Baby in discomfort need advice

[Browneyedgirl93]

Hi, I had my first baby 8 weeks ago. She was 4 weeks premature and had to stay in the hospital for a week. I originally started breast feeding which she took to well but have since stopped this due to my own mental health and pain and changed her to formula since being 4 weeks old. She was doing fine but over the weeks her symptoms have gotten worse. We were originally told it was colic. Then we got prescribed some gaviscon for reflux as she was displaying mixed symptoms of both colic and silent reflux but non of our attempts to help her are making a difference. We have since tried Colief and Infercol which made a slight difference but within a week this improvement has gone as well as gripe water which she didn't take to at all and made her worse.

We believe she may have a milk intolerance as she is still really struggling to drink her milk. She's started having a bad tummy and recently has stated vomiting. Her wind is getting worse and she has colicky and reflux symptoms too. She's visibly in pain when drinking and takes up to 2 hours to have her feed.

Any advice on how we can help her or improve her discomfort or any similar situations? Myself and my boyfriend are at a loss of how to help her. We're considering trying some comfort milk. Has anyone had any experience with this?

Hi. Your post sounds so similar to my experiences. Just wanted to let you know you’re not alone and I promise it gets better. I have a 5 year old boy and a 7 week baby girl. My boy had silent reflux and sounds just like your girl. Like you I breastfed then when going onto formula symptoms got worse. After battling with the GP we eventually ended up seeing a paediatrician privately who diagnosed CMPI. We had already tried gaviscon prescribed by GP, then via the consultant Nutramigen, Ranitidine and finally neocate and at 5 months we saw an improvement. We also thickened his formula with carobel. He stayed on Neocate until he was two. My little girl is unfortunately the same but not as severe. I have currently eliminated dairy from my diet to see if any improvement. However I’m wanting to introduce formula so have gone back to the paediatrician who has asked my GP to prescribe some milk.
Some babies improve with gaviscon and some like my son need everything throwing at it. The key is to only change and try one thing at a time and for at least two weeks (longer at least 3/4 with new milks). This is best advice I was given as it all gets confusing and muddled and you just don’t know what has made a difference and what hasn’t. I know when you’re in the thick of it you just want a quick fix.
I would go back to your GP explain what you feel it is and ask got a trial of extensively Hydrolysed formula. Which had cows milk protein in it but had been broken down. 90% of babies with a CM intolerance are fine with this milk. Then if not an amino acid based formula. If the amino acid based formula doesn’t work it’s probably likely she doesn’t have CMPI and it’s due to a “mechanical issue”. So the stomach value isn’t mature enough yet and allows stomach contents back up. If you don’t have any luck with your GP maybe if it’s possible to see a paediatrician or ask your GP to refer you? Also you can buy these special milks from amazon or various chemists you just need to make sure you give them time and aren’t switching and changing. My babies were both early too and small and I think that doesn’t help. It does get better but I know when you’re in the thick of it you feel so helpless. Make sure you have plenty of support and take time for you. Let others hold the baby. It’s heartbreaking when you see them suffering but they won’t remember. My 5 year old is very tall, healthy and happy and I don’t think had been effected by it all. I feel it has made me more relaxed second time around facing it.
Good luck xx