breastfed baby - colic?

[ChocolateHobnob]

This may be a long post - please bear with me!

My 13 week old DD is exclusively BF, thriving (born on 25th and jumped to 50th within 2 weeks and has followed 50th centile ever since), happy, etc. BUT for the last few nights she has screamed, literally screamed, for hours. This happens to have coincided with her 12 week jabs. The hv said try infacol or bottle feed her instead. Today I took her to the doctor, who diagnosed colic, possibly as a consequence of a post-jab fever and constipation, and said it was untreatable and just had to be lived through. He also said research doesnt show Infacol works very well. I must say I've used infacol for the last 2 days and it hasnt done anything - she has always burped after every feed anyway.

I can live through it, though it's horrid, but I would like to improve it if possible!

My baby typically poos twice a day, yellow poo - since this started it's been once a day or every two days, which I know is on the normal spectrum also for bf babies. Her poo has also been very green and liquid frothy, different from usual. She has been crying before doing a poo as well which she never did before.

I have, I think, got over-supply-at least I have a fast letdown and milk gushes everywhere and when she was younger DD used to pull off the breast initially in panic at the flow. I only ever feed from one side per feeding and that has always been enough. Do you think this is a feeding problem? I used to collect the overflow of milk that came with letdown in a muslin before relatching DD on, but recently she hasnt pulled away when the jets spurt so I sort of assumed she could cope.

Any advice? Thank you!!

[StrangeTown]

Choc - my ten week old DS is somewhat similar - poo only every few days, crying and pain when trying to go. It has not been consistent, he has good days when he has 2-3 dirty nappies and no pain. I can't link this to anything, I do have him on Infacol and he does seem worse when I try to stop. It takes a few days to build up apparently, so make be worth continuing.

He is exclusively BF and cries at nights - not for hours, def interested in what others have to say on this.

[asset1]

sounds similar to my DD who is 6 weeks. It's definitely stomach related in her case and makes the nights difficult because she can't settle after a feed. And she does seem to burp and fart quite a bit anyway so either there's more in there that's not coming out or ... I don't know. I did have her on infacol for a few weeks but stopped about 5 days ago and I do think she's worse. I stopped because I hate giving her it - she's exclusively BF because I know that's the best thing for her and yet I'm giving her e numbers and sacharrin with every feed! just seems so wrong. But, I think we might have to start the infacol again because she's obviously really uncomfortable at times. Does anyone know if gripe water is any good? It has 1 more e number than infacol so no better in that sense, but if it was a real solution would be worth a try I suppose. We;re also going to try cranial osteopathy and some massage.

[fingerwoman]

chocolate, I have just lived through the worst colic I have ever known lol
I'll be honest with you and say that I don't think it's "colic" not in the traditional senxe of the word anyway.
colic usually starts early on and lasts till about 12 weeks when it settles down, peaking at around 6-8 weeks.

It sounds to me far more likely to be jab related than colic. she is probably just feeling a bit unwell, they give them a lot of jabs nowadays don't they?
I cannot believe your HV suggested bottle feeding her instead- how on EARTH would that make and difference?

if you do a google on Harvey Karp he has a lot of v.interesting work on colicky babies

[fingerwoman]

asset, you too coulkd benefit from harvey karps stuff.
here is a very good article, taken from his book the happiest baby on the block (worked wonders for us)

[TheOldestCat]

Chocolatehobnob, we had exactly the same issue with DD at a similar age (I never made the connection with the jabs, but that could explain it and I also had a fast let-down in the early days). She cried more when pooing and they were frothy and often bright green.

It passed in a week or two and the poos went back to yellow (with the odd frothy green confection to keep us on our toes). My HV was great and said not to worry and to carry on BF. But your one doesn't sound so helpful - is there anyone else you can speak to? Perhaps do a search on mumsnet on 'green poo' (the things one ends up doing, eh!)

Strangetown and asset - Infacol did work for us (helped her burp) and gripe water seemed to help with the pain. I stopped giving either after three months as things got better.

[asset1]

thanks finger! very helpful! I have read about this before and the 5 S's thing is kind of what I've been instinctively doing anyway but it's really useful to have it laid out. he's dead right because with my DD 'dancing' her about will usually calm her down whatever even though it doesn't bring any wind up so that doesn't fit with the gas theory. funny how sometimes you just need a push in the same direction you were already going to feel like you know what you're doing. will do it more systematically now. fingers crossed..

[ChocolateHobnob]

Thank you for the advice/encouragement. I agree I don't think it's colic - it didnt happen Weds night and last night it did but was over in 30 mins or so and stopped when she was rocked. I suspect it was indeed a digestive reaction to the jabs last week - well I hope it was, since it seems to have gone.

Her poo is yellow again now too.

[fingerwoman]

glad to help asset. I was the same, a lot of the stuff we were already doing, just helps to know you're on the right track.
I totally got to breaking point with ds2 and was having to ring dp to come home from work because I was scared I would hurt the baby because I couldn't bear all the screaming.
but after reading the book and understanding WHY he behaved like that it suddenly seemed easier to cope with.
and we've come out the other side now and he really is happier. not the happiest baby on the block lol,. but he'll do for us