CMPA help

[Redjellybeans]

My 3.5 month EBF old DD has been progressively getting worse with feeding, sleeping and reflux/colic symptoms. Looking for experience of others as she doesn't have severe CMPA symptoms like blood in poo but I still suspect it...

1.She's always been very sneezy, hiccupy, sounds congested and windy.. lately the wind / tummy cramps situation just seems on another level despite trying to burp her and keep upright after feeds. I can hear her tummy making noises and I'm convinced I have felt her cramping when trying to rub her tummy to help.

1. Been waking every 2 hrs at night for the last 6 weeks and more recently its been even less than that, hourly or less... sleeps more when held but this isn't sustainable
2. Hates being laid flat, will raise legs constantly to chest when laying down and this often prevents her from sleeping. Happiest upright in a carrier or sling which my back is suffering from...
3. Poos have varied from very watery to more recently a bit thicker... she now recently seems constipated and visibly struggles to go when she clearly needs to poo. When she does poo it's a lot all at once. Occasionally mucus in poo but not always.
4. Had awful, stubborn cradle cap but I treated this
5. Very fussy at the breast, latches on and off, holds breath when drinking, will whine or cry and arch back 70% of the time.

Tried burping regularly in feeds, tried infacol, probiotics, gripe water, baby massage.
Some family history of CMPA on DH's side. Haven't been to GP yet because I feel like it would be quicker for me to change my diet via trial and error rather than wait for referrals etc. She also has gained weight really well but I am convinced she is feeding for comfort... feeding isn't enjoyable because she becomes so fussy so quickly.

Any advice? Do I need to kick off an investigation with the GP regardless of me reservations? I am exhausted from lack of sleep and hate seeing her in so much discomfort but not sure if this is just typical 3.5 MO behaviour... sorry for the long post and TIA!

CMPA is less common in breast fed babies, and the symptoms you've written definitely fit with reflux.
However, you won't really lose anything by switching yourself to dairy free as a trial (except the ability to eat cheese/chocolate obvs!) - my SIL was told you need to do this for at least 2 weeks before you can say it hasn't worked (as if it is CMPA it takes a little while for the inflammation to go down).
In the meantime you could still make appointment with the GP, as they can start medications for reflux if needed?

Can I recommend seeing a cranial osteopath. If your baby does have milk allergy you likely will need to treat the root cause i.e. go dairy free but they maybe able to alleviate a lot of these symptoms and confirm or deny your suspicions. i recently took my 8 week old son who has been diagnosed with suspected CMpA and it has worked wonders

My baby was the same. I was so sick of being fobbed off because he had nice skin, he was growing & he was happy through the day until he pood or vomited
I packed a bag took him to the gp & said if they didn’t do anything I would literally go straight to A&E. they admitted him to childrens ward, he ended up having his brain checked because of the strange movements & was eventually diagnosed with sandifers syndrome (basically severe reflux). He used to do a strange wiggle movement then wake up screaming with bulging eyes,
projectile vomit, at least 8 explosive poos per day with mucus. He screamed when he pood. He had a really fine sprinkling of tiny spots at times on his tummy. Refused tummy time screamed on lying down. Absolutely full of wind. Apparently this was all normal & it was just immature bowel. Later on I demanded a poo test because gaviscon helped the reflux but he still had poo trouble. They reluctantly gave me a poo sample pot saying they were only doing it for peace of mind because the pictures of the nappies were normal, 5 days later a very apologetic GP called, sure enough blood in his poo. My baby had been in pain & bleeding inside for 5 months of his life because he basically had nice skin. Nothing can make this better moral of this story, demand, get several opinions & don’t give up. Ask for a poo test & a prescription for Aptamil pepti & a referral to a dietitian or paediatrics.
If you breast feed go dairy free yourself but it will take up to 3 weeks for improvement. My little one is 8 months now. He’s gone from 2nd to 9th percentile since stopping dairy. He’s a lot more comfortable but still wakes with bum wind so we’re now trying to work out why. Good luck.

Even if it is cmpa it sounds mild and more that she is suffering from reflux. I went through all what your describing with ds1 and it was shit. I took him to doctor about cmpa and he told me not to change my diet, keep feeding is the best thing because if there is a little bit of allergy then exposing this way was the best thing for him (because it was mild- if it even eas that).
I followed the GPS advice and DS is fine with no allergies.

Reflux can play havoc with them but when Ds reached 9months it got better then 1yr absolutely fine. Every time he had a growth spurt he had a bit of reflux as well

Currently going through it for a second time with our daughter.

The symptoms you describe could be reflux/ silent reflux. Our son had this and it was treated by lansoprazole.
The reflux is commonly a symptom of a bigger issue rather than a stand alone problem. Ours being CMPA, along with allergies to soya, egg and coconut. Soya tends to be a common one as the proteins are similar to dairy.

I exclusively breastfed for a year and managed the allergies by cutting out the allergens. Its do able but can be hard work.

Second time round we've figured it out a lot sooner with our second. Again cutting out diary whilst breastfeeding and are trialing a dairy free formula.

Has your little one been checked for a tongue tie as this can hinder their latch and cause them to take more air in causing the wind.

Jeez that sounds awful your poor baby. Glad he's better now

Thanks for all the replies! I had already taken her to see a cranio therapist too yes, but good point, and she's had 2 tounge tie assessments both fine. Cutting out dairy and soy to begin with even just short term to see if it makes a difference and will make contact with the GP to get further advice..totally agree it sounds mild but it's having a major impact on our sleep situation.

Babyboop sorry to hear that, that sounds awful! :( my LG is waking with bum wind too so if you figure that out let me know as I'm running out of answers!!

I unfortunately have to agree with a previous poster about how useless GPs are with babies.
Ohh its all normal etc etc when you know in your gut something isn't right.
Do not leave the GPs until you get some omprezol - sorry not sure if thats how you spell it - and 100% cut dairy out of your diet.
Do everything you possibly can whilst waiting for GPs referrals.
My poor little boys first 6 months were much the same as a previous posters.
Took a hospital stay for people to actually start listening. Crazy really