few days) but it will pass provided you can keep feed, feed, feeding. You're doing just fine, and it will settle in a few days.

I know what you mean Katy1010, have had many different ideas myself! I do have a fast let down (have sprayed him in the face on several occasions) but he's not bothered by this and he tends to get grumpy more towards the end of the feed. Will try feeding him again but it hasn't really helped so far! Really grumpy today - and loads of bottom burps so maybe it is wind. Already on infacol though so don't know what else to do about that! :( Thankfully the dummy helps.

Are you offering both breasts at each feed, and if he's taking two full breasts, are you putting him back onto the first as well?

Are his poos normal, or are they greenish or different to normal?

This was invaluable to me. Hope it's some use to you.

Thanks PenguinArmy, what a great website. It seems it could be anything (so we were right Katy1010!) but I suspect it's either burping or growth spurt. I've fed him all afternoon pretty much and just given him a top up bottle of EBM too, got a few good burps and he seems a bit happier! - so thanks all!

organiccarrotcake, I always offer both breasts and he seems to empty them both, but don't usually have to go back to the first one, although I do if necessary. He poos only every 5 days or so but it's orangey and soft - I worried about the frequency for ages but was reassured by everyone I asked and he's putting on weight ok.

DD isn't interested in going back on the first side (sometimes not even the second size). She is enormous so maybe I am producing a lot of milk (fast let-down). But, it could be anything at flipper. She doesn't burp a lot (plenty of farts though!).

I am finding that if I gently put a finger or two on her face during the feed (on the 'up' side) she yanks her head round less. Not holding her head but just a light touch. Saves the agony of the suck-suck-yank proceedure at the moment. I am seeing a BF nurse on Friday so will keep you updated.