3 week old tummy gurgling as he breastfeeds and after waking him

[Allusive]

Hi all,

My little man is coming up to 4 weeks and for the last week and a half I've heard his tummy gurggling during breastfeeds and for awhile after. He is ebf. I wouldn't worry about the noise itself but he normally falls asleep during or soon after a feed. Shortly after he falls asleep he starts grunting and twisting around which is then followed by more tummy gurgling sounds. Sometimes he can put himself back to sleep and it doesn't wake him fully but at least a few times during the night and day his sleep is disturbed and he'll wake up wanting to comfort feed. Whatever it is makes him congested too. He'll struggle to breathe through the congestion when he was sleeping fine prior to the disturbance.

Now I don't know if it's colic as he doesn't wake up screaming or pulling his legs up. He doesn't burp much or trump and lately there have been only a couple of poo nappies a day. What do you think could be causing this gurgling? Why during a feed and then continue after a feed? I've been lying him down on a wedge so he isn't flat. That doesn't seem to have made a difference. I started infacol before every feed. 24hrs later, that hasn't made a difference.I've literly just given him dentinox in the hope that will stop this noise and allow him to sleep properly. I can't try gripe water until next week when he's a month old. I also massage his tummy and do the bicycle moves but that doesn't bring out much wind.

Could it be silent reflux? He doesn't vomit or cry, spits up a little. The health visitor is due to see him when he's 5 weeks and the gp week after so will see what they advise but would appreciate any similiar case stories or help. I know he would sleep 3 to 4hrs of not for this stomach thing.

[CultureSucksDownWords]

I think new born babies just generally struggled with their digestive system maturing and developing. It sounds pretty typical behaviour to me, my DS was similar in the early days. They're also still settling into a sleep pattern and will want to be feeding a lot at night as this stimulates your supply.

[Doublebubblebubble]

I echo culture my ds is 6 weeks and had digestive "problems" that have since resolved x

Have you had him weighed recently presuming the last time was day 10?. I would say that as long as baby was gaining he's probably fine. Still get him checked if you still have concerns. Mothers intuition is there for a reason. Also bf babies can go a full week without pooping because breast milk is so well digested xx good luck xx

[Allusive]

Thanks for the responses.
I ebf my daughter 2yrs ago for 18months but this time round I'm certain something isn't right. My girl was 2hourly feeds day and night for several months on end so I was expecting that. If anything during the first week with my boy he slept for 3hrs between feeds. That first week he lost 8% of his birth weight but then my milk came in and I got help with the latch and by week 2 we were back up to birth weight. However that's when this gurgling business started.

He'll feed fine, though fussss at the breast before the gurgle starts. He then falls asleep and sometimes I can bring a burp up, sometimes not. I lay him down on a wedge and within minutes he starts grunting and curling up, goes red straining, then some coughing before his nose becomes congested and he struggles to breathe, before the gurggling sounds again in his tummy. Sometimes if he can clear his nose, he doesn't fully wake but it's like waves of discomfort. It'll keep happening witjin minutes of each other and just as he's settled back down to sleep. Some waves he'll sleep through but some wake him, more because he can't breathe through his nose.

I'm debating giving a teaspoon of cooled boiled water. I've been told it'll help with his stomach.

He is gaining weight and weeing and some poop but I think the weight gain is more due to comfort feeding all the time. This adds to the cycle of trouble. Maybe ask gp to prescribe infant gaviscon? I dont think it's gas but feeds coming back up and blocking his nasal passage.I don't know why else he would suddenly become congested right after one of these episodes? The rest of the time, he isnt congested at all.

[CultureSucksDownWords]

Could you maybe video one of these episodes of congestion/gurgling to show to the GP?

[Allusive]

I've been trying to do that today. Lol. Hopefully be able to catch the whole thing. So far just got bits of it.

[Doublebubblebubble]

^^ agree again. Also have you tried using saline and or a nasal aspirator/bulb.??

Just out of curiosity has he had any green poo andor a spotty chin?? If he has It could be as you say that he's just getting more fore milk and not enough hind. (which is exactly what has happened with my ds - as i said as he's gotten bigger he's worked out what HE needs to do and it's resolved by itself) do have a word with your hv and Dr please x

[MumCodes]

I took my 3.5 week old to the walk in centre last week because her chest was a little rattly and she was congested. They diagnosed bronchiolitis and sent us home with instructions to buy saline drops from the chemist. Calpol do them over the counter and one or two drips in each nostril before a feed dissolves the mucus in their nose so they can breathe normally (babies are nose breathers). Might be worth getting some saline drops to help with your LO's congestion.

Good luck.

[MumCodes]

Ah, I see he only has congestion after a feed. Didn't RTFT properly.

[Doublebubblebubble]

Also read the thread wrong x I'm sure it would be good to have some near anyway x

[Allusive]

No green poo. Mustard colour. He's done a fair amount of poo since the teaspoon of boiled water.

I think will just stick to infacol until I get to see health visior week after next. He'll be 5 weeks then. Depending on what she says, will run it by GP at his 6 week check up.

He turns 4 weeks on Tuesday so will try the gripe water then.

Hoping he grows out of whatever this is soon :( It's not nice wishing his days away wanting him to hit 4 months and be over all these newborn issues.

[austengirl]

Sounds quite similar to my nearly 5 week old. Have you seen the HV and did they offer any advice?

[tiktok]

Gurgling is normal for everyone - honestly :)

You are aware of it with a young baby because his tummy is near your ears :) and because there is so little fat on his tum to insulate the sound. Stick your head next to anyone else's tummy and you'll hear all sorts.

He does not seem in pain, and the wriggling and writhing you sometimes notice is also normal.

The congestion is something else - very common in young babies, and prob worth a word with the HV.

[Mimi2022]

@Doublebubblebubble @Allusive any word of advice as in similar situation. He keeps waking up/cry with the stomach noises. Don’t know if it’s discomfort