just want to say that this is exactly what my lo was doing at 2-5 weeks. he is now 6 weeks and occasionally still does this. now it's more popping off and on which i think is a learned behavior that is lingering after our rough start. he still breaks out into a sweat and pants through a couple of feedings a day. there are several factors that i feel came into play with his "frantic" latching.
-reflux--he would scream when i tilted him down into a feeding position. he had lots of other 'silent symptoms' like coughing, excessive swallowing, gurgly cry. he is now on zantac which i'm not happy about, but it has seemed to help to a certain extent. also i tried the "laid back latch" only i was almost sitting up so that he would also be as upright as possible. basically i had him straddling my thigh, and i would lean back in a glider and sort of gently guide his mouth to my nipple. didn't always work, though. i have to say that most of the upright holds that worked well were not very comfortable at all, but when they worked, i just held it as long as i could because he was finally eating peacefully.
-needing to burp--all that frantic panting, searching, and popping off and on causes my ds to swallow lots of air. i try to pull him up to burp him as soon as i see him start the open mouth head bobbing. sometimes it works, sometimes no.
-forceful let down--like you i try to pop him off and express into a prefold until it slows down. i also hold him so that his body is tilted slightly away from mine so there is a bit of a twist in his neck. i haven't had any success with the "cigarette hold" on my nipple. i just don't think that my breast is made for that solution, but maybe yours is. the let down also leads to more air swallowed and the need for more burping.
-sometimes he just wants to suck--i'm a speech language therapist. pacifiers were not part of my plan! and of course i read all the lll stuff about how pacis can trick a baby out of a much needed meal and mess with your supply. well, i figured out that if i offered my ds a meal when all he wanted to do was suck on something, he flipped his sh**. i've had to come to peace with the paci.
i think 2 things have really made things better. 1. as frustrating as it is, is just plain time. he is getting better at feeding. his system is getting more organized, and he is becoming less fussy. 2. is my ability to just give up for a little while. i was so concerned that he was going to miss a meal that i would get stressed and it would transfer to him and everything was just effed up and we were both wailing. i learned to stay calm, stop trying to feed him if he was becoming frantic, give him a pacifier, swaddle and soothe him, and then try again next time. he's growing and developing well. my milk supply is overly abundant. it's ok.
i hope that things settle down for you two soon. if none of this helps, at least know that i feel you. i'm still frustrated sometimes and tired all the time, but things have been gradually getting better, and they will for you, too. whatever you are doing, you are doing a great job.
It is so hard adjusting to breastfeeding a new baby, even when you've already nursed. Each baby nurses so differently. Don't give up, mama!! Do you have a copy of The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding? Check out your library, if you don't. It really does have some great info in it.
I wish I could, it sounds comfy.
I feel like a failure.
