Month old baby... colic, reflux and milk allergy- help please

[Pen1983]

Hi,

I'm not even sure where to start... I should say I'm a mum of four.(18, 16, 8 and 1 month).. but this newest addition is nothing like my past experiences i feel like a first time mum again and so stressed. (my oldest son whos now 16 had colic but nothing like whats happening with baby now)
I had my baby a month ago today and from the first day she has more or less just cried... for the first couple off days i exclusively breast fed and apart from a bit sickly after feeds all was reasonably well. About 4 days in i had to top up with formula as she just was on breast all the time and always hungry and fussy. I tried to express but nothing much was produced but i worked on it daily to build them up. By day 6 she was having more breast and just 1 or 2 bottles a day. But then they started to produce less and less and was having more formula feeds. She then started to develop all signs of colic screaming for hours on end, nothing we done helped. She also developed toilet issues, following advice from midwife we put her onto full formula by day 12 we changed her milk to colic and constipation milk. But again nothing improved it just got worse. She was sick after every feed alot! Screaming an crying... will only sleep sitting up position even in cot we have to use a wedge cushion. She then developed a rash and after a visit to a&e they diagnosed milk allergy and prescribed a new milk... parting words were "your have a completely new baby.." 6 days later and sooo much worse!! Shes feeding almost every 2hours unless finally manage to get her into a very deep sleep. But when she awakes its like shes been starved. Shes been prescribed infant gaviscon as well for reflux and we did give her infacol for colic relief... but these last few nights its been awful and i just can't cope.. shes screaming for 5 hours plus none stop. Try to feed and she chokes on milk or drinks so fast ends up with hicups which upset her. Then shes sick when we wind or upto an hour after she will be sick. Won't take a dummy. Nothing we do settles her
We keep her upright for ages after feeding sometimes over an hour as advised would help with reflux
Shes also taken 6 days to go poo and it was awful for her she screamed her head off and was really hard... but doc/hv didn't seem to be bothered just said some babies can take a few days to go??
A pharmacist just told us to try colief? Is this ok to give with gaviscon shes on as well? Can it go into the same feed or is it best take in turns of feeds? I've given up any hope of routine or sleep.. but if anyone has help or advice I'd gladly appreciate it!!

Thank you

Gaviacon can cause constipation.
What milk have they given you?
Colief breaks down the lactose in milk so it shouldn't affect the gaviscon
I wonder if you need a different milk instead and/or an alternative to gaviscon

Hi! First off I just wanted to say I hope that you are ok, i know only too well how horrendous this experience is! I wrote nearly the same post just over a month ago whilst awake at 5am crying my heart out with my little boy screaming!

He screamed from day 3...continuously...all day and night, would not be put down, tilting cot, infacol etc all did not work, finally I took him to A & E in despair after he screamed for a solid 24 hours and choked badly on his feed!

He was diagnosed with cows milk allergy, we started a new formula (nutramigen) and carobel to thicken the feed to help keep it down, much like you, this only lead to more screaming and 6 days of constipation! His feed was then changed again to Neocate as this contains zero milk protein and he was given lansoprazole to ease the pain of the acid reflux and his thickener changed to a lesser known one called thixo D ..... it was a miracle....not overnight, it did take the full two weeks but I can honestly say I have a changed baby, he is so smiley and sleeps all night at 10 weeks!

What I am saying is that it feels like it will never end, you despair when they tell you to wait 2/4 weeks but it honestly all changes once they get the right combination, do not be fobbed off, gaviscon causes horrendous constipation, I would ask for a change and for an anti reflux medication alongside.

Sorry for the long post I just wanted to let you know I have been in your shoes.

Hi,
Thank you so much for your replys!! I honestly appreciate the support and advice

Shes on neocate now
We make 4oz bottles up (as gaviscon says mix with 4oz) but most the time shes only drinking half if not less then sleeps abit wakes and wants the rest. Obviously if its been over an hour we make new formula up as says can't use pre mixed over hour old?

I will most certainly call doc monday if still the same and colief makes no difference.. reflux has improved shes not as sickly mostly its when shes straining to pass wind or slightest bit burbing but no where near as was start of week when be most of her feed... just need to combat the colic and help her poo

Thank you again xx

I doubt colief will help as it breaks down the lactose in milk (the sugar in milk) and I dont think neocate contains lactose

That is great you have seen some improvement already. My son was the same with wind pain and although a lot better, still cries after burping, just not for 2 hours now! Once we got the constipation sorted things really improved, we were given some lactulose to help clear the initial blockage so that might be an idea?
Really hope things settle for you quickly and you start to get some rest!