DD (5 months) wants to live on thin air... depressed and anxious... long post, sorry... but help, please!

[designerbaby]

Hi all,

My DD (5months, 1 week) has always been tricky to feed - after a good start (breastfeeding came quite naturally, no pain or anything, good initial weight gain) by about 2.5 / 3 months she has been very difficult to feed, sucks for a couple of minutes, (5 tops), pulls off, won't be coaxed back on, wait a bit, try again, another couple of minutes... but just recently she's been getting a lot worse. It feels like every meal time is a battle, and I keep trying for about an hour each time before giving up.

She rarely cries for food - I just feed her 31/2 to 4 hourly anyway... I tried just leaving it until she asked once, but after 5 1/2 hours without her being even remotely bothered I gave in and fed her. She fed for about 3 minutes...

She has been gradually dropping down the centiles for weight - at a 9lb 8oz birthweight she was on the 98th centile - now she's on the 10th.

I spoke at length to my HV about the problems I was having getting her to feed - she just nodded, said "well lets weigh her and see where she is", did so, noted that her weight gain wasn't great and helpfully said "hmm yes, she's dropped down a bit - er, you should probably try and feed her more."

WTF?

I've tried replacing the 2.30/3pm feed with a bottle of formula to try and see if it was a problem with my milk/letdown. On a good day she'll take 120ml, om a bad day only about 60ml. Yesterday she took 160ml and I did a dance around the house for half an hour I was so happy... but then she wouldn't feed at all at bedtime which kind of canceled it out.

Because she's not feeding properly I feel like my supply is getting less and less - should I go over to bottles entirely to rule out at least one variable? (ie I know then it's nothing to to with the supply/taste/letdown) At least then I know that it's there if she wants it and there's nothing stopping her from getting it (she takes a bottle no problem). Also I've been told that formula is more calorific...

Father in law, who's a GP, suggested trying her on some solids about 3 weeks ago, which I did, she finds the whole experience quite fun, and initially took to them with gusto, but now the amount she's taking of solids is getting less and less too, and I feel like I've f*cked it all up even more by giving her solids too early.

Otherwise she's a dream baby, sleeps well at night (has been sleeping through since about 3 months of her own accord). She has a dream feed at 10.30/11pm where she will regularly take 120mls - TBH this is the easiest feed of the day.

She's perfectly happy and contented, so long as I'm not trying to get food of any kind into her... it's the only time we have tears, really. People say, "well don't worry, she'll take what she needs" but I can't help but think this is rubbish, because she's clearly not gaining as she should.

I just feel like we should be over this erratic behaviour by now... I get so envious when I see friend's babies feeding contentedly for 20 minutes or so, while I'm trying to wrestle my little girl onto the boob to get her to feed for 5 minutes...

It's been months of this now, and frankly I'm at the end of my tether. I dread each feed time.

Any suggestions gratefully received.

DB
xx

Yes, he knows how upset I am, doesn't really know what to say, other than that I've given her a great start, and I'm a great mummy etc. etc. He's very supportive, but can't really understand why I'm so upset, I don't think.

I offered her the boob this morning and she had about 5 minutes before pulling away and wriggling. I think I was pretty empty TBH as didn't feel full at all. I gav up rather than battle with her again, I just can't do that any more, it's too upsetting.

At 11.00 I offered the boob again she took a couple of sucks and pulled away crying. When I presented the bottle she grabbed it with both hands... which I suppose says it all.

I feel like my supply has already plummeted - it may be of course that it was dwindling anyway, and that has been part of the problem, but that this most recent bout of refusal has really finished it off. I probably should have pumped, but I was reluctant to empty my boobs during the day in case they didn't recover for when she next wanted to feed.

Anyway, she's clearly eating well for the first time in ages, I suppose I'll have to be happy with that, and get over the fact that it's not from me.

While I know that about 5 1/2 months isn't bad, I still feel like I've let her down.

Thanks for the support though...

db

I really don't know what to do for the best...

Offering the boob first seems to make the whole feed problematic. I did that twice today, and she few for only a couple of minutes each time and kept pulling off, crying etc. and then offering the bottle was a battle too.

The two occassions when I've simply offered the bottle have been much better (not completely calm, but much, much easier than BF) and she's drunk really well (230mls and 170mls respectively).

Tonight I decided to think positive and try and go for a full breas feed, as I thought that maybe as she'd fed so well earlier that i could just fast track the plan I had just to do morning and evening Bfs - allbeit rather more suddenly that I'd hoped. I wasn't feeling very full, and maybe I wasn't because after a couple of minutes on each side she pulled off and cried. I did a little squeeze and nothing was coming out. Offering the bottle afterwards became a battle and there have been tears and struggling all round - she finally took about a further 90mls but it wasn't fun.

I'm really worried that she will begin to have negative associations with food if feed times continue to be such a battle - but at the same time I feel a resonsibility to try and feed her, get her weight gain back up etc. and worry so much when she hasn't eaten much.

I really don't know what to do for the best now... I don't want to give up BF, and every time I think about giving up I just howl - like now...

But it seems she prefers, is less stressed by, and feeds better from, the bottle - so am I being selfish for keep trying to make her BF when she's clearly not satisfied by it?

But then I've always believed in the 'breast is best' stuff and so at the same time feel like I'd be being a bad mummy if I gave up now - she's still only 5 months after all...

I'm completely bewildered.

Coupled with that I'm wracked with guilt thinking that it's probably me that's cocked the whole BF thing up - all the books I read, and my mum and inlaws all encouraged a routine-based approach - feeding 3 hourly in the early weeks, 4 hourly more recently and I really thought that so called 'snacking' was bad...

That coupled with me being someone who likes structure and order probably means I was too rigid with her in the early weeks and that's probably what's caused this mess now.

She never really asked for food, so in the early weeks I just fed her every 3 hours like clockwork, she gained weight, she gained weight, started sleeping through at 2 1/2 months (which probably didn't help either, but everyone I knew seemed so jealous I assumed this was a good thing) seemed happy enough so I assumed all was ok...

Now I've been reading some stuff on here, I feel like I go it all wrong from the start...

I don't know what to do now, I'm so confused and pulled in different directions, and I feel so guilty... I never thought feeding would become such a minefield, it all started off so well...

I just feel like I've right royally f*cked it all up.

db
xx

Sorry for garbled post and typos - I'm a bit all over the place...
x

db, the more you post, the more it does sound like a nursing strike. I think you do sound like you have some issues of your own still (it is really hard not to take this personally after all)

But if you want to carry on bf, you need to take the advice of people on here and get some practical help with it. Sorry to be firm but you do need to talk it through.

Please have a look at www.kellymom.com on nursing strikes.

Here's what I did:

-fed while baby was asleep - so more night feeding and co-sleeping helped
-fed when he was very sleepy
-gave a bottle when necessary
-worked to keep my letdown going and to try and speed it up so he wasn't waiting so long - I can let you know some tips if you think this is an issue
-tried to remember that even one feed a day was still breastfeeding and I was able to move away from bottles - he hasn't had a bottle for a week or so now...
-played games to make the 'awake' feeds a bit more fun, rather than it being a constant battle
-tried lots of different feeding positions to find some he was less cross about
-tried calpol and teething gel, just in case. sometimes this made a difference

nursing strikes are well known. They often start when a baby has a bad experience at the breast - it hurts, it's too fast/slow, they experience a loud noise or disruption while feeding, or lots of other reasons. A few of us on here have experienced this. It really doesn't have to be the end, it is really gruelling but you do have to find a way of chilling out and reading up and getting support...

I have been having exactly the same probs with ds since he was around 4 months (now over 6 months). I was at the end of my tether too, because he wouldn't even take a bottle. I hated being out as it loked like I was force feeding him, he would arch his back and turn purple at the injustice of it all...
I have found that the only way to get him to feed has been to lie down with him. He feels in control, can move on and off as he wishes, stops for a chat or a look around.
I know exactly how you feel, it is soul destroying to battle at every feed. Now ds is on solids too his appetite for boob is a bit better (still won't take a bottle) but some days (like today) he will be completely disinterested in food. still acts up in public too.
Your HV sounds lke mine - where do you live?! Spoke to HV about it and she looked blankly at me. Then said, ooh he isn't putting on much weight is he?
Keep your chin up, she sounds like a lovely little girl - you should be proud. And as I keep hearing - it is just a phase!

db, I am so sad for you.

But you need more than can be given on a talkboard.

I can't say any more than I already have....I don't think this is/was a feeding problem at all, but giving this amount of formula and fighting and struggling may well make it into one, sorry...but your real issue is not getting the right sort of support and help with assessing and responding to your baby's needs.

The minutiae of how much milk she has, and how she has it, and when she has it, and what type of milk it is is not the issue, I don't think....

Hi db - just wanted to offer more snotty wet hugs. xx

Hey db, were you on the due oct thread? I remember your name... My ds has been a fussy eater from the begining and I battled and battled to bf, even when he had bottles he wouldn't take more than 4 oz until not very long ago, he's now ff after refusing bf more and more. Your post reads like it could be me at times! He has finally moved on to 5oz a bottle now and sometimes even takes 6oz but is a constant battle and he is trotting along merrily on the bottom centile but he is happy and healthy. I feel sad about stopping bf but know I tried my best and will try even harder with the next one! Just wanted you to know I hav had similar experiences with ds and it does get better, it won't be like this forever, don't beat yourself up, you are doing so well, it's very very stressfull when lo won't eat enough, so hard to stay calm when ypu feel so out of control. One thing I will say is that the more I relax with ds the better he feeds but I know this is easier said than done. This shall pass, it WILL get better

How are things today db?

HI all,

Feeling a bit more resigned and less panicky today - actually had a night's sleep last night without tossing and turning with worry as I knew DD had a full tummy.

Reading back through all the advice given, I really think my problems started really when DD started sleeping through the night - before that my problems used to be with OVERsupply (squirting everywhere and all over DD - which, thankfully, she didn't seem to mind...).

She has never really been a big feeder, and sleeping through was just something she did by herself- she only ever really had 1 feed at night from about 3-4 weeks and gradually it got smaller and smaller, eventually she would just wake, I'd just pop her dummy in and she'd drift back off to sleep. This was at about 3 months. At some point during the second month I started giving her a bottle of formula at the dream feed, because she wouldn't breastfeed very well at this time.

But this meant that when she started sleeping through the night I was going over 12 hours without feeding her. I didn't make the link at the time, but this was also the point at which I first started having concerns about my supply - sometimes she bagan to be fussy at the breast - esp. in the evenings, and so occasionally I would top her off with some formula if she still seemed hungry and I didn't feel I had anything to give her.

Then she got a bit of a tummy bug and went on a feeding strike for about 4 days feeding VERY very little - which I found very distressing as I didn't know what was causing it (GP eventually diagnosed a viral infection). This probably knocked my supply even further because I didn't pump - I didn't know I had to and was too busy dealing with an unsettled baby to read up on what to do...

Feeding was getting increasingly tricky, and I was topping her off with more formula - esp. in the evenings.

Then I decided that the evening feed was actually the one I wanted to keep the most, so decided to replace the 2.30pm feed with a bottle in the hope that my supply would be greater for that feed. That might have been true in the short term, but in the longer term I think this has depleted my supply even further.

So I think my supply has probably been dwindling for a while, so she has been finding it difficult to feed, so I've topped her off with formula, meaning my supply lessened even further and a viscious circle ensued.

In short, through a combination of bad advice and my own ignorance (oh, how I wish I'd sought advice on mumsnet earlier and ignored the HV et al) I probably messed unduly with what was once a good thing. I should have just BFed and BFed and BFed no matter what - and chucked the bloody formula away.

Had this been happening a couple of months earlier, I probably would have taken a week out, stayed home and just worked hard on getting my supply back up, ditched the formula and coped with an unsettled baby in the short term.

I'd always said I'd definitely BF for 6 months and then anything else was a bonus, so at 5 1/2 months, with the prospect of a return to work in some shape or form looming and a baby who seems quite content to feed from a bottle I think I've decided to just accept things as they are. I don't appear to be having any engorgement problems - in fact there still seems nothing there despite not having fed in ages.

I'm very heartsore about it, and I know I'll find it hard to see my friends BFing, and it feels like a kind of grief, but I know I will get over it in time. We gave it a good go, figured it out for ourselves in the early days (no-one ever showed us how to do this or gave us any advice or guidance, ever - even when I asked for it in hosp.) and managed far longer than most. In time I'm sure I'll feel a lot better about it than I do now.

As this has really been the only difficulty I've had with our lovely little girl, I will just count my blessings. (At a point during the pg we were told she had an 'incompatible with life prognosis' and were advised to terminate - thankfully they were wrong, but we still consider ourselves very blessed to have her at all).

Thanks so much for all your support and help - sorry for losing it in such a dramatic fashion over the last few days - I was just battling to regain control of a situation which I fear was already beyond my grasp.

She's eating, I will, at some point, stop crying, and all will be well...

Yours, sad, but slightly relieved,
db
xx

Designer baby - I SO agree with tiktok! I don't mean to trivialise the feeding issues you've been dealing with - coming to the end of breast feeding can be awful.

But from another perspective....

A feeding blip has thrown up a massive wave of emotion for you which has threatened to overwhelm you.

Where does all this emotion come from and what can you do with it when it hits again - as it surely will over the next blip - there are so many in parenting!

Your comment buried in the middle of your last post perhaps points the way?

Being told the baby you were carrying is incompatible with life and being adviced to terminate must have been a hugely traumatic moment.

Is it possible that this has left you with a legacy of "needing everything to be perfect" and the feeding trauma has thrown you straight back emotionally to that awful time? That somewhere lurking is a big bundle of panic linked to your baby's health and progress?

Does your HV even know about this episode when you were pregnant? Did the midwife talk you through the trauma? How were you helped?

I hope you don't think I'm being overly psychoanallytic - it just an alternative view of your feeding problem .

I agree with gagarin's insight, db, and I really hope you can get the right help and support.

None of your feeding issues were, or are, insurmountable at all, and the technical question of 'making more milk' is easily addressed on a physical level, to restore you to the happy state of having more milk than you needed to have

But feeding - however it is done - is far, far more than the technical question of getting milk (A) into baby (B).

It's really concerning you're so upset and tearful, and while telling yourself to see things in perspective and to count your blessings and that in time you will feel better is all good, I do wonder if you will need more than this; maybe the moment to seek support is not now, but later, but don't kid yourself that everything is really fine and it's just a question of time...your posts tell a different story.

I suppose you may have a point Gagarin... and Tiktok...

We had a mis-diagnosis of probable Edwards Sydrome at 14 weeks, but got the final all clear at 18 weeks. It was a month of hell, but I haven't really given it much thought, (other than to be so, so, thankful) let alone talked about it to anyone. It's not really something I like to think about much tbh.

I'm a bit of a perfectionist anyway... but you're right, I'm finding this very very hard, and emotional and I'm not sure why.

But to be fair, it's not been so much of a feeding blip as a downward spiral of feeding difficulty which started a long while ago, and which has only now come to a head.

I spoke briefly to my HV about the birth trauma I experienced (a 51 hour, induced labour, with forceps and tearing literally everywhere... all a bit of a mess) and she recommended some counseling for that, but I never thought to mention the earlier difficulties we had. I haven't, so far, taken up that offer - but perhaps it might be a good idea.

I am trying incredibly hard to do this motherhood thing 'right' and maybe I've been unable to go with the flow when that might have been beneficial. I figured that was just the way I am, but possibly it has been made worse by the series of events leading up to the wonderful little thing we now have...

Worth considering, you're right.

Bless her, just put her down for a nap with a nice full tummy after downing a 210ml bottle, but feeling quite teary, and just as we were having our pre nap cuddle, she reached up and wiped my cheek with one had and grabbed my fingers with the other...

Bless her... oh heavens, here I go again...

db
xx

db, I agree the feeding issue is not a blip, but a spiral....none of it necessary on a technical level, but as I said, feeding is not a technical issue!

You have had a heck of a year - you have been emotionally battered at a time when the pressure is on you to be resiliant and capable.

Don't feel you need to be perfect or reach some sort of mythical standard, or that you have to do all this on your own

Tiktok,

Whilst I pretty much feel like I've made my decision re BF vs FF at this point, could you possibly briefly outline or point me in the direction of somewhere which briefly outlines what I would need to do to get my supply back up, if I decided to give it one last go?

I've done a trawl of the net, and it all seems a bit impossible, or, as you say, insurmountable...

Is there somewher which doesn't make it sound like such a scary prospect?

db
xx

Oh, and hi Dalrymps - yes, I was on the due Oct thread for a wee while, although in the end DD turned up on the 10th November - 2 weeks late and under duress only!

xx

db, the only sure way to increase a supply is to make more demands upon it - this means removing the breastmilk often, either by expressing (not always very efficient) and/or by feeding the baby effectively, using each breast often, so every time the baby comes to the breast, to aim for two or three or four breasts to be used at every session.

The length of time the baby is on the breast is not as significant as frequency - so 10 mins is not twice as 'good' as 5 mins, but every hour is certainly better than every three hours. Sleeping through the night is not good for the milk supply at all - if you want to boost supply, then offering a feed at night is very helpful.

While formula is sometimes necessary temporarily to ensure the baby is hydrated and nourished, any formula will have an impact on the supply. So it's a balance - when breastfeeding starts to improve, formula needs to be reduced.

Struggles and fights at the breast don't help - as far as possible, bf needs to be calm and emjoyable so the baby does not resist.

Skin to skin, lots of holding, co-sleeping, responding quickly to small feeding cues - all that's essential.

It's not clear from what you say what breastfeeds you little girl has at the moment, but it sounds like she's having a lot of formula, so you can't just switch the formula off like a tap....it would have to be wound down carefully over a period of time, while the bf builds up.

It is hard work, no doubt about it. You need to feel good about doing it, and approach it with confidence and with support from people around you. You can call one of the bf helplines and work out a plan - this should help.

Hope this is useful.

Hi DB,

remember me? we were ladies in waiting together... Baby Choc arrived 13 days late on 13 Nov too.

Anyway just wanted to send you lots of big hugs. I suspect motherhood is even harder for perfectionists because they inevitably beat themselves up even more than we all do, cos we're all making mistakes even while we're doing our best. For me, feeding has been quite straightforward BUT I know it's very bound up in my emotional states too, because whenever DH suggests formula (he does it whenever DD fusses at the breast, which is whenever she's overtired, really) I feel he's suggesting I'm an inadequate mother, and actually he isnt, he just doesnt see how how we feed our babies is so tied up in how we feel as mothers... even though ff is NOT intrinsically bad and if bf isnt working and mother and baby are both stressed to death then ff is the right way to go, it's hard to see that rationally. You've got a beautiful little girl and you had some real traumas to contend with to get her. You need to know you're doing well and maybe counselling would help.
On a lighter note, also do come back to the Oct postnatal thread - we're all lovely and we'd love to talk to you. I'm also on November and the same goes for the Nov ladies.
Hugs from another emotional firsttimer
xx

Hi Choc - of course I remember you - but last time we spoke I think we were both guzzling raspberry leaf tea, eating pineapple till we turned yellow and stuffing our faces with curry - or something like that... I may pay a visit to the oct thread - didn't know it was still going - I haven't found much time to Mumsnet as motherhood has been more full-on than I imagined - or maybe I've made it so... probably!

Like I said, I may investigate the counseling offered by my HV... I've never been a great believer in that kind of thing, always believing that what's past, is past, and you can't change it, so you may as well just get on with the present, kind of thing... but maybe that attitude has met it's match in pregnancy, motherhood and all that...

Perfectionism, in me, runs almost to the OCD end of the spectrum... a good example is that when i put DD to bed - the sheet and blanket have to be precisely folded and tucked in ? I can't bear it if it's creased or wonky... and I've actually inadvertantly woken DD up on a number of occasions compulsively adjusting same. Poor mite doesn't stand a chance does she!? She's now wriggling around so much she makes a right mess of them, it drives me bonkers!

Tiktok - thanks so much for all your words of wisdom... And the time to respond so considerately

Like I said on RGPargy's thread I'm feeling a bit more 'can do' this evening. Having more or less decided to give up this morning, I've been feeling heartbroken all day about it. Then this afternoon I started feeling quite engorged, so decided to BF DD this evening - figuring that any further breastfeed was, in a way a bonus... She had 4 sides, without too much struggling - even though, in total, it was probably about 6 or 7 minutes and also had 120mls of formula so clearly didn't get that much out. As soon as there was any crying though, with either the breast or bottle, I stopped, winded and cuddled her, went for a walk around the house etc and tried to keep us both calm, which seemed to work. The feed took an hour, but hey, who'd timing (er... me, obviously...).

I don't think I'd realised how important BFing was to me until I stared down the prospect of giving it up for good. So before that becomes a fait accompli, I will take your advice and call one of the BF helpline contacts I have and talk it through thoroughly and see if there's a way of coming up with a plan which will work for me, DD and DH... And hopefully doesn't involve being up half the night... !?

We'll see - I figured it's worth one more go... Meanwhile I'll just BF her now and again, continue topping up with formula so I know she's not starving and try and stay calm.

Thanks so much though, everyone - you've really gotten me through a very traumatic few days and I couldn't have done it without you... honestly...

I'll let you know how things go...

db
xx

Keep at it db but most of all, keep your chin up and chill out. xxx

designerbaby - go and find someone to talk to...if you're worrying about crumpled sheets what will happen when your dd decides she wants to wear yellow socks, purple trousers and orange Tshirt and a red hat

And what's wrong with that?!!

So, had to go back to the weighing clinic again and her weight gain in almost non-existent... I told the HV she'd been having more formula amd she just said 'good' - which I know is probably only 'cause it is a busy clinic... but still, I think they should be trying to encourage BFing a bit more than that...

I am pursuing the counseling though. HV actually asked me if I'd been re: birth trauma and is going to hook me up.

In any case, spoke to breastfeeding consultant this morning... she was brilliant - very measured... basically echoed what you said tiktok (which I knew she would) about feeding hourly during the day, but suggested I pump after DD had gone to bed to avoid the waking up/crying scenario. She did also say that DD might just be self-weaning early, and that if we decided that it was just her time, not to be too upset, and that 5 months was a really good stretch of BFing etc. etc.

But the lack of weight gain has put the willies up me a bit, and i think I just need to focus on getting food into her - by whatever means. I've decided to just ff and give the occasional BF when I feel a bit engorged to relieve any pain and ease out of BF rather than stopping dead. BF consultant said i might want to consider renting an electric breast pump for a few weeks to stimulate my supply enough to be able to continue to do this for a few more weeks, to ease the transition, but that I should expect that it wouldn't work forever...

Anyone think this is a good idea?

DD has fed erratically today - did a mixed feed this morning (was nice to start the day with a BF...) and her other feeds have ranged from 90mls to 240mls .

Also I think she's a bit bunged up... hasn't pooed for 3 days now... is it the formula? This happened when i started introducing some solids a few weeks ago, which also coincided with a few extra formula feeds - I thought it was the solids, but might have been the formula? Will her system adjust or shall I keep giving her regular doses of lactulose? Am using Aptamil...

Also, she seems to get very windy when bottle feeding ? any tips with this? Currently using Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Bottles and Teats (no 2. flow...). She has always had a dose of Infacol before feeds (she was a windy little baby too) - maybe I should just double the dose? Will this do any harm?

Gagarin - don't worry too much about the OCD - it's only very specific things that bug me, like sheets and ironed muslins. I haven't done the washing up all day, and multi-coloured outfits are fine... .

Hi db

So glad you seem to be in a better frame of mind today. Seems like the chat with BF counsellor has helped you, eh?

I think perhaps that the only reason the HV said "good" about giving DD more formula was possibly because she was thinking that at least DD wasn't starving and was having something IYSWIM.

With regard to self weaning early, my HV said a similar thing to me about DD's weight gain. She said that a lack of weight gain can sometimes happen near the weaning stage when they are getting ready for food/less milk etc.

I think easing yourself off BF would probably be a nicer way to end it (if that's what you want to do) rather than stopping dead because it'll be more comfortable for you and also it'll be nice to still have the odd BF while you can. I would do the very same thing.

Not sure why DD is bunged up. Could be the formula, although in my previous experience and from hearing from other people, it's usually SMA that gives babies constipation. Perhaps try changing her milk? I'm no expert tho so maybe you should speak to your HV about it first.

I'm also using the Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature bottles but am using the smaller teat. I read somewhere that the smaller teats are better for BF babies because the flow is similar to what they would get from a breast. Maybe the flow is too fast for her and she's gulping it down and taking in air?? Only a guess, mind you and i could be talking crap lol. Doubling Infacol wont do any harm at all. Do you think she still needs the Infacol tho? At 5 months, she could very well have grown out of the colic/wind phase. DD had terrible colic and wind and finally stopped needing Infacol at about 3 1/2 - 4 months. Are you making sure that the teat is always full of milk so that she doesn't suck down some air sometimes? Sorry if these questions seem obvious etc. Just trying to think of everything.

Thanks RG - good to hear that things are going a bit smoother for you too... keep up the good work .

I hadn't thought about going back to a no.1 teat... she used to get really frustrated with them when she was younger - we moved onto a number 2 at around 2 months (only for the occasional EBM bottle tho'...). Worth a try though... I can always swap it for a n0.2 if she gets pissed off. It maybe just with all the struggling and wriggling that she's taking in air. She's a really windy, farty, burpy little mite, always has been. I will double the infacol, it does still seem to help, and if it's not doing any harm...

I'd heard that SMA was a classic for constipation too... which is why I switched to Aptamil, which I'd heard was better... hmm... dunno... there isn't anything else really... unless she's just not pooing because she wasn't eating much for a few days...

Bloody hell.. sooo complicated...

Ta luv, though... keep me posted about how you're getting on,

Still quit soppy, but a bit less damp,

db
xx