HELP. Formula hell!

[emjellis1991]

I have a 5 week old little girl who is seriously struggling with pooing. She is in a cycle of pooing which is like an explosion and leaks from the nappy it is normal in consistency and colour the issue is after she goes.

She then doesn’t go for 5 days. On the 4th day she will scream and not sleep and won’t settle. She refuses her bottles and refuses water and her nappies get dryer. On the 5th day she then poops and it all starts again.

She has been on:
SMA gold
SMA comfort
Aptamil
Aptamil Comfort.

None of these have helped the amount of times she poops. The only difference we have had is when she was on sma her poo was green, when we went to aptamil it went back to yellow.

I feel so bad for her and I don’t know what to do. I have been to the GP with her 5/6 times she had lactulose and it did nothing. I keep getting told it’s normal for babies. It might be normal but the pain and discomfort she has before going isn’t.

I don’t know if I should change her formula AGAIN.

Apparently Hipp Organic is meant to be good but I really don’t know what to do.

Haven’t tried cow and gate as it’s made by the same company as aptamil so I can’t see it making a difference.

It is costing us a lot of money and stress I just want her to be able to poo like she used to 2-3 times a day when she was a week old or at least once a day!

[emjellis1991]

She also has terrible, terrible wind. It smells disgusting to the point of clearing a room! She has been like that since about 2 weeks old.

[AssassinatedBeauty]

Babies don't always go every day, breastfed babies can go longer than a week without pooing. I don't think you need to try and artificially control how often she poos if the poos are a normal consistency when she goes.

Did the GP or your HV tell you to give water? It's not usual to give water to a tiny baby, unless it's extremely hot or they are very constipated.

I'd stick with whatever formula you're using now and leave it for a couple of weeks to settle down.

[Changerofname987654321]

You need to stop switching formula as it is not a great thing to do. Baby’s digestive systems are imature and are just learning to work. Your baby needs to learn how to poo. From 6 weeks you can try doing an anticolic massage (north east sling library has a good YouTube video) and it the mean time try bicycling legs regularly and I would also try a sling/holding up right so gravity is able to help out.

[emjellis1991]

When she does go she is in so much pain and screams and cries she is definitely constipated not with consistency but frequency.

She has been having water as advised by GP but it makes no difference

[MyKingdomForBrie]

They actually need to learn how to Poo. Their muscles fight each other. If the consistency is normal then it’s not constipation. My dd was like this. Bicycle legs and tummy massage will help, but she will grow out of it.

[Changerofname987654321]

If the poo is liquid then she is not constipated she just needs to learn to poo. All parents with young babies become obsessed by poo but they are worried about this. To be honest even now I worry if my toddlers poo is slightly different.

[Csd17]

My baby didn’t need to learn how to poo.. he came out pooing. It sounds like your baby is in a lot of discomfort. My friend’s baby had colic and reflux and terrible wind and they switched to a goat milk formula which really helped. It’s called NannyCare. I hope you find the solution.

[Csd17]

^^ I realise their issue was not constipation.. Also my other friend who’s daughter was constipated sometimes found that the powdered formulas were more likely to cause constipation than ready mixed kind.

[welshweasel]

Sounds completely normal to me. They often spend a few weeks at this stage learning to coordinate their tummy muscles and bowels. Lots of grunting and writhing, it settles down. If the poo is soft when it's coming out then it's not constipation. Stop switching formulas. Just give a normal one (not comfort) and wait it out. Baby massage can be good too (lots of videos on YouTube or join a class).

[picklemepopcorn]

It's part of the range of normal!

I agree, stop swapping formulas. On her upset day, give her lovely warm baths, lots of soothing cuddles- you'll teach her how to relax and let it happen.

[picklemepopcorn]

I know it's upsetting when they are distressed, but I think babies can be a bit dramatic about these things! She's not as agonisingly distressed as she sounds, honest!

[AfunaMbatata]

Putting a little lube or oil on them can help it slide out with less pain. Have a look at baby massage too.

[PotteringAlong]

I agree with everyone else. Her digestive system is tiny and not developed and 4 different formulas in 5 weeks won't have helped - you need to give her time to get used to one and for it to settle down. It's not going to magically change overnight.

Once every 5 days is completely in the range of normal, as is the grunting and gurning before they go!

I'd pick the formula you're on now, wait for at least 3 weeks and then see.

[eeanne]

You've changed formulas so much that there's pretty much no way to know which (if any) has caused the discomfort. Stick to one and try bicycling the legs and massage. I have a friend who did the same as you and it turned out the baby was just colicky and outgrew out - after she wasted money on many different formulas. There's really not much of a difference between them if they're made from the same base (e.g. cow's milk, goat's milk, soy). Some babies just have immature digestive systems at the start.

[NorthernLurker]

Why did you start changing formula?

Just stick with one. What you've described is normal, sometimes babies make a lot of fuss. She isn't constipated, she most likely isn't allergic to anything. Just stick with it and take extra clothes out with you when an explosion is expected.

[emjellis1991]

The health visitor and GP advised me to change formula on all occasions. They also said she is constipated. All I know is that my baby is suffering and I just want my happy baby back

[GrumpySusan]

Hi OP, my DD is the same age and we're currently experiencing very similar to you but a bit less extreme. I haven't changed formula as was worried about making things worse and am trying to reassure myself that she just needs to learn to poo.
It is horrible though and I wish she'd just poo! Trying to keep her relaxed and comforted but actually looking forward to the explosion so I have my happy baby back, at least for a while.
So no words of advice but just wanted you to know you're not alone (and I am tempted to change formulas too, you want to do anything that might help!)

[HoppityHopHop]

When my DD was newborn, and actually it still works now, is I use the ready made cartons instead of powder. My HV advised maybe 1 feed of the ready made into the days feeds and it has stuff in it that makes it more of a laxative. Definitely helped us in those desperate screamy times.
Hope you get it sorted

[Mantegnaria]

Have you considered that the problem may be that babies are not evolved to digest formula and it really isn't what they need ?

[HoppityHopHop]

Not really helpful mant

[DollyLlama]

Honestly give HIPP a go. My daughter was constipated and sick constantly until we finally tried that. Lifesaver.

[MiriAmmerman]

No advice to offer OP - I clicked on the thread because DP and I are currently expecting DC1 and planning to FF, so am gathering as much info and as many anecdotes as I can atm. Good luck with sorting your DD.

However, I could read and run without stopping to offer Mant a big fat and the award for least helpful post of the day

[Bluebellwoods123]

It might not be the formula, my breast fed baby could go up to 4 days without a poo getting ever grumpier. He still fed which just led to more wind then an explosive nappy. I was told to give water every day I still give water every day and now he’s 14 weeks and poos every 2-3 days the nappies are still explosive and he’s still very unhappy if he needs to go.

[Crazythoughts]

My DD did this; wouldn’t poop for 4-6 days at a time and be really irritable and uncomfortable the day before she poops, and then have an absolutely horrendous explosive session!

She’s grown out of this (now 10 weeks old), but as long as your DDs poop is soft and runny she should be ok. If you’re concerned though take her to the doctors or ask your HV XX

[LittleMansMum2017]

Hello

I agree with the other ladies on here to stop switching formula and let things settle down. I think it's tempting to get worked up and think 'it's the type of forums I will switch it again' when in reality this may be what's upsetting her tummy or at least contributing to the issue. My HV advised 2 ounces of cool boiled water once a day when my DS was constipated. I do think a lot of this is subjective I'm a first time mum with a 6 month old and the amount of contradicting advice I've had is off the chart. I hope my post will at least help. I'd just try to be consistent and stick with a particular type of formula. Good luck chick