odd behaviour of 3-4 wk old on the breast

[Nyunya]

Hello - this is my first posting! I hope someone can help!
I haven't had any problems breastfeeding, but in the last few days my nearly-4-week-old has started well at the feed, and then after a spell bobs off, tries to latch on again, makes a really wide gape & then shakes her head from side-to-side and doesn't seem to be able to latch. It obviously distresses her as she cries out, and its distressing for me too as she obviously wants to feed more but doesn't seem able to. Sometimes squeezing my breast to help her get more in helps, and sometimes not, and also changing position can help, but sometimes not.
Anyone have any idea what's going on?

Try not to stress, mine did this and often keeps headbutting boob with eyes closed. (is 7 weeks) I think sometimes he is too tired to concentrate and others he wants it but is too eager or quite full and just wants comfort. often a quick winding session seems to help and bring him out of 'milk drunk' state that they have when a bit full. I use hand to help manouver nipple to mouth or change position. As long as baby is putting on weight then you are doing fine and baby will get better at latch.

It could be wind and you might need to give her a burp before putting her back on. The crying might just be that she is frustrated as she wants more milk but can't quite latch on. She will get better as she grows

Thank you! Its nice to know others have had the problem too, candr. Its amazing how quickly things change with babies, so hopefully she'll 'grow out of it' soon! Will try the winding more often during feed too - she is a bit of a guzzlergulper so burping may well be the solution!

Yes I agree it sounds like wind!

No one tells you this do they. I only 'got' it with my second.

I always let him have a good gulp until he seemed to latch off by himself, or get a bit uninterested, or wriggle about like that - then take him off, hold him against my shoulder and pat his back and jiggle him, till he burped. After that he was normally far more happy to latch on properly and have the rest (possibly the hindmilk, I suppose) or switch to the other boob if you think it's time.

I started doing it at every feed and it worked brilliantly. I think they are still hungry but can't fit any more in iyswim, so need to release some air first.