Digestive issues?

[lbf123]

Hi folks

Turning to the internet as my GP and HV don't seem to be very helpful

My lg is 14 weeks. She was combi fed the first week of her life and due to various reasons we went to just formula after that. She's been on SMA pro the whole time, never had much issue with taking feeds before but (in my opinion) she has had issues with bowel movements from about 3 weeks onwards.

We've been following the magic sleep fairy's book, but recently she has started taking less feed. A couple weeks ago she was on 180ml 5x a day and finishing bottles so I upped it to 210ml offered and some bottles she finished, some she left 30-40ml. Now after her 12wk jabs, she started taking less feed, which I expected was due to the jabs but she has continued this trend 2 weeks after the fact. She's now taking about 150ml for most bottles. She will almost grunt for the bottle at feed time and then after about 150mls suddenly become agitated, batting the bottle away and arching her back. She has also been vomiting, not after every feed but at least 2-3 of them. Sometimes straight away, sometimes an hour or so after she's fed.

Her poo has been green ever since we switched to formula which i'm told is normal but she generally only goes 2-3 times a week and it is normally green, quite thick and paste like followed by watery yellowish poo with lumps of undigested fat. Often she looks like she's straining to poo and becomes quite upset. GP said it's totally normal but to me, my baby being in pain is not normal.

I went to the GP yesterday and have lost all faith in them, she consulted Dr Google and told me to try feeding my baby every 6-8 hours to which I said that categorically cannot be right, she obviously does not have children. I asked for some milk thickener to see if that helps, we started carobel yesterday and she hasn't vomited and seems happier after a feed but still arches her back a bit. How long does carobel take to help with reflux?

I'm also wondering as I seem to be the one guiding the GP on treatment, does it sound like a reflux issue or could it be an allergy or intolerance? Anyone had any experience in investigating this for their babies that can offer advice? She's generally a very happy baby, lots of smiles, it's just around feed time she's not so happy. She was previously sleeping through the night too but the last week she has been waking 3+ times crying, she's quick to settle back down but I don't know why she's suddenly started waking.

Firstly it's perfectly normal for them to start waking around 14 weeks, there's nothing wrong. Babies are meant to wake during the night, they're programmed to do it. And it's probably just the 4 month sleep regression and will pass without you needing to do anything.

As for your GP's advice? Was that in the UK?

That is truly terrible advice. Unfortunately though GP's are given very, very little training in nutrition, never mind infant feeding.

I would think about swapping to a comfort formula and if that doesn't help, have a look at the symptoms of CMPA.

I understand babies do wake, it just worries me that she wakes screaming suddenly, the kind of scream when they have their jabs, like she's in pain. 90% of the time she settles back down after a cuddle but the odd occasion she is up for an hour sobbing/screaming so I don't feel its a normal waking for her.

We are in the UK, I was shocked the GP said this, I told her that I think she's mistaken, no baby can wait that long between feeds and there's no way she'd be able to get her necessary calories in for the day but she was adamant thats what the internet said so it must be right 🙄

Can I use carobel with comfort formula or just comfort formula on its own?

I want to give the carobel a fair chance, going to see how she is in a week or so and if no improvement I may try changing formula. Will try the HV again if we have no luck, at least they understand babies a bit better than my GP does!

The advice from my HV was to do responsive feeding (which I still don't fully understand!) but no more than 4hr between feeds for DD so I don't think the GP is correct!!

I don't think you can use Carobel and the comfort milk together, I know that for DD we can't use gaviscon and an anti reflux formula together (both GP and HV repeatedly told us not to use both as could cause constipation). DD is 5 months old now and is on 5x7oz bottles with 2 doses of Gaviscon in each to help with her reflux.

Definitely speak to your HV and go back to GP if needed. I've found if I pre cursor a request or query with 'our HV advised' when speaking with a GP it helps ❤️

Hi, I think you need to go back to your GP with a written list of concerns and some photos of the poo. That poo sounds like it has fat in and yellow bile so something needs checking as that’s not typical. My daughter has a lot of bowel issues and it’s hard to get them to take you seriously sometimes.
Personally I would also ask for a referral to a pediatric gastroenterologist because of the concerns that you have around feeding vomiting and stools, you have a right to ask for this. They may refer you to a general paediatrician but that will still be better than a GP. Good luck x

If you do do this, I would recommend taking DH/Dp with you. You're much more likely to be taken seriously if a man goes with you.