Impatient Breast Feeder

griesemer · April 2016

My son seems to get really frustrated when feeding. Spits me out or he wiggles non stop. The mornings are better than the evenings but any advice would be awesome. I am back to work so he is getting breast milk via bottle during the day. I am nursing first thing in the morning as well two times in the evening. Thanks in advance!

helsbels222 · April 2016

Have you tried bf in a quiet place? He may be getting distracted.

griesemer · April 2016

That does help a bit. It almost seems like is not comfortable anymore.

rachswi · April 2016

It may also be where he is developmentally too. My lo has taken to flapping his arms pretty much non stop (and usually ends up hitting me quite a bit)... I've found that giving him something to hold (like a blanket) helps a little but not much. From what I understand, the restlessness will calm down

smnewby · April 2016

Our LO is teething and one of her only symptoms (besides drool) has been a love hate relationship with breastfeeding. Appearantly I have one boob whos fauset is set at slow-flow and the other is easier for her so not only does she get frustrated but if I try to feed her with rightly she glares at me and turns her head away. =(
I've been having to pump rightly and bf on the left! I work and so she gets bottles during the day so at least the milk doesnt go to waste!

Ceridwen77 · April 2016

Maybe he's getting frustrated because the bottle provides instant reward and BFing takes work? Have you considered paced feeding when he's bottle fed?

PocoHR · April 2016

My son is doing this a lot now too. Here are a few things which have occasionally worked for me:

When he pops off the breast and looks around and wriggles or fusses, I'll squirt some milk in his mouth to kind of remind him of the task at hand

If he is on and off and on and off, I will pull him up and just hold him and rock him for a minute or two then cradle him and wait for him to go looking for food before trying again. I have to repeat this a few times but eventually he often sort of gives in and nurses normally.

If he's being incredibly difficult to feed but I know he's really hungry, I will sometimes lay him on the bed and dangle my breasts over him. He loves this, its like a game, and I let him grab them and put them in his mouth. I think he feels like he has more control this way and its novel so it keeps his interest. This is not comfortable for me (not to mention it makes me feel like a literal cow), so I'll only do it for a while, once he starts to really feed, I'll pull him up to a more normal position, and usually he'll tolerate the shift.

Good luck to you!

helsbels222 · April 2016

griesemer said:

That does help a bit. It almost seems like is not comfortable anymore.

Maybe try different positions and holds.

VexedMommy · April 2016

PocoHR said:

My son is doing this a lot now too. Here are a few things which have occasionally worked for me:

When he pops off the breast and looks around and wriggles or fusses, I'll squirt some milk in his mouth to kind of remind him of the task at hand

If he is on and off and on and off, I will pull him up and just hold him and rock him for a minute or two then cradle him and wait for him to go looking for food before trying again. I have to repeat this a few times but eventually he often sort of gives in and nurses normally.

If he's being incredibly difficult to feed but I know he's really hungry, I will sometimes lay him on the bed and dangle my breasts over him. He loves this, its like a game, and I let him grab them and put them in his mouth. I think he feels like he has more control this way and its novel so it keeps his interest. This is not comfortable for me (not to mention it makes me feel like a literal cow), so I'll only do it for a while, once he starts to really feed, I'll pull him up to a more normal position, and usually he'll tolerate the shift.

Good luck to you!

Instead of leaning over him perhaps you could try a football hold. It's similar with the breast dangling over him, but more comfortable for you.

griesemer · April 2016

Awesome feedback. This is definitely tough as my BM supply seems to be decreasing.

GoogleMD · April 2016

I feed my lo in bed when is being difficult. I will lay on my side with his head cradled in my elbow laying next me. Easier on the back and less " cow like"

bellie1223 · April 2016

GoogleMD said:

I feed my lo in bed when is being difficult. I will lay on my side with his head cradled in my elbow laying next me. Easier on the back and less " cow like"

Yes, this works for us too. And like @PocoHR said, squirting milk in her mouth works like a charm, it's hilarious watching her lick at the milk, so it also helps me feel more relaxed when I'm getting frustrated, win-win.

PocoHR · April 2016

I wish the football hold would work, but he doesn't want to be held. I think for him the novelty lies in being able to wriggle about and manipulate my breasts, and that works best in the cow position

elbou · April 2016

griesemer said:

That does help a bit. It almost seems like is not comfortable anymore.

griesemer said:

Awesome feedback. This is definitely tough as my BM supply seems to be decreasing.

Based on the two replies above, I'm wondering if the wiggly-ness is him getting frustrated with the low supply. If he's popping on and off the boob a lot in addition to wiggling (especially if he's yanking on your nipple too!) he may be trying to increase the supply again.

I've also found that nursing laying down helps, but here's a couple more suggestions. One is making sure his feet are supported. I've pretty much stopped using my nursing pillow now that my LO is bigger and if he's laying on my lap, he sometimes acts startled if his feet are just waving in the air, but will settle down once he finds something to rest them on. Two: try nursing with your LO in a seated position. It may be that he doesn't like eating laying down now that he's getting bottles more often. Try sitting him on your lap, and cuddling him with the arm closest to your breast while he nurses. If nothing else, the novelty may help you get through one nursing session.

GL!

VexedMommy · April 2016

elbou said:

griesemer said:

That does help a bit. It almost seems like is not comfortable anymore.

griesemer said:

Awesome feedback. This is definitely tough as my BM supply seems to be decreasing.

Based on the two replies above, I'm wondering if the wiggly-ness is him getting frustrated with the low supply. If he's popping on and off the boob a lot in addition to wiggling (especially if he's yanking on your nipple too!) he may be trying to increase the supply again.

I've also found that nursing laying down helps, but here's a couple more suggestions. One is making sure his feet are supported. I've pretty much stopped using my nursing pillow now that my LO is bigger and if he's laying on my lap, he sometimes acts startled if his feet are just waving in the air, but will settle down once he finds something to rest them on. Two: try nursing with your LO in a seated position. It may be that he doesn't like eating laying down now that he's getting bottles more often. Try sitting him on your lap, and cuddling him with the arm closest to your breast while he nurses. If nothing else, the novelty may help you get through one nursing session. GL!

You could also try feeding him while he's in a carrier. A lot of babies love being able to sit upright held close to mommy and nurse.

apritch88 · April 2016

I would guess that he is frustrated that your boob doesn't feed as quickly as a bottle. Make sure you are using the slowest nipple your bottle brand makes, regardless of age. This could be compounded by the decreasing supply.

griesemer · April 2016

Awesome. Thanks

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