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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Advice needed

14 replies

Hellosunshine30 · 13/08/2019 19:45

Hi.

I feel like I have no idea what I'm even asking here. I suppose some advice or reassuring comments ?

My little boy is 3 weeks old. He has tongue tie and is bottle fed. He seems to have a bit more wind, so is given infacol and we spend a while winding him to get him more comfortable. NHS won't touch his tongue tie as he isn't breastfed. You can see is is in discomfort with bringing his little legs up to his chest and he passes a lot of wind.

His feeding times are about 11, 1, 3, 5 and 7.he is taking about 5 oz with 5 scoops of formula. We have only done this in the last 2 days as 4 oz wasn't filling him up. I feel absolutely shattered. Is upping his formula and oz OK to do? I have the health visitor tomorrow and will ask her, but he's still so little.

I feel like I'm failing as a mum as its so hard to settle my little baby between feeds esp at night time. I was about 3 hours one night and it was just constant crying. I really didn't know what else to do.

First time mum and I suppose I'm just a little worried that I'm not doing a good job here.

OP posts:

dementedpixie · 13/08/2019 19:48

Is he having more than 5 feeds?

Byorderofthepeakyblinders · 13/08/2019 19:51

Totally fine to up his feeds, if he is still hungry and that is what he needs. Your baby will lead you as to when he wants fed and how much

Expressedways · 13/08/2019 19:57

I’d always aim to never let them drain the bottle as if the teat isn’t completely full of milk then they’re taking in air. If they are trying to drain the bottle then I took that as my cue to make an extra ounce going forward. Babies are very good at regulating their own appetites and will just spit up if they take in too much. So totally fine to up his feeds. A break mid bottle to burp also worked well for mine.

I’m not sure I understand your feed times, are those all overnight? Or is his going from 7pm to 11am without a feed as I would have thought that’s too long at his age.

Overnight take turns with your partner if you have one to ensure you’re getting an ok amount of sleep, I know it doesn’t seem like it now but it does get better.

10purplepansies · 13/08/2019 21:45

Which formula are you using? It could be more that his digestion is struggling to break down the milk... I've found out today that the cheaper powders (cow gate etc) contain more extras to pad them out which aren't easily digestible such as potato starch, Carob etc

I have 2 children so am by no means an expert but it sounds like he is actually taking quite a lot of formula and very frequently... I think I would be inclined to try increasing by an oz but feed every 3 hrs.... maybe giving his tummy a little more of a rest in between...

It's horrible to see them in discomfort... also if the infocol isn't working... I wouldn't bother continuing...

Winter2019 · 13/08/2019 21:49

You're not failing as a mum! It's all new to you! It will get better!
Yes, up his milk if he's still hungry. Not all babies ar the same

dementedpixie · 13/08/2019 21:50

cheaper powders (cow gate etc) contain more extras to pad them out which aren't easily digestible such as potato starch, Carob etc

This is a load of rubbish btw

Rarfy · 13/08/2019 21:54

I used cow and gate with dd which is was horrendous for wind. Switched to hipp organic and it made a massive difference. Also used infacol and colactase which are safe to use together but a pharmacist told me I should just be using one or the other.

What bottles are you using?

That seems a lot of milk for a 3wk old. I don't think dd was even taking 2 oz at 3wks old. Have you discussed this with the health visitor? I know all babies are different.

ps1991 · 13/08/2019 22:00

My little one is 7 months.

All formula milk has to have the same basic ingredients, some do then add extras, but it is not needed. I wouldn’t switch formula without speaking to your hv.

My baby became really gassy/ windy pulling legs up and whining around 3 weeks. We tried gripe water, colief, dentinox collic drips and infacol. Infacol eventually worked but it took about 5 days to get going. I found around this time things like pooping and wind stopped happening automatically for him and he started having to try and work out how to do it. There were times when I could see he just couldn’t work out how to poop!! And it seemed like it took forever to get over it too, but in the grand scheme of things it passed in a few weeks. Try rubbing his tummy clockwise and warm baths too.

If he is finishing a bottle you should up the amount he is having per feed, and babies do feed all the time, but again it does settle down. Do you use a dummy? We were advised by a paediatrician to use one at 3 weeks because my baby wasn’t settling without being fed, and so was over feeding and was making himself sick. He was breastfed though. But it might be worth talking to your hv about if you want to introduce a dummy.

Also alternate with your partner if you can do you can get some rest. Maybe get them to do the evening feeds so you can get an early night.

Original poster

Hellosunshine30 · 14/08/2019 19:58

Hi guys. Sorry for the late reply and thanks for all your replies

He actually had an amazing night last night. We gave him a bath, feed, bed and he slept 4 hours. Woke for a feed and then woke again after 4 hours. I couldn't believe it.

@dementedpixie yes he has more than 5.maybe about 7. I spoke to the health visitor about this and she wasn't concerned. He gained a whole lb since last week.

@Expressedways he doesn't go any longer than 4 hours for a feed. Will get partner to take the early night feed. I was trying to do him a favour to save him glint to work tired, but I think I might get him to help out for a couple more weeks. He's more than happy to do that, it's me telling him he doesn't have to lol

@Rarfy were using the tommee tippy bottles but not the varyflow as he was sick with this. Tried Dr browns too.

@ps1991 yes we use a dummy. It soothes him which is good.

I'm happy the health visitor said everything is OK and that if he takes too much milk, like a puppy he will just bring it back up. Thankfully he doesn't do this, but will keep an eye out

Thanks again for your replies. This forum has really helped me with so many questions ever since I fell pregnant (which feels like a lifetime ago now lol) x

OP posts:

10purplepansies · 18/08/2019 17:11

@dementedpixie perhaps you should check ingredients

dementedpixie · 18/08/2019 17:21

@10purplepansies Show me the potato starch and carob in cow and gate first milk then. First infant milks are highly regulated and must contain particular levels of specific nutrients

10purplepansies · 18/08/2019 20:55

@dementedpixie c&g comfort milk contains potato starch which helps it sit better so less easily regurgitated... regular c&g contains fructo-oligosaccharides - which can’t be digested and can lead to fermentation. Yes - nutrients are super highly regulated in all milks but the fats they use are variable.

dementedpixie · 18/08/2019 21:06

Other more expensive formula milks also contain FOS and other milks that claim to help with reflux also contain starches. I was refuting the claims that cheaper milks contain them and more expensive ones dont

dementedpixie · 18/08/2019 21:07

P.s neither of the things you mention are fats

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