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Infant feeding

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Original poster

help - 7 week old baby with default setting of screaming when bf

33 replies

ejt1764 · 19/11/2007 20:47

This is really starting to get me down. DD is 7 weeks old, and has always fussed a bit at the breast before feeding, but now, she seems incapable of settling to feed at all.

She indicates she's hungry, so I put her to the breast - she then squirms, cries, arches her back, then starts to scream for a minute or so ... she then usually will feed for 2-3 minutes, then repeats the sequence ad infinitum. It's just taken me 1 1/2 hours to feed her for bedtime, and in that time, she's probably fed properly for less than 5 minutes.

She is also incredibly windy (probably due to the amount of time she spends crying / screaming), and regularly throws up seemingly everything she's eaten - then screams after she throws up.

I'm also expressing at the moment, and dh is giving her a bottle of ebm every night before he goes to bed - which she doesn't fuss over.

I feel a complete and utter failure ... ds was an absolute dream to feed comared to this ... please help, I'm utterly exhausted, and am afraid I'm going to scream back at her soon ...

p.s. - she also screams the place down when she's tired - so spends much of her waking time crying and screaming at me ... just horrendous ...

OP posts:
lisad123 · 19/11/2007 20:50

have no advice hun, unless its just not coming out quick enough
Wanted to send hugs to you and LO

Lisa

Original poster
ejt1764 · 19/11/2007 20:52

thanks lisa ... it comes out quickly, believe me ... I keep spraying the entire room and anybody in it with breastmilk every time she comes off and screams ... not great when I'm out btw - but she screams before during and after - so I don't think it's that my flow is too slow ...

OP posts:
J2O · 19/11/2007 20:56

aw ejt-i'm having the exact same problems with Shannon i'm afraid i'm giving in and giving her more and more ff, i just can't cope with it. have you tried colief drops? made sure she hasn't got thrush in her mouth? don't know what else to suggest. {{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Stefka · 19/11/2007 20:58

I am sorry it's such a stress - I know how tiring that can be as I am having so many probs with feeding myself. I would check for thrush and what about reflux? I have heard that can upset babies. Hopefully someone more experienced will be along to help you but I just wanted to say I was thinking of you and I hope you get this sorted asap.

Original poster
ejt1764 · 19/11/2007 20:58

we've managed to get rid of the thrush ... and the colief drops made little difference overall ... I'm not giving her any formula at the moment, but am considering it for the night feeds so that I can get some rest ...

have to say j20 that I'm glad I'm not the only one ... although I feel bad for thinking that as I don't like to think of anybody else going through this screamfest too!

OP posts:
Original poster
ejt1764 · 19/11/2007 21:01

thanks stefka ... I'm now going to do the evening expressing, then I'm going to bed, as I am exhausted!

OP posts:
J2O · 19/11/2007 21:02

it could be reflux, i think Shannon has it so i have infant gaviscon to put in her bottles. its not nice, i hope you get it sorted x

beowulf · 19/11/2007 21:02

My 13wo is similar. I'm thinking its reflux. Have you had her checked out for this? The throwing up is an indication, too. I hope it gets better for you

Original poster
ejt1764 · 19/11/2007 21:05

will have to take her to gp then ... she has her check on wednesday - I'll talk to them about it then ... have just googled reflux ... it makes a lot of sense ...

OP posts:
J2O · 19/11/2007 21:08

ejt -also try and google lactose overload, similar to reflux symptoms, can't write fast, lo currently stuck to my shoulder and screams if i move her.

alicet · 19/11/2007 21:32

Honey sorry you're having a tough time.

A couple of thoughts...

Reflux is one but this has already been mentioned...

Maybe if your flow isn't too slow its too fast? Had read about this before and the book I read suggested nipple shields as then your lo can get the milk at a slower rate.

If you think its colic I have used gripe water with Adam - bloody marvellous stuff!!! Esp between feeds - during the night when he's grizzling and pulling his legs up I squirt it into his mouth and he settles almost instantly.

Sending you massive hugs honey - sounds like you're having a really rough time. Adam was very unsettled like this when he was tiny and its really upsetting. Hope she manages to settle soon.... And repeat to yourself 'I AM NOT A FAILURE!!!' at top volume often xxxx

wolfear · 19/11/2007 21:33

Similar for me with my 4 month old ds. I've been researching tonight and think it sounds reflux. He starts off fine but seems to become frustrated and starts the back arching and squealing. He brings a little back up after pretty much every feed. He's also started rubbing his head while feeding. At first I thought it might be wind, but when I take him off to wind him he cries and squirms trying to get back to my breast. It's like he wants more, but it's somehow frustrating or hurting him. I'm going to try some simple things like holding him upright while feeding and not lying him down afterwards to begin with and see if that helps.
I also found it interesting to read that onions and garlic can cause wind in breastfed babies. I've nbever heard this before but I eat these pretty much every night, so I wonder if cutting them out may help with wind?
Don't you just wish they could talk??

naturopath · 19/11/2007 21:51

Sounds like reflux to me. Could also be a problem with processing milk proteins? (only say this bc sounds exactly like my ds). Maybe try cutting out dairy for about 3 weeks, see if any difference, then re-introduce again to see if any reaction.

I would def see your GP asap. They will probably prescribe Gaviscon. If that doesn't work, you might need a referral to a paediatric gastroenterologist (I can recommend a couple if you want). Ours was on ranitidine (zantac) to reduce the stomach acid and domperidone to reduce the sickness.

Could be something totally different but just letting you know my experience in case it helps.

I really feel for you - we had many weeks of screaming like this. It's tough, but you will get through it. I would definitely try and get it sorted as soon as possible - you might have to try various things until you pinpoint the problem.. but you will solve it and you'll have a happy baby once you find out what it is... HTH

greedygreedyguzzler · 19/11/2007 21:52

ejt - my ds had reflux and cos he was my first i had no idea his behaviour wasn't normal. he couldn't burp without bringing up milk and more often than not it was a large quantity. he would also scream out in the middle of the night when he was asleep, just one or two cries and then go back to sleep which is apparently a sign of reflux. it would definatley be worth getting it checked for a possiblilty. hope she settles soon for your sake ( and hers if she is in discomfort)

Philomytha · 19/11/2007 22:00

That sounds to me like your milk flow is too fast for her to cope with. Sometimes it can squirt out really quickly and make them choke and splutter a lot. I had a real problem with making too much milk when DS was little, and what helped me was to let some of the milk squirt into a flannel or something until the flow slowed down a bit, and then put him back on the breast.

Here's the kellymom page about this, which has a lot of tips on ways to make things easier for you both.

maisiemog · 19/11/2007 22:06

I sympathise completely, it won't last forever and she will settle, but it seems like purgatory when it's happening.
I agree with philomytha, it sounds like she can't cope with the flow, how about you breastpump first for the EBM feed then feed her just to see how she responds.
Feeding in a warm bath seems to relax them a little as well and it's a nice way of bonding.
My little boy was a bit windy and we used to bounce him on our knees, whilst rubbing his back (Camptown Races over and over) until he had burped a few times, this could take half an hour, so we would share the bumping: me then DP.
Hope you find an answer, she certainly doesn't seem to be lacking in energy so she must be getting a lot more than you think.

inzidoodle · 19/11/2007 22:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

S1ur · 19/11/2007 22:21

I had this issue with my first and did lots of research about it, talked to hv, mw, etc and looked in books and web.

An overactive let down is what it sounds like to me, if this is the case there's is plenty you can try. Firstly, a couple of questions. Is it better when you're feeding her at night lying down? Is she gaining weight well?

Right mytwopenceworth
The thing that eventually worked best for my was to actively reduce my milk supply -I know this sounds drastic and if you don't feel like you're comfortable with that by all means don't follow advice from some complete stranger on the internet who mioght be talking out of her arse! but it worked for me:
what I did was give two feeds on one side before going to other side, I wasn't religious about this just tried to remember. Sorted it fairly quickly in few days I think.
Other advice was;
-feeding on one side for four hours (IOW if she asks for a feed between 6-10 offer right breast, then between 10-2 other left) I was crap at keeping track so didn't really work for me.
-lying down, even possibly with baby lying on you, anything to mean your milk has to fight gravity a bit to get out.
-taking her off when you feel let down coming and having bucket ready - for your excess

If you are ever worried you've gone to far in reducing your milk supply (never a biggie for me but...) 'switch' feeding is one way to boost your supply again (ie, feeding on one side then swapping to other) or just having bf days where you wander about with very accessible tops and bf as often as posssible.
phew sorry thats so long, its just I really sympathise, sounds just like me and I cried sooo much during that time until I sorted it, my dd would scream and scream like she hated the very idea of be I recognised signs early with ds and had no repeat really hope this helps x

Apricott · 19/11/2007 22:34

Hi ejt - I don't have anything to add to what's already been said, except perhaps that raising the head end of baby's bed is supposed to help reflux, if that's what it is, but sending big hugs your way. Really hope you sort this out soon. I'm sure you will. You are fab, you know - us October girls all know that, and don't you forget it!

Thinking of you.

A x

trixymalixy · 19/11/2007 22:43

Hi ejt,

This sounds like my DS. His problem was that he was allergic to dairy and eggs.

I can totally empathise. i used to absolutely dread feeds and spent most of them in tears.

We tried a cranial osteopath before we found out about the allergies which did help a bit. But cutting out dairy and eggs did the trick.

Other things that were suggested were:
Reflux
ear infection
blocked sinuses

if she is screaming the place down the whole time then it sounds like reflux. i would go and see your GP.

mistlethrush · 19/11/2007 22:44

We had colic problems with ds - which sound similar in some ways, although it was normally 7pm to 4am/5am constant screaming when at its worst. We found cranial osteopathy helped hugely - to the extent that if we ever manage to get dc2 we will be taking them along to the cranial osteopath early on - the treatment is very gentle and eases up movement of all the bones in the head etc - when we went with ds I was told that one of the bones at the back was probably pressing on the nerve that is really important in digestion matters. If its really bad you may want to try - can't hurt....

Best of luck

Trimum2 · 20/11/2007 00:51

Can you get a BF counsellor to watch you feed? The reason I suggest this is that they are very good at spotting the too fast flow during the feed.

That way, if they say its not that then you can focus on the reflux possibility, which these symptoms also sound like to me.

alicet · 20/11/2007 13:19

Been thinking about you overnight during the nightfeeds...

If Mairwen is happy taking the ebm I would have thought this would make reflux less likely since I would have expected her to struggle with this too. Not an expert however!

If you want I can send you my book 'what to expect when you're bf' by claire byams cook. I know some people hate this but i found it a lifeline with Sam and as I'm now ff I no longer need it. section on fast milk flow and fussing at the breast which might help. I think you have my email address already (give me a shout if not) - if you send me your address I can stick it in the post to you later this pm or tomorrow x

tiktok · 20/11/2007 13:29

This sounds very like over-supply - Slur's post is good.

It's a very simple situation, and a very simple solution, but hardly anyone knows about it

monkeybird · 20/11/2007 13:51

I bet Tiktok and Slur are right too - sounds just like my 3 and I solved it by single-sided feeding for a while... see this page from Kellymom for more