Any lovely helpful ladies about? Im bloody tearing my hair out! :(

[CharlotteACavatica]

Have dd2 who is 20 weeks, she is exclusively breastfed, she's never had anything else at all, she's a good efficient feeder from day one, however, she has started screaming at pretty much every feed! She doesnt take much before the arched back sobbing, squeeling yelling, punching the boob starts (probably feeds for a max of 1 or 2 minutes before she starts!) Last 2 nights have been the worst, she started these meltdowns at about 4pm and proceeded to pretty much exhaust herself to sleep by 10.30pm with small 5 minute naps here and there. I cannot for anything figure out why on earth she's started all this, she has been nothing but an angel from the moment she was born, have maybe only once or twice heard her proper crying, until now that is!!!! What could the problem be do you think?? im totally stuck and knackered!

DS did this for a few weeks around the same age. No advice but he is 32 weeks now and still feeding.

Hope its sorted soon

could she be teething? you could try some bonjela on her gums before a feed to see if that helps?

DS began this at about 16 weeks. I was so confused as the Dr told me it was colic but he was ebf and I thought it ended at 12 weeks ish. Anyway, I took him to the osteopath who said it was acid reflux and after 4 half hour sessions he was MUCH better. By about 26 weeks he was totally sorted. If it is acid reflux, weaning helps, so hang on in there. Still bfing, so hang on in there!

My 16 week old DS does this at some feeds. At first I had NO IDEA what was happening and it freaked me out a bit, especially if he did it when we were out in public! Anyway, I noticed a bit of a pattern emerge in that he does it when he's overtired. He seems to fight sleep (during the day) and appears hungry, when really he's tired.

So what I do is, if I know he's not hungry but he's making out like he is, I stick him in the pram or the car and that lulls him to sleep.

Thanks for your help, well she has started again! (sigh) she fell asleep at 3, i woke her at 5.30 and she has proceeded to scream heartily with tears running down her face im feeding her now and she's a little more settled, but i dont understand what shes so upset about! she had a good sleep! im flumaxed!!! aaaaaaaaarrrggggghhhhhhhhh!!!

How long do you leave between feeds?
Have you left her for a full 3 hours between feeds?
Can you try expressing so that you can feed a whole bottle full before bed? Maybe give the bottle to someone else so you can have a break too...

She wont take a bottle at all off anyone, she squeels even more and just ends up covered in milk. Isnt anyone else to help out anyway, dont have a partner, just me, but its ok, im not freaking out (yet lol) im just tired, i have 3 other lo's and i think the screaming is driving them more mad then me! I do wonder if maybe she could be teething a little.... ugh, wish she could tell me!!

Can you rule out reflux? It's pretty painful for them, like heartburn(hence the drinking then screaming). It peaks around 4 months or so.

It's worth trying to feed asleep - so rock to sleep and once she's in a deep sleep, slip the boob in and she should start feeding.

My little 'un went through a period of doing this. If I remember right it lasted maybe a week or so. I have no idea why but it was just a case of offering as often as possible to keep her fed. Alternating positions helped a bit.

DS did this for a while. Don't remember what age he was but it drove me mad. I used to switch sides again and again, take a break and try again, grit my teeth, anything. Not sure what the comment about "leaving the full three hours" is that someone made above, as I assume you are feeding on demand, when ever that might be? If I remember rightly what happened with DS was that it just got better itself, another one of those baby mysteries. Sorry if this isn't much help, but just to say, keep the faith!

My DS did this (and still does sometimes) from around 16 weeks (now 24wks). Worse when he's over tired, or there's too much distraction (he's almost impossible to feed in public). I agree with the feeding asleep thing - my DS is worst at the late morning feed, so I do a 'dreamfeed' when he's having a lunchtime nap.
I do also sometimes put him down in his cot and leave him to complain for a few minutes (presuming safe/clean etc) - he either falls asleep or realises he's actually hungry and settles to feed properly.

It's so tough isn't it? DD did this occasionally and as is the case with babies, it only ever became clear what was the matter in retrospect (if at all). So she'd do it for a couple of days and I'd be utterly flummoxed and then suddenly she'd develop a streaming cold. Or a tooth would appear. Or she'd shoot up a bit in size. Or she'd do something new. Sometimes I'd never know and she'd stop it as soon as she had started.

Temp okay? Otherwise well? You could try some bonjela on her gums before a feed in case it's teething and I'd check out if it's reflux too.