What is this? New mum advice

[homemadegin]

Hello

Looking for some guidance please. At breaking point here.

6 week old baby. Combination fed. Was BF till week 2. Massive weight loss. Formula introduced and now on mainly that with BF offered before every feed.

Cow and gate. Feeds 3 hour max usually 100 to 150ml. Very greedy and windy.

Last few days been getting grumpier. I spoke to HV and she suggested different bottles. I got mam anti colic. Things got worse. I asked GP Wednesday and started infacol. It's got worse again.

We feed. Then have up to 2 hours of screaming. Bright red. I mean bright bright red. Knees up. Rigid. It's like it comes in waves. So will settle.for few minutes then back again. Today choked during winding and scared the hell out of me. Milk out nose. It's absolutely worse afternoon and evening. Nappies are getting worse. Now usually more than 24 hours and see explosive and bath worthy every time.

She seems so sad and upset. It breaks my heart. Her sleep is awful but always had been. I just want her to be ok. I get that she will try but this is something else.

I had thought colic but now wonder about reflux or silent reflux. She's not sick as a rule. She is hard to wind. She won't be put down in day time and likes to be held or cuddled.

I think.i should.go back.to GP. DH thinks we should ride it out. I am very anxious as a rule with difficult history, seventh pregnancy first baby.

What do people think? Many thanks.

I'm having similar problems with my 3 week old. I found MAM bottles made him worse so swapped back to Tomee Tippie. I had been giving him Infacol but it made but it made no difference so we've just started Dentinox which seems to be helping. Someone recommended Gripe Water but it can be only given at 1 month old. Maybe that's worth a try?

Try a Comfort milk, that and the MAM bottles helped DD within a day.

Oh, OP. I really feel for you.

Well done for persevering with BFing. The feeding support sounds crap. I used shields for about five months with my baby - only way I could carry on.

Try and see a different GP. Your sister is unsupportive so just ignore her for now. However do know that GPs in UK cover everything in their subject knowledge testing. Having a 'paediatric background' means not as much as it sounds (presuming you are UK though). My husband trained for 12 years to become a GP - never did an O&G rotation but knows how to spot an ectopic pregnancy or signs and symptoms of PCOS.

Good luck. It won't be like this forever.

Cant believe they won’t see you at BF group if you’re combi feeding. That is absolutely appalling. I combi fed my eldest for the first 7-8 weeks and still went. They could help you as moving to more feeds on the breast might be good if it turns out your baby has a cow’s milk allergy (unless you’d rather move totally on to bottle obvs). There were plenty of women who supplemented breastfeeding with formula feeds at my bf group. It doesn’t sound very helpful. I often feel so lucky with the support I had from the midwives and lactation specialists at my local hospital when I see stuff like this.
With your baby crying and lifting their legs, that can be a sign of wind. Have you tried gently cycling their legs? That was suggested to me to help shift wind also gently rubbing their tummy in small circles in a clockwise direction (that’s the way the intestines wind round their body so going the other way can make it worse).

I can relate a bit.
You are in middle of really tough patch. There is a way out!! You will make it.
I know the feeling of ‘this’ being all you have wanted, and now it’s so hard you feel bad for not enjoying it.
Some things that helped me:

• seek help. Even if they tell you it’s normal/ nothing you can do, pacify yourself by having done all you can.
• take a little bit of time out. Let daddy do some feeds so you can have bath/ mooch round shop for an hour. A break will top up your resiliance.
• sling walks were great for us. I appreciate it’s hard after c section, and the weather is not so great now, but sling kept baby upright. Fresh air saved my sanity.

This too will pass. You sound like a great mum.

Definitely see the GP. I also breastfed for 2 weeks but due to various issues stopped around then and formula fed. Baby became very uncomfortable, screaming for hours, vomiting, reflux, rashes, etc. Doctor suspected a cows milk protein allergy so we moved her to hypoallergenic milk and also started to use Zantac. She gradually improved and now at 5 months has no issues at all.
It took me 2-3 weeks to seek help and I wish I had done it sooner.
You sound like you're doing a great job, hope you get the help you deserve.

Gosh this sounds like how my now 6MO was, I really can sympathise. I tried everything and for him, the only thing that helped in the slightest was Colief - it’s pricey though so have a look for deals on Amazon. 4 drops in his 4oz bottle half an hour before feeding (which is a pain) and he seemed to improve after about 4 days. Gripe water was okay sometimes for wind.
I persisted with the doctor as his screams at the bottle and after were so violent it was like he was on fire. He is still on medication for silent reflux and that seems to be helping him albeit he is still up 3-4 times in the night (yawn).
I also slept him in a cocoonababy which is elevated slightly and perfect for refluxy babies. It was the only thing he would sleep in. They are great and you can transport them anywhere (pricey so we got ours on EBay).
Tried every bottle make going and can say that for me they were all much of a muchness.
Good luck with everything x

Sounds a lot like silent reflux or CMPA but could unfortunately just be a baby who wants to be held. I think the only way to know is to go back to the GP - can you see a different one? And see if treatment helps. If it is CMPA as well as changing to specialist formula you will have to go dairy free yourself as it is passed in breastmilk.
I think it’s incredibly impressive that you are persisting with breastfeeding and she’s taking some at every feed given the total lack of support you’ve had - it will definitely be helping with a laxative effect.
The attitude of the bf group is appalling and really strange - I could understand them having a policy not to recommend formula but to refuse to help someone trying to bf more because they gave formula is just crazy. Have you tried calling La Leche League? They have a 24 hour advice line staffed by volunteers. Or finding one of the UK wide FB groups. Is there an infant feeding team associated with your hospital? I hope you can find some support, the current situation sounds awful.

Another vote for cows milk allergy. Does your baby have dry skin?

I feel very emotional that you have all taken the time to try and help me.

Been up since two although she seems to be dozing in my arms now. Will call GP when they open.

No dry skin, lovely soft skin.

Have ordered corelief thank you. Tried gripe water. Have booked consultation with sling lady, don't have confidence to trust own judgement there.

Feel so shaken by everything I don't know what I'm doing anymore. Everyone in real life tells me something different.

Just to give you all an eye roll, my usually lovely but old school mil is verging on being banned. Her suggestions have included porridge, alcohol, crying it out and putting her on her front. Dear god.

Tell your MIL to fill up on porridge and booze then lye on her front while she cries for antacids.

Sounds like you have some good plans in place.

All ridiculous suggestions from MIL - as you know . Ignore her for now and prime DH to say, 'thank you for your advice, but we are sorting this out ourselves'.

You have taken several steps to get this moving again. You can trust your own judgement. Any luck with GP?