Is this colic?

[deirdremedear]

DS 3 weeks old, combi fed but always through a bottle. Drinking roughly 100ml's a feed. Last couple days wants to feed hourly basically. Although not then ajways taking 100 ml's if so each time. When awake doesn't necessarily scream but can cry & will be sucking on a dummy then screw his face up in pain & start crying. I've tried Infalcol, I've ordered some Colrelief drops & am considering changing his formula from Cow & Gate. He poos a ridiculous amount, one an hour-2 hours I'd say so not constipated. Any experience welcomed x

Sorry should also add, he's roughly on 60% formula 40% expressed BM.

Oh no that sounds stressful for you. He might just be going through a growth spurt or a developmental leap type thing and just need to feed more regularly at the mo?

My youngest had colic and he would start screaming around 4pm every day like clockwork and it was very loud.

@warmmfeet It really is stressful like you say.

It could be worth talking it over with your health visitor?

Colic is just a term for an otherwise healthy baby which cries for no obvious reason, it’s not an actual condition, though GPs love to use it as a fob off.

How are you preparing feeds? A prep machine can add air into the feed which can upset babies and cause wind. What bottles are you using, how is the latch, are you paced feeding? Again, if those things aren’t right for baby, air can come in.

Infacol is acidic as it’s orange based, so it’s made my baby worse not better. If it doesn’t work for you, Dentinox, gripe water or Colief might help, although they mask the problem rather than fixing it.

Maybe in the first instance try another formula, as they’re not all the same. Avoid Aptamil as it’s the same as C&G (same company).

@raffika Really helpful advice thank you. We don't use a prep machine, just the good old cocktail shake method with the powdered milk. I have left a message for the Health Visitor. I've heard good things about Kendamil formula but again who knows. It's just horrid having an unsettled baby who I don't know how to help.

Hi

Have a read of this :-

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

Really interesting insight into newborns.

Thanks @MrsPatrickDempsey I will do.

Just heard from GP who wasn't sure what to suggest other than trying a Lactose free milk. He said it was unusual that DS poos as much as he does (every 2 hours at least) it's so hard seeing him so upset & unsettled all the time. I don't think it helps that he won't sleep on the day hardly at all, he's 3 weeks old & just will not switch off. My first daughter all she did was sleep!

I think the article will help. To be honest (as a midwife and HV) I wouldn't be in a rush to change milk. They are much of a muchness. Are you familiar with paced feeding? Really good to satisfy their need to suck without over feeding.

What is the colour and consistency of his poo?

Both my babies did this for about a month each - fed as normal throughout the day and then between 6pm and midnight wanted a bottle every hour and wouldn't sleep or settle in between! It was hellish at the time but it stopped as quickly as it started. I looked at it a bit like a breastfed baby clusterfeeding.

Lactose free ironically making him throw up. A lot of his feed. FML.

Is the lactose free formula a bit thinner? So it comes up more easily as I remember.
I think you can buy thickening agents to stir in but tbh I agree with whoever said it's v early to start making lots of changes. I went through this with my youngest and at the time it was hell but he gradually got better and by 9 or 10 weeks he was a very happy baby. Babies can be wild!
Lactose intolerance gets banded about very easily.
Get as much support as you can, it won't be this hard forever I promise.