Flailing arms and legs whilst breastfeeding

[Zoero]

Can anyone help me? My baby very often wildly moves his arms and legs whilst I'm trying to breast feed him. Why does he do this?

We're definitely not pro-feeders yet as there is a lot of leakage at every feed so we're wasting an awful lot of milk. I'm trying my damned hardest to use all of the tips I've been given from breastfeeding counsellors but we're still having trouble. It's getting to the stage where I'm seriously considering jacking it all in. My boobs feel so empty now and I don't know how he's going to get anymore milk!

Feel very bad as i've just shouted and sworn loudly at him. Not what I wanted to be doing today but feeling so low about it all. Now i've done this, it makes me feel twice as bad.

Don't worry you'll still make more milk if your baby needs it. Boob's often only have that full feeling when you start breastfeeding, this is no indication of supply at all.

As to the flailing arms, you could try different possitions, rugby hold or biological nurtaring (have a google on that one for videos') and sometime revers swaddling helps to. Wrap a muslin or light blanket round baby by placing the muslin on tummy then wrapping around there back, you can then lossen this once they have latched on.

Hi! First of all, everything you have described sounds absolutely normal and is definitely not a reason to give up bf! Both of you will learn and feeds will become less difficult and more enjoyable. Sounds like your baby is still quite young so give them time. Regarding arms and legs, I used to half swaddle mine if in cradle position, so I used to tuck one arm under my armpit and put a blanket over him tightly to keep the other arm and legs in place. Have you tried the football hold? I think, it would give you more control. Regarding empty breasts, again very normal. Keep feeding on demand and you will produce more. I know how bad it feels to offer an empty breast to a baby but it will happen sometimes. Be strong and don't forget to enjoy this special bond with your baby!

Is baby flailing arms and legs all the time or after a little while?? My 7 wk old ds does this after a few minutes sometimes and it's usually his way of telling me he has wind. When I hold him upright he'll have a burp and go back on no problem. Sometimes he'll flail to tell me boob empty and he wants the other side or he might do it at end of a feed to tell me he's full!!!!! It's his way of communicating. It's hard to know sometimes what he's trying to tell me so I'll try everything. Sometimes even take a break, do a nappy chance and try again.
You are doing fantastic and giving your lo the best start.

Maybe he's tired? my DD goes a bit "milk mad" when she's tired. Totally insane squiggling and thrashing and crying followed by frantic sucking. I've worked out if I feed her earlier/more frequently it doesn't happen. If she starts with it I take her off and walk her round to calm down and then try again if she still seems hungry but usually she falls asleep after chilling for a bit. She's getting better now she's a little bit older.

Don't worry about the spilt milk, it always looks more than it is and you'll make more really quickly.

Could you try the sitting him on your leg facing you position?

If it makes you feel any better my FF DD does the insane legs and arms too (just saying as sometimes ppl get pressured to move to FF and I want ppl to know that ants in pants babies flail with either to help them not feel pressured).

I used to swaddle DS's arms with a muslin - the midwives showed me how.

My DS flails his legs and arms when he has wind. It sometimes takes ages for it to come up but that's normally what it is. Breastfeeding is hard at times but it does get easier ime. I struggled massively with flailing arms and legs, letdown pain, and a phase where he would bite on my nipple hard and then wrench his head to the side. Nice. But it was worth it I promise!! Now I cry when I think about giving up...

Oh and as for leakage the supply and demand thing really does work if you exclusively bf on demand so you shouldn't worry about that. My ds used to throw up massive amounts of milk after each feed and I used to get upset thinking he'd wasted it, but there was always enough and he kept on growing... can you get to a bf clinic? I found them encouraging and sometimes helpful.

Also, as I was typing and feeding my DS started flailing his legs, and I realised that he still does it, it's just that I normally sit him up now as soon as he does it, as it's the only way he has of telling me he needs a break (normally for winding).

God luck OP