Will this get any better?

[sunnyfields25]

Hi, I'm posting this here as well as in behaviour/development as wasn't really sure which category it fitted into...

I'm having a bit of a rough day and am really just hoping some other people have experienced this same problem and can tell me it will get better...

Since a couple of weeks old DS has been writhing around and groaning, mainly in his sleep but sometimes when he's awake too. He's 8 weeks old now. We used to think it was silent reflux but now I'm pretty sure the problem is intestinal as quite often when he's squirming it's interspersed with lots of wind from the bottom end!

I thought he might grow out of it - that's what the HV keeps telling me - but lately it feels like it's getting worse and he sometimes wakes himself up whimpering or crying with the pain. I can't sleep in the same room as him because I find it impossible to sleep through the noise. I hate hearing him distressed and feel like I should be able to do something to help. So DH sleeps in room with DS, and as a result I've not shared a bed with DH in months. Both daytime naps and nighttime sleep is very broken and he takes ages to settle.

My only remaining idea is that it could be a problem with cow's milk, so in the last few days I've drastically reduced the amount of dairy I'm eating (as I breastfeed him). However, I'm already a vegetarian so I'm finding I'm struggling for inspiration of what I can actually eat now! Not being able to eat cheese etc is proving very restrictive and as a result I'm not really eating much.

I'm just keeping all my fingers and toes crossed that he's going to magically grow out of this in the next few weeks, when he reaches the magical 3-month point the HV keeps talking about. Was this anyone else's experience?

Sorry for the ramble. DS had his first vaccinations yesterday so things have suddenly got even worse than usual and I'm struggling to cope. I'm becoming a recluse because his unsettled nature makes it difficult to take him anywhere. I always regret it when I try as it results in lots of crying

If he has lots of wind and is crying lots, there could be a problem, but it could be normal baby behaviour.

If you are thinking it may be a dairy allergy, have a read of this on Kellymom. It's probably worth ringing one of the Bfing Helplines too to speak to a BFC about cutting out dairy. If you do cut it out, you will need to cut it out completely.

Some things that might help with wind are putting baby in a sling and going for a walk, the "tiger in the tree hold" which you can see on YouTube, tummy massage, having a bath and no nappy time.

If you are worried about going out, is there a Bfing Support Group you can go to? You may get some support and nobody is going to mind the baby crying

As for food. Have you tried any of the cheese alternatives like violife? I'm dairy free and sometimes like cinnamon and raisin bagels with pure spread for breakfast. How about hummus and crackers for snacks? Roast sone chickpeas too for snacks. Do you eat eggs? How about omelette for lunch and veggie spag Bol for tea? Mcvities fig rolls are ok, as are some Bourbon biscuits and party rings and there's always crisps

Hi Everyone, thanks for all those food suggestions . I seem to have been drawing a blank because cheese normally features so heavily in the meals I cook! But they are some good ideas. I am still eating some things that I think contain some dairy (eg bread?) but am cutting out the major things. My hope was that if DS does have a problem with cow's milk then I would see some sort of improvement from having massively reduced my intake. I'll give it another week and see what happens.

That link is really interesting because it says there will normally be other signs of a dairy sensitivity, and I can't say I've noticed any of the other symptoms it mentions.

I definitely need to look into support groups in the area. I'd been putting it off until DS was more settled, but I'm realising I could be in for a long wait if I continue doing that!

I'm non-ige to Cow's Milk Protein so can get instant pain in my stomach, but not always. Wind, discomfort which can tip over into pain. Sometimes mucus, sometimes diarrhoea and sometimes the opposite. Stinky farts are also a feature of non-ige CMPA? Does any of that sound familiar?

As for the Bfing support groups, definitely go. He may just surprise you. My DC1 slept for 2 hours the first time. Think it was the only time he slept until the next day!

Wow the stinky farts definitely sound familiar, poor little boy he certainly produces some impressive smells . Also although he doesn't have diarrhea in the sense that he goes very often, he tends to fluctuate between going for days without a poo and seeming like he's 'blocked up', and then when the flood gates do open it's completely liquid and never-ending! That could well be normal for babies for all I know though, I'm still learning what's normal and what's a sign that something is wrong.

Well it could be normal but both of mine, who aren't allergic, were as regular as clockwork. Hace a read of this from Allergy UK.

If you still think it may be CMPA I'd give one of the Bfing Helplines a call. You'll also need to cut out dairy completely and possibly soy as half of all people with CMPA are also allergic to the protein in soy, but you could see how you go on just cutting out dairy for now, but it would have to be completely and may take 2 weeks for it to leave your system.

Make sure you ear well too. Not eating much shouldn't affect your milk but may make you feel tired. Things always seem better with a full tummy

If it's cows milk you'd need to cut all dairy completely for about 6 weeks to determine a result I'm afraid, and most likely soy too.

I'm veggie too and when my DS had CMPA I struggled so I went back to eating fish and meat for the 9 months I breastfed him for.