Very uncomfortable baby

[GeorgieJo]

Hello,

Wondered if anyone can help me. My five week old so. has been in some discomfort for last 24 hours, lots of squirming, protest cries and farting...

I think he is having real trouble digesting something.

I am bf but using the odd bottle of formula (ie one a day max, if he needs topping up at night).

Can't work out it if was something I ate - edamame beans?? (Dr Google tells me soy is a common problem, and I have already cut out dairy).

Or fact that we switched formula brands on Thursday morning (Aptamil to Hipp).

It started on Saturday afternoon. The last formula he had was Friday at 9pm. I had edamame beans on Friday night and Saturday night.

Anyone else had experience switching brands or eating something their LO objected to?

Really grateful for any ideas of how to help him through it.

Thank you!

GJ

[FrogsGoWhat]

There is no point in cutting out dairy if you are giving formula! Formula IS cows milk.

It might be the formula, it might be a food sensitivity, it might just be an immature gut or colic.

Sorry, no help but could you express the top up bottle and so see if it is the dairy?

[Rooners]

Hiya,

sorry not much good on what might be causing it but I find lying the baby on his back and pulling his legs firmly but gently together and 'stretching' them towards you, and then pushing them gently towards his tummy, keep repeating this, also rubbing his tummy in a sort of circular motion - it can help them a bit with wind issues.

You are a nice mum to be trying to think of a reason - so many people just think babies cry for no good reason. There's always something.

Hope he manages Ok.

[SteamWisher]

Agree about the dairy point. Also you don't need to top him up with formula - your boobs will make enough. It feels like there's not enough sometimes but it's when baby has to feed more to tell boobs to make more.

So try no formula.

Also yes my two reacted to soya badly and spicy foods.

But why drop dairy 5 weeks in? Have you ruled out tongue tie? Or made sure he's winded after each feed? My TT dd needed burping after each feed or all hell would break loose.

[GeorgieJo]

Thank you so much for your help - feeling VERY stupid for not realising that cutting dairy from my diet is irrelevant if I use formula as well...

I am trying to express to have bm top-ups. I have tried cutting the top-ups entirely but he feeds constantly 5 - 9, and then I think am empty - can't get anything from pump afterwards or even 2 hours later... Meanwhile he gets increasingly agitated. Whereas if he has 100ml in a bottle at 8ish he settles and sleeps better.

But perhaps I am being lazy...

[Rooners]

Do whatever it takes

I could never get owt from a pump either but seemed to bf alright, it's an individual thing. You're doing grand.

[GeorgieJo]

ps I am very diligent about winding, and interesting point about tongue-tie. Was thinking of visiting a lactation consultant to talk about how to express enough for a bm top up/increase my supply so I don't need the top-up. Perhaps they could look for tongue tie too - he takes 40 to 60 minutes at every feed so thought had crossed my mind.

Good to know that it might be the soy - easy to cut out. Although feel so guilty that something I ate might be causing him pain

[Sunflower1985]

Healthy happy baby is no. 1 aim. It's not laziness as it comes from a place of love and concern.

With my ds he got windy and uncomfortable when we tried another brand and when we went from ready made to powdered formula, then again when we changed back! It then settled a few days in.

Although the more breast and less formula he has the less he seems to get these symptoms. It's just easier to digest, is the logic.

[SteamWisher]

Please dont feel guilty!

Do get a lactation consultant in - that's what we did. However be aware that feeding for 40-60ims might be that he's trying to stimulate your supply as he is only 5 weeks old. They have a lot of growth spurts.

How's his weight gain?

[GeorgieJo]

He is gaining masses of weight! Was 7lb 4oz at birth, never lost any, and was 10lb 4oz at four and a half weeks.

That is partly what makes me nervous about not having en

[GeorgieJo]

...enough milk, he just seems to want so much!

Thanks again for the support.

[SteamWisher]

Honestly - you will make enough! But you've got to let him feed. He will get quicker.
I'd suspect he doesn't have tongue tie if he's putting on weight like that. It feels like your boobs don't make enough - but it's supply and demand. He demands it, you supply it then your boobs make more and he doesn't need to feed as much.

I remember checking my boobs at this mark convinced there was nothing left!

Also don't express either - wait until your supply settles down as can mess things about. It certainly did with me - I made mountains of milk and actually had over supply with my first - ds would choke on my letdown and take down a lot of air and be quite unsettled.

[cindyrella]

Totally agree with SteamWisher.

...and on the bean front, the only time my dd was colicy was after i'd had marrowfat beans & it was hell! She also became unsettled after a mild curry so do think u need to watch what u eat!

[FrogsGoWhat]

Useful link :)

kellymom.com/parenting/parenting-faq/gassybaby/

[GeorgieJo]

Thank you all - and really useful link Frogs, looks like a great site.

Fortunately S seems to be getting better. Haven't used any formula in 48 hours, but then nor have I eaten any more beans - so the jury is out!

Will try to wean us both off the formula. Just so difficult on the days that he is frantically attacking my boobs after 2 or 3 hours of feeding.

But guess I just need to have more confidence that I can do it. Going to call a lactation consultant tomorrow, who can hopefully give me some more reassurance.

[SteamWisher]

Feeding every 2-3 hours is normal at this age. It really is.