8 week old baby grunting and neighing like a horse!

[BigGreenFrog]

Hi All, I'm hoping for some advice. I have an 8 week old DS, who makes LOUD noises when BFing, and in his basket. They are SO loud, they stop us from sleeping. It's not every feed, probably about 60% of feeds. He sometimes sounds like he's trying to clear his throat, and other times, it's like a neigh from a horse!! He's difficult to settle back into his basket when he's like this. He can be fast asleep on my knee following a feed, but then when I try to move him, a gently as possible to the basket, the neighing and whinnying starts again and he doesn't settle.

I have tried infacol for the last few days, but it doesn't seem to have made any difference. One last thing, he is often sick, sometimes just a tiny bit, other times what looks like loads. What is a 'normal' amount of sick?

I have no experience of babies at all, and he is my first so apologies if I am asking stupid questions.

My DD has been a bit like this. I think it's often wind plus them getting used to using their digestive system.

Infacol helps but you need to use it religiously for every feed for 3-4 days before it starts to workroperly. Also winding frequently through every feed - ie stopping every 5 mins to wind. Then hold upright after each feed for 10-15 mins until totally asleep.

She is much better now than she was although she still does it to a certain extent, partic if I am lazy and don't do all of the above.

Have also heard that propping up the end of the cot can help so they are less flat when sleeping.

On the sick front, as long as it doesn't seem to be bothering them and its not a large volume or every feed, then I think it's okay. But if he seems upset or there is a lot, then that might mean its reflux and worth a trip to the doctor.

Unfortunately a baby that sounds like a moose in heat when sleeping is completely normal. They do grow out of it, but it's one of the reasons many people move the baby to their own room before the recommended six months.

Thanks for your quick replies! I'll persevere with the infacol (must admit I have missed a few feeds over the last few days as I left it downstairs overnight. I'll keep an eye on the amount of sick too. My problem is that by the time I have fed him, winded him, and tried to make sure there is no sick, it's time to feed again!

Hopefully it is normal as you suggest Giraffe, and he will quieten down in time. I have a monitor for when he does move into his own room, but to be honest I don't need it, I would be able to hear him from my room across the landing!!

Have a read about reflux. DS is just the same!

Yes I was going to suggest reflux.

Grunting in tiny babies can be a sign of not inflating the lungs properly or of fluid on the lungs. I don't mean to be alarmist, and the others are most likely right about it being normal noisy-babyness in this case, but do please get him checked out just to be on the safe side.

Sounds just like my DD! It likely is normal but talk to your HV or GP if only for peace of mind then you will probably find you get used to it. Infacol helped massively with wind for mine but the noises carried on for ages. I remember DH saying one particularly noisy night 'Where the hell does the term sleeping like a baby come from? They sleep horribly!'

Oh, I'll read up on reflux then!! It's not every feed by any means, and I had thought all babies were a bit sick, but the last couple of days it's got much worse. Thanks for the head up Alfalfa, he is at the GP on Monday for his jabs so I will ask them to check him out while I'm there. Again, the noises are not constant, but sometimes they are SO loud I convince myself he must be in agony, then I look in the basket and his eyes are closed ! But then other times he is rigid making the noise. I'm off to google reflux! Thanks again all

My 7 week old DD was the same in terms of spewing and crying excessively after feeds. She seemed to be bringing up whole feeds rather than small regurgitations. I was feeding her lying horizontally on a pillow on my lap so started putting her at a 45 degree angle and the vomming and crying improved almost instantly. She obviously has mild reflux.

Also keeping her upright for 20 mins after feeds has helped (still do night feeds lying down though, they don't seem to be affected).

The grunty noises are normal I think, provided there's no distress.

Reflux. We taped our daughter in the night because doctors wouldn't believe us. It sounded like whooping cough to us. Constant coughing and almost wailing in her sleep as she breathed. Very distressing. She was diagnosed with reflux. Only serious if you don't get it checked out and sorted. Def see a doctor about it. There are tons of threads on help with reflux and we've been through severe reflux with one and moderate with another baby so feel free to pm me if you want some personal advice.

Hi Biggreenfrog

I saw your post and breathed a sign of relief! My DD is 4 weeks old and has been doing exactly the same for two weeks. The Doctors have said it may be reflux as she is quite sick with it all.

The neighing and clearing throat sounds are so hard to bare, I worry she's in pain and she fusses on the breast practically every time. I was wondering how your DS is getting on now and if it gets better?

I'm a new mum and this is first post so hope i've made sense.

Thanks

check out Priscilla Dunstan Baby Talk on The Oprah Show on YouTube

good luck.

( sorry, the horse noises made me !)

Check out stridor.

The Dunstan stuff is potentially interesting, but not evidence-based at all, and Dunstan has resisted all attempts for some sort of scientific investigation. In any case, it would not apply to these sorts of loud noises :)