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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

How much intestinal distress is normal?

7 replies

metsa · 17/03/2019 02:58

My little girl is 3 and half weeks old and is entirely bottle fed. I am using Cow and Gate first infant formula powder most of the time but we occasionally give her some pre made of the same brand.

When she is sleeping, it seems that every few minutes she looks to be in distress. She makes faces, pulls up her legs, goes red, makes fists and occasionally cries out. Then it passes, and often she farts (sorry, TMI) or poops. Then a few minutes later she will start again. Is this normal in a young baby? She's my first and I assumed it was normal, but I don't want to ignore issues if there is one. She didn't poop much at all for a couple of days last week, then did a huge one, and has seemed more regular since then but is still looking distressed. She doesn't often cry, and when she does she is usually hungry, so I don't think it can be colic.

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SoyDora · 17/03/2019 03:15

Mine is 9 weeks now and BF but was exactly the same for the first 6-7 weeks. Mine rarely cried either, he just whinged/grunted in his sleep and looked constantly distressed (and farted a lot!). He’s grown out of it now. I think it’s just an immature digestive system. Keep an eye on her and if it doesn’t improve then look into it with tej GP, but if she’s sleeping and not crying then I wouldn’t worry too much at this stage.

Loubyloulou88 · 17/03/2019 05:26

You are not alone Metsa! Our 4 week old DD spends anywhere from 3am onwards grunting and straining in her cot like she need a poo or trump, even if she has filled her nappy already. She will sometimes do it whilst she's half asleep and won't necessarily cry, but she sounds like she's really struggling and it's really quite distressing and hard to sleep through! I spoke to the health visitor who seemed to have little information or advise but wasn't concerned, so I can only put it down to her digestive system being immature and her needing to work harder to process her milk for now. Do you find your LO is easy to wind? Sorry this isn't giving you any particular help but want you to know you're not one your own here! x

SoyDora · 17/03/2019 06:37

Yes it is really really hard to sleep through... I put earplugs in for the second part of the night!

RogueV · 17/03/2019 17:38

Mine is breastfed but I would say what you describe is pretty normal. She is 7.5 weeks now and I think it is slowly getting better.

metsa · 17/03/2019 19:34

Thanks everyone! Smile

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Loubyloulou88 · 18/03/2019 13:14

Just an update if it helps Metsa, took DD to the GP today about night time discomfort. He checked her over (listened to chest, felt stomach etc) and he felt she was perfectly healthy and normal. He did confirm that their little tummies do take time to develop and just to continue and we are and go back in a week if still concerned, but he certainly didn't seem it. Looks like I'm going to have to learn to block the grunting and groaning out 😬🙈. My LO is BF so not sure if that makes a difference, but thought I'd update you, hope you're getting some rest.

metsa · 18/03/2019 18:25

Loubyloulou88, thank you, that is reassuring! Didn't get much sleep last night but oh well! Smile

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