October 2015 Moms

Baby screams and writhes during nursing ):

Hi everyone! Just wanted to describe some problems I have been having while breastfeeding to see if anyone has similar experience and ideas for how to help my little one! He is 6.5 weeks and we have had little problems with nursing but overall things have been great except for the past several days. Every time I feed him he cries, screams, and writhes his entire body (flailing his arms and pushing to standing on me with his legs). I've tried standing to feed him, sitting, letting him lie down on his belly on top of me etc... and no position seems to help. I burp him frequently throughout the feeding (He does have acid reflux.) This usually goes on for about an hour until I give up and he ends up sucking his hand/pacifier to calm down and fall asleep. I have pumped and we tried giving him a bottle but he reacts the same way (so I'm guessing it isn't a flow problem.) Anyway, any advice would be greatly appreciated! I hate that he is having such a tough time ):

Re: Baby screams and writhes during nursing ):

  • When my baby screams/cries during nursing, it's because he has gas on his belly. My only advice is burping, which you're already doing, or gas drops or gripe water.
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  • Is it after he's been eating for a while or as soon as he latches?
  • He starts out ok and then gets upset. (10-15 minutes in.)
  • I have the same problem ... Looking to see if there any suggestions !
  • Could it be he is sucking more efficiently now and maybe he is full in less time or needs a break? Mine is 8 weeks and starting to do that. I just assume he is done. I've also noticed my milk is flowing faster. I stop and burp him and 10 mins later or so he takes the other side. When he was younger he would nurse longer.
  • Maybe need to up the reflux meds since he's getting bigger?

    Baby being full is another thought. If my little girl isn't hungry or full and you try to feed her, she flips out as well.
  • My LO acts the same when he wants to have a bowel movement. Nursing exercises the GI tract, so check not only for burps, but also for lower gas and poop. He might need some help getting into a comfortable position to get it all out.
  • I've learned that when my baby starts doing that he is full. He especially does that when he's tired and wants to comfort nurse and the milks coming out. Maybe your baby is doing the same?
  • My LO is 6 weeks tomorrow and a few days ago we had almost the exact same thing happen. He was nursing approx 15 mins per side up until then. All of a sudden he wouldn't take my second breast and had the same kind of freak out. After a few days of playing around with it I'm 99% sure we have finally got this breast feeding thing down! It now takes 15 mins all together. I feed from the first side for between 6-7 mins, burp and switch sides, another few mins and we are done! It took a few days of feeding from one side at a time and timing it out to figure out how long to feed for (feeding off one side at a time sucks when your not used to it!). I was told when I first had him that it takes 6-8 weeks for the average baby/momma to settle into breast feeding and was given the warning of "the day the light switch flips" and all of a sudden feedings go fast! Sounds like his light switch has flipped!
    Married:09/27/14 
    Baby N-Born:10/29/15
    Our Angel: EDD: 05/11/17. MC at 6 weeks
    Baby #2- EDD: 07/18/17

  • My baby girl does this too ocassionally, and like @ninavelezzz I assume she's full and getting upset that milk is still coming out (I always check to make sure there is still milk to be sure it's not the opposite), then move on to comfort her in another way. It's usually when she is pretty overtired and just needs to sleep...
  • jah64jah64 member
    edited December 2015
    My little one is 6.5 weeks old and is doing the exact same thing! I have a niece born 3 days after my little and is also doing the same thing too. My sister in law and I think it has to do with a growth spurt. My little also has reflux and I don't think it's associated with that. I think they want more milk NOW and get frustrated. Although it has taken a few days of some 2 hour nursing sessions I think my supply is finally catching up. I have been nursing from one side for the 10-15 min then when she starts to cry/pull away I burp her. Sometimes she cries for a bit while burping so I don't go longer than a minute, but if she doesn't cry and just roots I push it longer. I then switch sides and let her nurse for the 10-15 min until she cries/pulls away. I burp her again then give her a pacifier and try to hold her off for 5-10 min hoping I will produce a little milk in that time. I then relatch her on the first side and repeat again. When re latching for the second time, she won't nurse for 10-15 min but she is more patient to suck and wait for more milk. I just keep doing this until she's finally full. I think it's just their way of increasing our milk production during the growth spurt! I keep telling myself it will only last a few days. Know you're not alone and that everything with these babes is a phase! I'm guessing the lady who said she now only nurses 6 and 6 is because her milk production caught up and the baby was done with the growth spurt. I hope that all makes sense :)

    Well now I just saw you gave him a bottle and that didn't help! So maybe he really is just full and looking to comfort nurse but gets mad milk is still coming. These babes are so hard to figure out! If only they could just tell us what they need!!!
  • My LO acts the same when he wants to have a bowel movement. Nursing exercises the GI tract, so check not only for burps, but also for lower gas and poop. He might need some help getting into a comfortable position to get it all out.

    This has been my experience as well.
  • Mine used to do this when she was overly tired, full but wanted to comfort nurse so she was still getting milk on a full belly. Maybe a pacifier would work once the baby seems full?
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