Has anybody seen their baby stiffen up during/after feeding?

[annatee]

Hi this is my first post, have been searching lots of threads but can't find anyone discussing this exact thing. Was hoping someone might have seen something similar?

Since Tuesday my DD has seemed out of sorts, starting with a big (her whole feed) vomit after her morning breastfeed, which I have hardly ever seen her do. But what I am most worried about is a kind of stiffening that she does during some/most of her feeds. She stops feeding, her back curls inwards and her eyes either go upward or seem starey.

It really scared me so we took her to the Dr, who said probably a virus as throat is a bit red, and the stiffening is most likely due to a pain in her stomach. I'm not convinced though, as she doesn't show any other signs of distress and is usually fine after. They seem to be getting less frequent, but I am really worried to feed her now - have to have someone in the room watching! At first I thought she wasn't breathing, but that seems to be ok now. Just really worried in case it gets worse - was hoping anyone might know what is going on?! Thanks!

If your not happy then taje her back to the Dr's.

She may have an ear infection.

How old is your DD?

Maybe it's reflux. My LO had it and sort of used to twist her head to the side during a feed. They do this because the milk/acid coming back up is painful so they stretch their throats.

Might not be this but is vomiting as well then could be. Ask your health visitor and do some googling of baby reflux for more info. It's usually manageable with baby gaviscon and they grow out of it.

Also would echo - go back to docs as well to try and get it confirmed.

it does sound like reflux - my dd had it and always had an inflamed throat when examined by docs. (sometimes acid can come back up and it burns the throat)

I would take her back to your gp and mention reflux - there are medcines she can have. Its horrible to see them suffer - I used to dread feeding my dd so i know how you feel.

hope things improve for you soon

Thanks very much for those messages that's really helpful. She is nearly 3 months, and so far has been totally fine when feeding. Fifitot and elesbells, did your LOs cry after reacting to the reflux? At first she did cry but I think that might have been in response to my shouting my partner to come and look.

I have also noticed that if we put her down on her tummy she is fine for a while but then does the same thing, bends inwards and goes red, stops trying to lift her head. That is more worrying because no obvious cause such as her stomach. Has anyone else seen something like this?

Not sure about the bending thing. My LO just used to stretch her neck and turn her head during feeding. If it is reflux then putting her on her tummy is not the best tbh. Prop her up so her head is higher than feet after feeding, to stop the acid coming up.

She did cry sometimes. You need to see the doc for a proper diagnosis but sounds like reflux. Keep her upright after feeds - maybe in a sling. They grow out of it but is awful while it's happening.

Try and do some googling. I found an american site which had an animation of how a reflux baby moves when suffering from it.

Hi @annatee

I know this was a long time ago but I’m going through the same with my little one (9 weeks old). Did you get to the bottom of it? I was thinking it’s seizures but she’s had a CT scan and an EEG scan and has come back clear (waiting on an MRI scan), so thinking it could be reflux although she doesn’t seem in pain with it?

Thanks!