stops feeding but isn't full, fusses and thrashes

[SB17]

I would be really grateful for any comments or suggestions here. My DS is 11 weeks and breastfeeding has mostly been going well. More recently the evening feed, around 6pm, in particular has turned into a bit of a saga though. He will start feeding well but after a few minutes start thrashing around, grunting, pulling on the nipple, spitting it out etc. I switch him to the other breast but he does the same. I try keeping the lights low and things calm. If I try putting him to bed, guessing he's had enough, he screams because he's still hungry so we try again. I had some success with topping him up with some expressed milk, but I know I've got plenty because I tried the pump after I wondered if I was empty and there was milk left. Now also with the afternoon feed he can behave the same and it can take three tries of putting him to bed then feeding again before he's happy. Anyone got any ideas please???

[Mrs Nietzsche]

It sounds like he's getting wind - you might need to give him some upright time. Evenings can be a very fussy time. Don't worry about your supply!

[Me]

I agree with Maire, sounds like wind. 11-12 weeks is I think when bubs tummys develop and they become a bit more sensitive to wind.

I find DD2's lips a good indicator - blue around their lips indicated wind inside.

[Mummy2R&K]

You may have milk there but at that time the flow may be slower.

Bubs could be pulling at ur nipples to get it to come down quicker?

I think this is what happens with my DD

[faroutbrusselsprout]

I've had this a few times with DS2 and with us it's because he's too tired.
He wants to suck for comfort but not interested in feeding.
He's ready for a big feed after waking..

[wocket]

yep, sounds like wind.

[JabberJaw]

Oh yep, agree with others, wind for sure.

[Lilahh]

I agree with Mummy2R&K.

My 5 week old DS does this at evening times. I first suspect wind, but if he doesn't bring any up, I try breast compression. The LC I saw said bubs do this because they want the milk more quickly then its coming out and they get frustrated. Milk is sometimes slower at night time. Try squeezing your breast firmly while he is feeding to encourage the milk to come quicker. If its not wind, this usually calms DS and he feeds calmly.

HTH! Night times are pretty feral. :yes:

[Aries7]

my dd went through a stage at about 11 wks where she started screaming her head off at evening feeds. completely refused to feed & in the end i had to express every night for her. this went on for a couple of weeks to the point where i was expressing all her day feeds as she refused them (but would happily bf during the night). i was so worried that she was going to flat out refuse to bf any longer & be permanently on bottles. so i spent 2 whole days in bed with her. i would feed her while she was still half asleep (because i figured that was half the reason why she was still feeding so good during the night). any way it worked. within that 48hrs she was back to bf normally again & i have not had to express since. a friend of mine had the same thing happen with her dd at around 10 wks. perhaps it's just a stage some go through?? but i still agree that wind is the main culprit. apparently it can build up in them during the day. another thing to check is that he could be having a "wonder week". there is a wonder week around week 12 & quite often their feeding changes during that time.

[SB17]

Thanks so much everyone, all the info has been really helpful and I think there is peobably some truth in every single comment! Am pleased to say he has settled rght down in the past week and there is hardly any fussing. Am continuing to express for most of the evening feed as we've got into a nice routine plus it's reassuring to know he's had a big feed as he then sleeps up to eight hours- no complaints there! Thanks for all the help xx