Switch to formula?

[PL2021]

Hey everyone, I'm looking for some advice as my 2 week old is completely unsettled at the moment and we don't know why. I am solely expressing and giving EBM in a bottle. She never seems satisfied after a feed, constantly screaming for more. We at first thought perhaps she was windy or had tummy ache and that was the cause to her crying, but no matter how much we try to burp her/cycle her legs/comfort her, she just keeps screaming until we top her up with more milk. It is worse in the evenings so we assume this is her cluster feeding? She does keep all of these feeds/top ups down, so we thought perhaps she needed more milk per feed, so we upped the amount of each bottle. At first she was fine with this, taking it all and settling a little quicker... but now she seems to be vomiting after almost every bottle, but then still cries for what seems like more food? So we aren't sure if she is having too much per bottle causing her to vomit? But then would she still want and take more afterwards?

I know its very early days but I'm really starting to struggle emotionally. We can't seem to get into any type of routine or pattern as her feeds are so irregular. We wanted to go for a walk today but she cried for so long after her feeds, needing top ups and then taking a while to get off to sleep, that I then needed to pump again, and then shortly later she's waking for her next feed. So it's a case of never leaving the house and it's really starting to take its toll.

A couple of people have suggested to me that maybe she isnt getting filled up enough on my breast milk? So we're considering switching or adding in one formula feeds instead?

Any advice would be much appreciated. This mumma is going insane on no sleep and stressing over why baby is sicking so much now

Exclusive pumping is so so hard. Are you able to put her to the breast? If not I would look at combination feeding as it’s very hard to get enough milk with a pump - you’ve done really well so far!

I did try to breastfeed but it wasn't really for me, as much as I tried to persevere. I do however have a very good supply of milk already, much to the midwives surprise. I am expressing around 150ml per 10 minute pumping sessions so we have a good supply in the freezer ready for her. She just never seems to be satisfied after it

It doesn't have to be all or nothing. You can use a combination of reastmilk and formula, whatever works for you. I presume there is a reason that you can't directly breastfeed, which is a shame as it would be easier for you to get out and about if you could.

You could decide to use formula for specific feeds, or just for extra feeds if she is unsettled.

Could she be allergic to something you are consuming ?
But motherhood is hard enough without adding this stress. Switch to bottle if you think you would enjoy your baby more that way.

Reflux? Feeding eases the pain of reflux, and babies with it often feed a lot because it stops the pain when they're actively swallowing milk. And then all the feeding leads to vomiting and the cycle continues.

I wouldn't assume breastmilk is the cause of her unhappiness, but more something like reflux or an allergy, which wouldn't be resolved with formula anyway. If you're feeding on demand and you know she's taking plenty because you can measure it, then it's not likely to be hunger.

So with expressing it is more difficult to get the hind milk. It's richer than the initial milk. I would try pumping for longer. Or just top up with formula. If you are struggling to get out the house, formula top ups might be the best way to go.

It could be your baby has reflux / silent reflux. You could try baby gaviscon which is available over the counter.

I did wonder whether something I'm consuming could be causing the problem, but even the thought of trying to figure that out adds so much more stress

I do think she suffers from reflux/silent reflux as she does spit up a fair bit after feeds and she almost always gets the hiccups after each feed (not sure if this is a sign of reflux also). Is there anything I can try to help her with reflux incase this is the problem?

Have you tried a dummy?

The most likely culprit is dairy if it is an allergy. You could try cutting it out and seeing if you notice any difference.

Carobel to thicken the milk can help for reflux as can Gaviscon, but definitely ask your health visitor.

Bottle feeding is more likely to make them swallow air. Gas can be quite painful for young babies.

You might want to try putting her straight to the breast to see if this improves. I don't know your reasons for not wanting to do this, but if it feels weird/awkward, honestly it will improve. If it's painful, I'd check if the latch is correct. Honestly breastfeeding is so much easier and cheaper than formula if you can get through the first few weeks.

If formula works, go with that, but there's no guarantee things will change immediately. Your baby is only 2 weeks old so you can't yet except a routine yet.

You're doing an amazing job. The first 8 weeks are horrendous, but it does get much much easier!

We have tried a dummy, she'll suck on it for a minute or so and then spit it out and continue screaming.

We aren't expecting a routine to fall in to place this early, but its at the point where she is spending every waking minute screaming and we don't know what to do to help her. She never seems settled.

www.babydoc.com.au/faq/colic-bore-your-baby-to-sleep/

Have a read of this - it's a really good insight into newborns.

How are you getting on PL? We are experiencing what you did with our 2 week old baby and I wanted to know if things get better? Feeling very lost and scared

@Hellohello8910 aww bless you, DD was in the end diagnosed with reflux and prescribed gavsicon which helped for a short while and then stopped. She was then put on Omeprazole but that has now cause constipation and trapped wind so we are having more problems than before currently, so she is now on lactulose to hopefully sort this problem out.

However we did also change to formula which does seem to satisfy her a lot more in terms of feeding and has got us into more of a routine with her feeds rather than feeding little and often here and there, which makes life a little easier for me not having to express anymore.

Hang in there lovely, if your baby is having other symptoms related to possible reflux then maybe speak to your GP and see what they think. Every feeding line/MW/HV I spoke to in the first 2-3 weeks kept telling me to keep feeding her as she was just hungry, but looking back I am certain she was feeding to sooth her reflux, which in turn was making it worse. Follow your instincts because mine were right and I wish I was firmer with the health care professionals earlier on

Thank you so much. I’ve been breastfeeding and topping up a little with formula which seems to settle her more, so I am so tempted to quit breastfeeding. All my HCP just keep saying feed on demand which I’m doing, but she never settles and husband and I are exhausted. She wants to be on the boob literally all the time and it’s so hard.

@Hellohello8910 do what you feel is best for you and your partner aswell as your baby. A GP recently told me that babies get all of the antibodies they need from breastmilk in the first 2 weeks and there is no evidence to suggest breastmilk for any longer than this time is any more beneficial than formula. Others may disagree but that came from a very nice GP who made me feel so much better than any other professional I spoke to did.

I was starting to get really really down in the dumps, but quiting the expressing relieved a lot of my stresses. We have to look after ourselves as Mummy's aswell as our little ones xx

Combi feeding is a life saver !
No shame as it’s bloody hard work
I assume you had latch and tongue tie checked?
We combi fed and I’m so glad meant I could get a break now and then and I knew baby was full!
I don’t know if you kept on going , but once they’re a little older it’s easier and we managed to drop all the formula