Help! Formula fed baby windy and screaming when trying to feed

[Elvins1]

I really hope someone can advise. 12 week bottle fed baby screaming when I try to feed her - I'm pretty sure she has wind both up and down (if that makes sense). She's starting to anticipate the pain and refusing the bottle until she's worn out from crying. I'm really scared she's going to start refusing to feed altogether. I've tried comfort feed, infacol, gripe water, dentinox and just started colief and dr Browns bottles, but without much success so far. Will she grow out of it? Really struggling with seeing her in pain.

Does she have any tiny spots/redness on her body?

No. I don't think it's cows milk allergy as no other symptoms. Possibly has lactose intolerance but unlikely as comfort formula and colief have as yet made no difference. I think she is 'just' struggling with hard to pass wind, but I'm at a loss as how to help her and how to get sufficient milk into her!

Could it be silent reflux as well as/ instead of wind? See if you can get your health visitor to come round at feed time to observe, or take her to the GP and see if you can try some reflux meds. Might also be worth checking for oral thrush too.

For what it's worth, my DD had dreadful trapped wind and Dr Browns bottles plus baby massage helped a lot. Took about 4 days for the bottles to help as she had so much gas in her little system! I was sceptical about the massage but it really helped (just google for baby massage to help digestion). Good luck!

Thanks for your post. I thought about silent reflux but since she sleeps well and has no problem lying flat, I don't think it can be. I have an appt with GP next week so will discuss it. HV has observed her drinking and couldn't shed any further light, apart from sympathising that it's very difficult to feed a squirming crying baby! Started baby massage this week...