Feeding is such a grind on days like this

[MrsHD]

DS, 4 months, goes through these phases of 3-4 days where he hardly feeds from me in the daytime, fussing after 5 seconds on the boob, continually pulling off, arching his back, screaming etc. Then if I try to put him down he screams too, which he normally only ever does if he's hungry. BF is a nightmare as I shoot milk everywhere, all over me, all over him, all over the furniture etc, so I try EBM which usually he won't take. I have tried formula in the past, with little success, but I don't want to do that now as I'm going to avoid dairy for the sake of his eczema.

I don't know what to do. For the first time he now has a tooth, but I don't think that's the issue as he's done this lots of times before, and I put Bonjela on his gums just in case anyway. I avoided going to the supermarket yesterday as I couldn't face it with a screamy, fussy, hungry baby (can't imagine why, sounds great!), but I can't put it off today so will have to take the little so and so with me. God knows what's wrong with him and I'm just venting really, but I do get p'd off that he'll feed three times a night without a moment's fussiness then, when I'm knackered from fractured sleep, I have all this fannying about to deal with.

HarrrUMPH.

How is he arching? Does he kind of twist his head to the side or back? If so could be a bit of reflux. I know that is always cited as a possibility but here is some info www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/reflux.html

Will he tolerate a sling or baby carrier better - they sometimes help more upright. Worth a try if you have one - worked for me.

If it is reflux - formula made it worse for me.

They are little terrors mysteries sometimes aren't they. From what I've read/experienced though 4-5 months can be a tricky time and my DS certainly did this bloody faffing during the day and fed contentedly all night.

I think there were too many distractions through the day- noise, light, stuff to touch... he seemed overstimulated and couldn't 'switch off' and feed like at night.

If there's no discernible reason for it (reflux, discomfort from teething, etc) then the old MN classic 'this too shall pass' through gritted teeth may get you through! FWIW my DS has now calmed down and isn't nearly as faffy.

If it's any consolation I am suffering with my 4 month DS2 as well. He feeds fine most of the time but he is very grizzly and unputdownable all the time and he barely naps in the daytime. I am lugging him about in the sling 90% of the day . MamacitaGordita has it right - this too shall pass (but when Mamacita, WHEN?!)