Wriggling around when breastfeeding

F

FutureHKmom

Registered User
In the past two days, all of a sudden, my little one has been furiously wriggling about when I breastfeed him. He is ok for the first 5-10 minutes of the feed on each breast and then he just starts wriggling about non-stop and pulling at my nipple. Could it be that I all of a sudden don't have enough milk? Feeds have been shorter than usual because he has been moving around too much. But at the end of the feed, he does not cry for more, so I guess he has had enough. His pees and poos have been normal in the past two days. I'm just worried about whether or not my milk supply could all of a sudden be decreasing. Anybody come across this before? Thanks. By the way, my baby is 3 1/2 months old.
 
Sometimes I think babies do that because they're getting faster at eating and they've already had enough. My daughter started eating much faster around that age too. These days (8 months old), she feeds for less than 5 minutes, only about 5 times a day!! But she's still really fat, and she's peeing and pooping enough so I know she's getting enough even though she's not taking as long. It's definitely more convenient now!! But on the negative side, if I keep trying to feed her and she's not hungry, she bites me!! And that really hurts now - she has 8 teeth!! So I try to stop as soon as she starts wriggling.
 
Thanks for your reply nicolejoy. I hope that that is also the case with my baby and that he is getting enough. In the past two days when his feeds have been shorter, he has peed and pooed enough times. It would be great for me if he starts feeding for shorter periods of time...I just hope he continues to thrive as well as he did before!
 
Just wait, it gets worse, hehe! I cannot really feed my baby in public anymore (almost 6 months) as it`s too distracting for him. Also, even if my husband walks by, my son pulls off and stares at him. Like nicolejoy, he feeds for about 5 mins most of the time, except at night when it`s all business.
Though I did notice (before I started solids) that when my baby became hungrier, he would pull at my nipples and then go off. I just offered him the other and if he was still hungry, he would go for more. but you said he feeds on both sides already. He could just be more efficient at feeding and ready to conquer the world~
 
Shenzhennifer - I know what you mean about him pulling off when your husband walks by! My son does the same thing! He does it also if someone talks to me while I am feeding him. Soon I'm going to have to lock myself in a dark room to feed him in order to cut out all the distractions!
 
My son is the same age and i've been having similar problems. Here is what I do to tackle the wriggly worm:
1/ burp him, then try to feed him again
2/ make him eat upright (sometimes the milk flows too fast)
3/ feed him laying down
4/ wait, check his nappy if he needs a change and try to feed him again
5/ if none of this work I just quit because he may just be full already and my levels of frustration is too high then !

I also normally cover him when I feed him in public but he's getting more difficult as well now as he wants to see what's happening around and it's also very hot below the nursing cover (even if it's a very light one)... ah well, the joy of breastfeeding, right ? :tongue:
 
Thanks for all your suggestions csj - I tried laying down to feed him tonight but had the same problem. I've tried the burping and I always change his nappy before a feed too. As the day has wore on today, each feed has just gotten worse and worse. I feel like he is getting frustrated because the flow is too slow or there may not be enough? Anyways, my husband ended up supplementing him with a bit of formula tonight at the last feed before his bed time because he just didn't seem satisfied after I breastfed him. Hopefully, the problem will fix itself soon.....
 
But if you`re worried about whether you have enough milk for him, feeding him the bottle won`t help you out - supply and demand and all.
How often is he eating?
 
Have a look through the information on Nursing Strikes and see if you think this could be the cause of your problem. I know your baby isn't refusing to breastfeed but rather is being fussybut that could just be his way of doing it.

A nursing strike is when the baby suddenly refuses to breastfeed for some reason. Often the reason can be linked with something that is going on in your life, like stress from traveling, having visitors, moving home, starting work or leaving the baby for longer periods, etc. or with something in the baby's life, like illness, teething, etc. And sometimes it is difficult to work out exactly why.

Nursing strikes can be frightening and upsetting to both you and your baby, but they are almost always temporary. Most nursing strikes are over, with the baby back to breastfeeding, within a few days.

There is an article called, My Baby Is Suddenly Refusing to Nurse. Does That Mean It's Time to Wean? at LLLI | FAQ on Nursing Strikes that you may find useful. I also have a pamphlet called How to Handle a Nursing Strike which I can post you if you send me a PM with your contact details. There are also some mothers' stories for the LLLI magazine, New Beginnings, where babies have had nursing strikes at LLLI | Nursing Strikes.

If you do not think this is the problem and you are really concerned about the flow of your milk then I would recommend that you supplement with a lactation aid rather than a bottle. As giving bottles will encourage the baby to want a fast flow. See the thread http://www.geobaby.com/forum/thread130351.html

Best wishes,
SARAH
 
Thanks for the info Sarah - but I don't think it is a nursing strike as he does eat, just for a super short period of time until he gets frustrated and wriggles about - sometimes even crying out in frustration. I thought by now (four days into this problem), it would get better, but each feed is now turning into a battle with my son - though at least he seems to be satisfied after the feed. I'm getting more frustrated with each feed also....not really sure what to do.
 
Have you tried to just let him stop feeding when he starts to fuss?
Often babies this age are finished within five minutes. If he really didn't get enough milk he knows how to ask for more so I'd let him lead the way and not worry about whether he has enough because he will not stave himself.

Remember that the only way to tell if the baby is getting enough milk is from his output not his behaviour. We are looking for six wet nappies (one wet nappy = 3 tablespoons of liquid) in every 24 hours. We are also looking for weight increase of around 60 to 110 grams per week.

Best wishes,
SARAH
 
Hi, my baby (4 months) only feeds for 5 mins or so and only takes one side. After 5 mins he just 'swipes' at the breast a lot (a problem outlined in another recent post) and I stop at this point.

I've been giving him one feed at the time he would normally have it, then another 'top up' before he goes down for all his naps/bed time. That way even though it's short bursts, he's getting volume.

Have you tried pumping to see what amount you get? It will be less than the baby would suck out but might indicate if it's a supply issue (or rule that out as a problem if you get a lot). Also then you can supplement with that breast milk instead of formula and keep up with your the baby's needs.
 
i'm also having a similar problem. my bb is 4mths. she swipes at the breast after 3 mins (usually during day feeds) on the side that has more milk or cries on the side that the let down is slow. i try to compress around the areola to stimulate a faster let down & it sometimes helps. also i also stop once she starts swiping or coming on & off thhe breast, it's annoying that she's pulling at the nipple & it hurts. so i just finish the feed, and she seems to be full enough. if not, she'll always ask for another feed after an hour or so.
 
Thanks Sarah and LeahH. Just like you said Sarah, I've decided to just let him eat until he fusses. It will save us both from frustration and too much grief. It's just been difficult for me the past few days to see my baby cry out in frustration after only 5 minutes on one side. Each time he finishes a shortened feed though, he has not indicated to me that he needs more. He is also getting at least 6 wet diapers a day and at least one big poo. So I guess I really shouldn't worry so much.

LeahH - thanks for letting me know that you 4 month old only feeds 5 min or so because that is getting exactly to be my situation. I do pump sometimes, but I can never get much out - early in the morning I can get more, but as the day goes on, my pumping because less and less successful. I do have a small stash in the freezer though so I am planning to supplement with that if need be.
 
i couldn't also couldn't pump much milk from my left breast, which is seldom engorged. but my baby seem to be getting milk from that breast cos i could hear her swallowing. sometimes, there's just no let down from a pump, but baby can still get milk.
 
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