6wo vomiting after BF but not after formula?

[heya101]

Hi all,

Our 6 week old dd has started to vomit and become really unsettled after breastfeeding the past couple of days. I'm wondering if she could have an intolerance to something I'm eating? She's a mixture of breastfed during the day, and bottle fed at night (with a 50/50 split of expressed milk and Aptamil formula). Yesterday evening was the worst she's been by far, completely inconsolable except when putting her on the boob, but then freaking out not long after being put on (even though I wasn't empty) and then being sick. She really wound herself up for hours and hours until we finally got her to sleep (before this she'd fall asleep for 5-10 minutes and then wake up shrieking again, so I think she was in a lot of pain too).

Previous to this she's always been quite grizzly after feeds, trying to get wind and poos out, but it sounds exactly similar to the other babies in our NCT group so we were just hoping it was the development of her digestive system and would pass as she gets bigger. The puking and being completely unable to settle her for hours is a new (awful) development.

She also had quite a bad rash on her face that was coming and going, which we initially assumed was baby acne/milk spots/heat rash during the heatwaves, but started thinking perhaps she was intolerant to eggs, so I've cut them out since Sunday and it's cleared up loads and has yet to return.

We've spent hours Googling/going down holes on Mumsnet trying to figure out what this could be. Does it sound like an allergy/intolerance? Am I correct in thinking if she's mostly fine after her Aptamil formula (mixed with breastmilk from a couple of days ago) it's not a dairy intolerance/CMPA?

Hoping someone else has had a similar experience and could share what they did!

I would check latch - she could be swallowing a lot of air which is then making her really uncomfortable. Has she been assessed for tongue tie? You could also have a fast let down/flow compared to bottle teats. Keep her upright for minimum 15-30 mins after a feed and keep winding until she brings up all the air. Formula is thicker which may also be why she's not bringing that up as easily. If she's fine with formula I'd say it's unlikely to be a CMPA allergy. theparentandbabycoach on instagram is excellent with reflux and sleep so have a look there too.

My little boy had an awful rash on he face and terrible skin as a baby. I thought cows milk but it was egg. Once I cut egg out his skin cleared on face really well! We were referred to a dermatologist because of his eczema and had bloods there for allergies. He does still have eczema but no where near as bad!

Thanks so much for your responses @wimbler and @Cric !

Last week I had started weaning her off the nipple shield, so we think that was the cause. I never thought I had a fast let down or flow, but since reinstating the shield she's been soo much better (annoyingly, I felt quite proud to be rid of them!). I'm going to work to slowly get her used to my flow hopefully!

I'd be checking latch as well. Is there a local BFing Group that you can get to?

And yes, the vomiting could well be due to forceful letdown