Tiktok etc needed - colic, weight, supply etc

[buttonmoon78]

Tiktok, I know you're vaguely familiar with my story - ds born 16th July, 9lb 6oz.

Now he's still got another 300g to go before he gets his birth weight back, but he is putting on slowly. Jaundice has been an issue but bloods have shown his levels are falling. They were 315 yesterday.

But he seems to have colic. Pretty much all day. He is weeing and pooing plenty so I know he's getting milk but yesterday I buckled and gave him 3oz formula mixed with 1oz ebm. That was at 9pm. He drained it fast and settled contentedly in my arms where he fell asleep at 10pm, slept til 1.30. That in itself (the sleep time) is not unusual, but being content is.

He howls and howls and the only way he is content is sleeping on me or in the kari-me. He won't swallow gripe water but he's been having infacol since last night which helps him burp but not much else.

What else can I do? Could it be reflux? DD1 had reflux but it was the sickyness which was her biggest symptom, she was quite content.

Once he wakes at night, he comes in with me and dream feeds for the remainder of the night - generally 2/3 sides between then and 6-7am. He never has a problem at night at all. Could my flow be too fast and flooding him?

I really want to continue bf but it's so hard when he's so miserable and dh is not terribly supportive so the contentedness last night really added grist to his mill

Any suggestions etc gratefully received.

[orchidee]

On a phone and can't do links...

You may find the info on these websites useful- kellymom, Dr jay Gordon, llli, Dr Sears

[orchidee]

Dr jay Gordon's site has info suggesting that food intolerance can mimic reflux drjaygordon.com/pediatricks/dairy.html

I worked out how to link

[Bubandbump]

Just a note on food intolerances - the gastro paed we saw last week indicated that it gets worse at night due to increased bowel movement at night. Key signs are runny, explosive poos, sometimes green, sometimes mucousy and straining to poo.

Has he been checked for tongue tie?

Silent reflux signs to look out for are arching the back, pulling off during feeding. I watched DD like a hawk to work out why she woke up and I could see her being uncomfortable, arching her neck and then swallowing which is a sign of silent reflux. Apparently it can be more common if it runs in the family.

Sorry I am not a tiktok nor pretending to be, just someone who has done a lot of research into reflux and intolerances lately.

[buttonmoon78]

Thank you orchidee - I have spent a very useful 2 hours researching!

bub I think he was checked for tongue tie early on, but I'm going to request another visit from the bf counsellor today and ask them to check again. He doesn't pull away while feeding but he always arches his back and pulls his legs up immediately upon finishing. He struggles to burp but there's plenty of wind there and it often comes out the other end at a volume and force to rival his dad's! When he poos, it comes out like shaving foam - all frothy and full of wind.

He does get hiccups (really violent ones) up to 15-20 times a day and does a little coughing and a lot of sneezing each day. I don't know if these are related at all!

[buttonmoon78]

Oh, and I'm contemplating introducing a dummy to help with the constant need to suck. I'm still wavering though as none of the others had one.

Dh is not impressed as he's got visions of him still needing it in reception or something! I responded by saying that high principles are all very well when Mon-Fri he's away in London and away from the noise!

[buttonmoon78]

And I'm wavering because of the implications with bf. But my sanity is rapidly disappearing down the road...

[TimeWasting]

With slow weight gain a dummy is not advised, any opportunity to get milk into them should be grabbed at.

[buttonmoon78]

I appreciate that but at the moment I can't even go to the loo or get ds1 dressed.

We've got an appt with the gp tomorrow as the bfc has suggested lactase deficiency might be one reason for the symptoms. We'll give anything a go!

[TimeWasting]

When DS was struggling to put on weight and feeding constantly, I cut out dairy and caffeine from my diet and saw an improvement.

Hope you can get it sorted.

[buttonmoon78]

Funnily enough, that's my next port of call. We're going to try the lactase then alter my diet if that doesn't help. After that I think it's reflux treatment.

How soon did you see an improvement?

[TimeWasting]

Pretty quickly. He was still hard work, but I think he had silent reflux too which went undiagnosed. His weight started following a line better, and then picked up.

As well as completely cutting out caffeine and dairy, I also ate lots of oats, took Fenugreek capsules, drank fennel tea, did breast compression and switch-feeding.
The switch-feeding and dietary changes are what made the difference I suspect, but trying everything possible helps psychologically.

[witchwithallthetrimmings]

loads of babies will only settle by being cuddled and rocked or by being fed. This by itself is not a sign that there is something wrong; its just a normal response to transition from the womb to the scary outside world. This combined with the slow weight gain and the jaundice MIGHT suggest that he is not feeding effectively and this needs to be checked out.

[buttonmoon78]

witchwith His jaundice is decreasing, and his output is fine so they're happy with his ability to transfer milk though we have been using compressions and switch nursing to help with that.

The cuddling/rocking/feeding things is not the biggie. The only one of those which effectively works though is the feeding and then he ends up distressed as he spits a lot back up.

[evenlessnarkypuffin]

Is there much difference in the position he's in when you BF and bottle feed him?

[buttonmoon78]

No - generally cradle hold except at night when he lies totally flat next to me. And last week he was fed at least 50% in the daytime in rugby ball hold as I had a blocked duct which he was 'helping' me with

I do try to dip his bottom so that he's about 30-45 degrees tilted.

[evenlessnarkypuffin]

Something you're eating then? Hopefully the doctor will be helpful and he''l be happier.

[buttonmoon78]

I don't know I wish he could just tell me what's the matter!

If this was my first I'd be doing my nut! even more

[tiktok]

buttonmoon, sorry you are still struggling :(

I don't think we can rule out difficulties with supply or else difficulties transferring supply.....that weight gain is very, very slow and it deserves attention.

Sorry not able to suggest more than getting someone knowledgeable you trust to observe feeding and really consider everything, to get to the bottom of it all.

[buttonmoon78]

Thanks for responding tiktok - I appreciate that your time on here must be spread v thin!

My HV is a v experienced exMW and bfc - she has observed latch and transfer several times. After the local bf helpline had adjusted my latch (on day 5) they were happy thereafter. So I'm not sure who else I could ask?

I have an appointment with the gp tomorrow as the bfc has suggested with his symptoms (esp the frothy poo) he could have a lactase deficiency. Or reflux but being as the lactase deficiency is easier to treat, to try that first.

I don't know what else to do. He's been much more settled today as I've had him in the kari-me all day except for feed times (only took him out then as I wanted to sit and put my feet up!). I think it helps with regular feeding too as the minute he comes into a lighter sleep he can smell me and ask for more milk straight away so I'm hoping that if it still is the supply/frequency of feeding problem this can only help.

[buttonmoon78]

I'm working on a small goal basis though - we got to 4 weeks. Now I'm wanting to get to the other side of our holiday which would take him to nearly 7weeks.

[TimeWasting]

I'm getting a Kari Me in preparation for when DC2 arrives next month. Would have helped me so much with DS.

[buttonmoon78]

Well that's answered the dummy issue. Not a cat in hell's chance. He's a boy who knows what he wants. Me!

[orchidee]

Buttonmoon Thinking of short-term goals is good, you can be pleased with every day that passes. I could only think of one feed at a time. We're now at 3 months and it's going well. We also had latch issues but I believe time to practice was what helped us. And me being stubborn. I do think that dummies should come with a health warning saying "BFers proceed with caution". I didn't use one because I knew that the all-day feeding frenzies were not "him using me as a dummy" as my ever-helpful mum thought, and also, that we would be the ones for whom a dummy mucks up his already limited ability to latch on. Although DS still wants to be with his mum all day and night, I don't think he'd be interested in a dummy now, he's happy with teething toys or anything he can bite, so maybe you'll find that too.

Anyway, wishing you well. It'll be interesting to hear how you get on at the GP appt.

[tiktok]

Good luck with the GP - I will be amazed if he/she is able to diagnose lactase deficiency which is a very flaky diagnosis, IMO....it will be good to have him checked, though, I agree.

[orchidee]

Just in case this triggers revisiting other ideas:

drjaygordon.com/pediatricks/general/poop.html
Green, frothy stools
This can be a result of a hindmilk/foremilk imbalance. A true imbalance is rare. It is often seen accompanying a forceful letdown. Lactation consultants will help moms find a nursing pattern which works to combat this problem. If letdown it too forceful in the early weeks, the solution can be to allow milk to leak into a cloth diaper during letdown, then latch baby back on. Feeding two to three times off the same side may also show improvement. Caution should be used with same side feeding as it can decrease supply.

Re: latch and your HV. Do you have a BF group locally that you could get another face-to-face opinion from? They should be mentioned in your baby's red book. There's a searchable website that shows groups in the UK too but I can't remember it... someone else may know of it.