dt2, 5mo, fighting at the breast, really struggling

[MamaChocoholic]

dt2 has always been a bit high needs, bit colicky in the first months, still at 5mo given to daily bouts of inconsolable crying.

at bedtime and sometimes during the day, he fights instead of feeds. he kind of crunches up with his stomach muscles then kicks his legs out and jerks his head back (while clamped on nipple), all while pinching and pulling my breast/neck with his hands. I hate it.

some feeds are fine, and there's little pattern except the middle of the night ones tend to be ok, the bedtime ones not ok, daytimes unpredictable. today I tried skipping the feed when he was like this, in case he does it because he's not hungry, but his nappies ended up much lighter than usual (and lighter than dt1's), so I don't think that's right. have tried winding, no success. I usually offer every hour or two (before and after naps) as big feeds tend to lead to more vomit. he is sick after about half the feeds in the day (not immediately though), but only occasionally overnight.

any suggestions what this could be/what I could do? I can't imagine not bf my babies, but I'm worried his my feelings about these horrible feeds are contaminating my feelings about him, which is awful.

have you tried feeding him when sleepy, in whatever place/position you use for night feeds?

have been using syringe, tried spoon too. think it just tastes bad. well, not awful to me, but it's a clean, sort of alcoholic taste, not sweet like most baby meds. it's horrible giving it, but he's a changed baby in 2 days! hope gaviscon works for yours :)

Oh mama, I am so, so pleased for you and your DT. long, long may it continue.

Ranitidine does taste vile - it's peppemint in an alcohol base - yum! Do you squirt it into his cheek as opposed to on tongue? If so, hmmmm, not sure what to recommend. Is he too young for it to be disguised in, say, apple puree?