bfing a wriggler

[bitzermaloney]

Any tips on feeding a very distractible and wriggly ds (28 wks)? It's hard enough to get him to feed in the first place (will only get on with it properly in a darkened room) but even when he does he is all legs and arms waving, grabbing my throat and squeezing , pummelling my chest, twisting my nose off etc... Gets upset if I try to hold on to the flailing limbs. The other bfing mum in my postnatal group looked quite alarmed watching us - her dd gently strokes her as she bfs . He's been like this for a couple of months now.

I usually bf him in what I think is called the cradle hold, supported on a cushion, but he keeps trying to sit up - so I sit him up and try it that way, but after a few seconds he is pushing off me and whining. He just doesn't seem to be able to get comfortable. After about 15 mins of faffing around if he is really hungry he does usually get down to a proper feed but it would be nice to cut out the habitual GBH.

I can join your club. My dd is also a wriggler, never stops,she has been on the go since in my tummy. Sometimes if I hold her hand and pretend bite her fingers, or suck them, hit my nose etc then I can control it a bit & the legs stop if I have her attention. Another trick is to stand up with my back to a mirror so she can see herself, & we have a fish tank so I sometimes stand so she can see that also. Hey, they're just happy babies what can we do!

bitzermaloney mine is the same, especially the pummelling of boobs (apparently puppies do it to their mums!) she has progressed to grabbing at neck (it hurts!) but seems to be growing out of it, thank god, unless she gets frustrated if the letdown reflex is a little slow. could this be what is happening with you, if so, could you maybe express a little first to get it flowing...just a thought
have you tried lying down to feed (at home obviously) or the rugby ball hold?
a friend contemplated sticking a temporary tattoo on her boob to hold her lo's attention, as she was losing interest and looking around the room, taking nipple with her....oooowwww

thanks for the replies. hmm, having thought about the letdown thing I don't think that can be a problem as he sometimes comes off while it's happening, leaving me dripping . It doesn't seem to take long to kick in either (I can't feel it but do notice him start to swallow).
He does seem especially keen to sit up but once sitting he's just the same. I tried lying down this evening but he got fascinated instead by a crack of light he could see through the curtains [rolling eyes emoticon].

Have you ladies never tried a Nursing Necklace They work wonders!!, my dd used to do EXACTLY the same thing here.. it was like she was more interested in the dust particle floating past rather than me + My Milk!... THEN i found the Nursing Necklace and by Magic her FULL concentration and attention was set on the beads WHILST she fed.. it was brilliant to see her completely focused again.

I agree, i had one like the jingleboobs one, but without the bell bits on, and ds2 was def more foucssed on that rather than wriggling/scrathing/pinching