Baby Freaking Out on the Boob?

EagleWife · August 2013

For mobile users: Baby Freaking Out on the Boob? BTDT BF moms, my baby has been absolutely freaking out on the boob during a feeding session. She bobs her head back and forth over the nipple with her mouth open as far as possible, almost like she can't find it, back stiff, arms flailing and beating against me, and making a "Gaaahhhhh!" kind of noise. She's been doing this more frequently over the past few days. (She's 4 weeks old today). The only things I can find about such behavior is that it's a reaction to engorgement. Tonight I took her off because she was getting so upset and pumped while DH fed her a pumped BM bottle. The weird thing is that she's usually in the middle of a feeding, so it seems like its something besides engorgement. I've taken her off to burp, change her diaper, check her clothes for anything too tight... Still can't figure it out. (@AmyG* ? Anyone?) I swear she looks like this baby when she does it! ** p.s. - the preview keeps dropping my paragraph breaks, so if they don't stick, I'll keep trying to fix it.

opheliainwaders · August 2013

DD does this sometimes, and I've noticed that it's often when she's gassy and/or working on a poop. When I take her off and burp her (longer and harder than I originally tried), often a good-sized burp comes out. Or else sitting up and changing position will make her poop.

I've been using a baby probiotic, which has reduced her grassiness, so I'm seeing this behavior less often these days. HTH!

emandia · August 2013

Lol! That photo!

Yessss, Ive been dealing with it all night.

I have no clue what the deal is. I almost just gave up and gave him a BM bottle, but he finally decided to give in a few minutes ago. I'm curious to see what responses you get. It's so frustrating.

Pink724 · August 2013

gulickr said:
DD does this sometimes, and I've noticed that it's often when she's gassy and/or working on a poop. When I take her off and burp her (longer and harder than I originally tried), often a good-sized burp comes out. Or else sitting up and changing position will make her poop.

This is what I've found, as well.

EagleWife · August 2013

I give up on the spacing

they just won't stick on my iPad Safari browser. (Even though they stick in Safari on my iPhone.) . . Back to the real issue. I've tried burping her when she does this and she doesn't actually burp. Most of the time she just seems to get more worked up. I guess it could be needing to poop, but she usually has no issues pooping while eating. ... ... She was overtired and cluster feeding the last three days before yesterday, so maybe that was part of it? So far today, she's nursing calmly.

EagleWife · August 2013

My baby does the same. I'll be very interested in the response. She pulls back when my milk comes shooting out, but I think this is different. I have also been pumping and feeding her when she does it.

I looked for seriously squirting milk, but don't see it happening when she does this. Glad to know it is somewhat normal, but curious if anyone has an idea of what it's about. .. ... Sidebar, does anyone else remember the thread when @maryannespier posted that photo?

Fitnessteach2010 · August 2013

Carlie is one month old today too and she does that sometimes. I have found she does that when she gets gas pains of is popping.

Fitnessteach2010 · August 2013

Sorry. Pooping.

dontgiveupnomatterwhat · August 2013

Mine did this for awhile. Have you tried switching boobs? Sometimes if he freaks out on one, I give him the other...if that doesn't help, I pick him up, get him to calm down, and try again. Usually if he doesn't take it, I assume he isn't actually hungry. He gets restless when he is super sleepy. I also make sure he hasn't peed or pooped...usually one of these things help.
It could be that your baby is super tired and hungry at the same time, especially if this is a "wake up and feed me" MOTN feeding. I've quit fighting him and just have a bottle of BM ready in the fridge with water waiting to be heated to warm it up for the middle of the night feedings. He gets a full belly, doesn't fight, and goes right back to sleep.

[Deleted User] · August 2013

I don't remember the name of that thread but it was ridiculously entertaining!

PrimRoseMama · August 2013

Maybe she is frustrated at the speed? If she gets bottles then she might get used to the flow and less work of a bottle vs. breast. She has to work harder on the breast.

PrimRoseMama · August 2013

@AmyG* : you rule. I just have to tell you.

Fitnessteach2010 · August 2013

Yea, seriously Amy that was so helpful!

EagleWife · August 2013

Thanks, @AmyG*. "They are tired and want to go to sleep--they may want to comfort nurse but milk keeps coming and they get mad about it. You can offer a pacifier and swaddle tightly. They are fighting sleep. They don't want to nurse because they know that makes them sleep, but they are sort of still hungry. so they come off and complain about it." These seem like the most likely reasons, since I tried burping, switching sides and she didn't have a BM. She started the crazy baby routine at her last feeding, well into the session, so once she rolled off, I gave her the pacifier and swaddled her tight. She fought sleep the whole way, but finally gave in after about 30 min.

equinus · August 2013

Yay for Amy G! My guy does this too, so OP you are def not alone. I "think" with him it's usually that he is tired and wants to comfort nurse but doesn't want to deal with the milk flow, and I have been using the pacifier with success with him now. That picture is hilarious! I have seen that face on LO too, he is like a wild animal sometimes. You'd think that since this is my second LO that I am EBF, I would have it figured out, but nope, he is a totally different beast than DD was. And yes the iPad eats your paragraphs for some reason.

ECATX · August 2013

This was so helpful! I've been having the same issue for the past week or so (lo is 5 weeks today) and have wonders what the deal is.

KnightCox89 · August 2013

My baby did the same thing I talked to the doctor about it and its reflux... Since he's started in th medicine they have home he does it a lot less

gemini2005 · August 2013

Fitnessteach2010 said:

Carlie is one month old today too and she does that sometimes. I have found she does that when she gets gas pains of is popping.

Yup- I've been dealing with this too. I think it's gas or she has to burp.

jmw222 · August 2013

I find that DS does this when he needs to make a poop or burp. DD used to do it when my milk wasn't coming out fast enough.

shara3333 · August 2013

Mine freaks out when he's trying to get gas or poop out and struggling while he's on the boob. Most of the time it comes out ok, but when it doesn't he gets soooo frustrated and my nips suffer (latch, unlatch, shaking head, latch, unlatch, shaking head, etc....).

EagleWife · August 2013

AmyG* said:

EagleWife said:

Thanks, @AmyG*. "They are tired and want to go to sleep--they may want to comfort nurse but milk keeps coming and they get mad about it. You can offer a pacifier and swaddle tightly. They are fighting sleep. They don't want to nurse because they know that makes them sleep, but they are sort of still hungry. so they come off and complain about it." These seem like the most likely reasons, since I tried burping, switching sides and she didn't have a BM. She started the crazy baby routine at her last feeding, well into the session, so once she rolled off, I gave her the pacifier and swaddled her tight. She fought sleep the whole way, but finally gave in after about 30 min.

If you are nursing on both sides, sometimes you can help them out by giving them the "empty side" to nurse on. Mine would get so mad in the evenings if I switched sides, cause they didn't want milk, they just wanted to suck to get to sleep.. of course they never took a pacifier, or sucked their thumbs either.

Another great suggestion! Thanks. I'll try that the next time she does the freak out

Rushmore · August 2013

AmyG* said:
They are fighting sleep. They don't want to nurse because they know that makes them sleep, but they are sort of still hungry. so they come off and complain about it. what it is may take a bit of trial and error.

I think this was our issue today. LO was nursing away happily for quite some time. Nursed on both boobs. Then all of sudden he started freaking out at the boob, just like OP describes. I tried switching boobs, switching positions, but to no avail. Finally I gave up trying to nurse him and held him close on my chest. He freaked out- wailed- but I just kept patting his back and shushing him in his ear. After a few minutes, he conked out and slept for an hour and a half.

jille1984 · August 2013

My lactation consultant witnessed my baby doing this and said that she's not hungry and that she is frustrated that milk is coming out because the baby wants to use me as a pacifar. She suggested that I give her a pacifar or hand off to dh. Pacifiar did the trick!

jeng100 · August 2013

I just talked to the ped about this. She says it may be that my let down is taking too long, and causing frustration. She suggested expressing a bit before putting her on so that it lets down faster once she's on.

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