Skip to main content
Skip to main navigation
Skip to talk navigation

Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Parenting

Newborn grunting!! Help!

18 replies

segc94 · 18/08/2017 05:09

My DD is 3 weeks old. The last couple of nights she has been grunting and straining.. sometimes it's like she's clearing her throat other times it's like she's trying to poop but she isn't pooping. Sometimes (like tonight) she's really loud and flails her arms about. It's like she's in discomfort but she isn't crying or anything.. and once she goes to sleep it stops. This only happens when she is lying in her Moses basket, if I pick her up it stops and she'll fall straight to sleep. As soon as I put her down she'll wake up and start grunting again. Also sometimes it can sound like she's a bit 'flemmy'.

Has anyone else's baby gone through this? I've read it can be normal however I'm getting concerned and it's disrupting both our sleeps.

OP posts:

Report

RiceButt · 18/08/2017 05:19

Yes, we went through this. As far as I'm aware it's totally normal. DS was so loud we used to joke that he was trying to exorcise his inner devil

He's grown out of it now, I think it gradually stopped around 6-8 weeks, he's 13 weeks now.

segc94 · 18/08/2017 05:44

Thanks RIcebutt

Did you notice an increase in your baby being sick or spitting up?

OP posts:

2ducks2ducklings · 18/08/2017 05:46

Is she cold? We had this with our daughter, many moons ago. We were in hospital the day she was born and we're so paranoid about her overheating that we had the air con on in the room so that it was very cold. We asked for some advice about the grunting she was doing and the midwife said she was too cold and proceeded to put hats and blankets on her to warm her up.

segc94 · 18/08/2017 05:54

*2ducks
*
No we keep her warm, I've been regularly checking her temperature and it's always around ideal temperate for newborns so it's not that. If anything I'm always panicking that she feels too warm

OP posts:

RiceButt · 18/08/2017 05:54

He was a sicky baby to begin with but I don't think it was related to the grunting.

Mol1628 · 18/08/2017 05:55

Both mine did this! In the middle of the night. Never worked it out but I thought it was perhaps wind/ stomach pain.

Mislou · 18/08/2017 06:02

I was surprised at how much noise my newborn made when asleep in our room . Sort of grunting , snuffling, kind of animal noises. I hadn't expected it.

segc94 · 18/08/2017 06:08

I'm glad I'm not the only one!
Did you guys just let it pass then or is it worth bringing up with the GP?

OP posts:

RiceButt · 18/08/2017 06:19

If you are concerned then mention it to GO or Health Visitor. Mine was grunting and flailing awake, asleep and during feeding. It looked like he was in pain and to me he had the symptoms of reflux. My GP said she didnt want to diagnose milk allergy as it was too early. HV referred for tongue tie but he was ok.

Looking back I think the grunting peaked around weeks 4 - 5. Now he makes other sounds like moaning and frustrated noises. There will probably be a new noise he makes next week .

RoganJosh · 18/08/2017 06:23

Are you sure she isn't hungry? My first got very grunty evening and nighttime and it turned out they were hungry.

Avocado0nToast · 18/08/2017 06:24

My DS did this as well he was so noisy. The doctor said grunting can be related to reflux but he didn't have other symptoms or seem to be disturbed or in pain. I think they gave me gaviscon to try but I decided not to use it as it didn't seem to bother him, just us. I also propped up the cot legs. He just grew out of it on his own in the end.

McCheese · 18/08/2017 08:12

PREFIX: I'm a FTM and have 7 weeks experience 😜

It's always worth mentioning to GP or HV however newborns are quite 'snotty' and 'chesty' anyway. It's quite normal and they are super noisy! If my DD falls asleep when feeding the noises she's makes when I move her upright!! She had her week check last week and he listened to her chest which was completely clear. Just grunts!!

Flailing her arms about? Newborns have a startle reflex that will wake them up so personally I think it's a good idea to swaddle.

Regarding straining like she needs a poo, are her poos ok in colour and regularity?

hambo · 18/08/2017 08:16

In my experience it is normal. Mine sounded like a wee dinosaurs and both kids did. It . My friends kids also all did it, made deep groaning and odd noises. First baby I would pick up and feed. Second baby I had learned it was normal and just left him to it, he would just have a we groan and wriggle, maybe fart and keep sleeping. So my advice is just leave your baby to sleep and get some sleep yourself x

NotAPuffin · 18/08/2017 08:22

Ours did it too, I think just because they could. Actually DH grunts contentedly in his sleep too, maybe he just never grew out of it : ) Wait till she hits 6 months and discovers she can do a constant high pitched shriek like a baby dinosaur, and insists on doing so absolutely everywhere you go.

princessbananahammock252 · 18/08/2017 08:46

My LO was and is exactly the same. She is now 8 weeks but still grunt and groans during the night. It makes me very nervous so between her and my snoring husband, I was getting any sleep. I decided to start using earplugs again, trusting that I'll wake up to the cues of her waking up for a feed and her cries, and believe it or not I do. They just help to drown out the other noises that are nothing to worry about. I've been told by numerous friends and family members that the grunting is very very normal, so don't panic. But as PP have mentioned, if you're concerned for their health then definitely mention to your GP or HV.

ODog · 18/08/2017 21:22

Both of mine did this for a month or so. No idea what it is. Annoying but normal as far as I know.

Wonderflonium · 18/08/2017 21:29

Mine did this. I think it's because their nervous system is immature, so they just make bunch of noise while digesting/needing a wee/dreaming. I got no sleep until she grew out of it. I used to leave her downstairs in the eve and have an hour or two nap before my husband would bring her up at his bedtime.

guesswhosback · 19/08/2017 07:08

Ours is going through it as we speak.
She's 6 weeks old and we actually ended up in hospital last night as she was grunting and straining so much she was going red and Sweaty and very upset .. Prior to last night she's been grunting for about 2 weeks but the straining about 3 days.. it only happens when laying flat. After feeding we burp her and keep her up right for good 40 mins to make sure she's winded properly..
she's gained a good amount of weight and has regular wet and dirty nappies.

In hospital - it turns out she has bad reflux.. she brings up a lot of food after feeding. She had a couple projectile vomiting incidents too...so even after keeping her up right for longer periods harms no bearing at the moment...
Paediatrician recommended switching from infant formula to hungry milk for her. And give baby gaviscon if need be.

So today we will give it a go. Start with hungry milk first.. smaller amounts and more often..
Hope this is just a phase and goes away soon.

Flip

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.