3 weeks, still gulping air at feeds...

[fallenoverflowerpot]

DS will be 3 weeks tomorrow. He's gaining weight well, though there have been some fusses about funny breathing/too fast heart rate (was seen by gp who said all probably ok but would refer to paed 'if I wanted').

But he's still having feeding problems. Whenever he sucks - breast, finger, anything - and quite often when he's just breathing, he audibly swallows great gulps of air. At the breast this seems to be partly due to fast let-down, but he does it at other times as well.

This seems to be giving him a very sore tummy - he can't sleep for long at a time, and wakes squealing and howling. If he can burp he'll then go back to sleep (some of the time), or will at least quieten.

Is there anything I can do to help him out? (he's dc3, btw, and I fed the other 2 for ages...)

Hi I am so sorry to hear that your baby is gulping air, the problem is that he wakes and cries with pain?

Have you tried feeding him facing the the other way, ie with legs towards your elbow, or feeding lying down?

If you are worried...get you midwife involved in advocating for you with the gp, to get a paediatric check up.

Thanks v much for there reply. Feeding lying down isn't any better. I haven't tried the backwards feeding (never got on with it before - but should def try again). Midwives/bf people have suggested more upright feeding, more reclined feeding, relatching - none of it seems to make a difference.

We propped his basket up last night, and he slept LOADS better - so perhaps there's a reflux issue as well... Sounds like we do need another GP visit - have been hoping this was just a feeding problem (GPs are rubbish at bf advice, in my experience), but perhaps it isn't. We've got a referral to a tongue tie clinic, but that'll take 3 weeks - a whole lifetime away (he's 3 weeks old today...)

I think swallowing air is usually latch-related - and the fact that he does it when finger sucking too does suggest something like tongue tie. But what a pain they're making you wait for 3 weeks - is there anyone else who could help you sooner - BFC or lactation consultant? Even if it is TT, there might be other adjustments you could make to get a deeper latch in the meantime.