3 Weeks and just won't settle?

[Alli231]

Hi all,

Sorry for a longish post I'm just a bit lost as what I can do/try to calm our little one.

He is currently 3 weeks (4 on friday) and was born 8lb 4 at 36 weeks so quite big. Issues with BF being forced in hospital lead us to a significant drop in birth weight and blood sugars etc and its been a rollercoaster since. We're back up to birthweight. I have been Breastfeeding and topping up with Aptilmil.

We started off on Aptimil 1, but noticed similarities with our 1st child in constant diarrhea, a really sore bum and lots of tummy ache, straining and being generally uncomfortable.

I spoke with the Dr and raised concerns of CMPA or Lactose Intolerance as we had a similar battle with our first.. who told me to stop the formula and up my BF which I simply don't have the supply to do.. also spoke to the midwife before being discharged and asked about the comfort milk.

So we're currently on Aptimil comfort milk after switching and after putting him to the breast and he just fusses and doesn't manage 10 minutes.

The diarrhea has stopped and the nappy rash is finally clearing up.. however he has a rash on his head and still really uncomfortable and unsettled.. more so that I can't put him in his moses basket or get any rest in the day st all this week.. He's also waking up alot in the night grunting, straining and very gasy? He's also gone from 8/10 dirty nappies in a day to one maybe two really green dirty nappies which seems to give him tummy ache.

I know some of this is just general baby issues but lots of reading and being fobbed off from the drs has left me thinking I maybe missing something or I'm over thinking.

He's also developed conjunctivitis after switching milk, which I read could be bacterial or intolerance related. He has drops which haven't yet cleared it up.

Anyone any suggestions what we can do?

Thanks

I forgot to add he doesn't like burping and sometimes I just can't get one from him, he's then bringing a bit of milk up after each feed..

He's also very congested and we've had to elevate his bed as night time is the worse whilst he's trying to get to sleep.. not sure if it's all related.

Have you had support from your local infant feeding team to increase your supply? Personally that would probably be my first port of call. If you find your local team aren't as helpful you could also see if you could find a local IBCLC for support.

There is a KellyMom article on increasing low milk supply which you might find useful.

Congratulations on your new LO @Alli231. Did DC1 have CMPA?

It is not clear whether you’d like to breastfeed or transition to formula, but if your only concern with bf is concerns around supply then I agree with the above poser about contacting the infant feeding team. My baby rapidly lost way too much weight in the early days, and after a very difficult period of early bf he’s now in the 80th cantile for weight (born 17th). It was a tough journey but the infant feeding team were great.

if you actually want advice about formula options, I have no idea but I’m sure others can advise.

Sorry for the delayed reply!

A bit of both to be honest, with BF I have been in touch with them and trying to express and increase my supply but find I'm stuck inside so much either feeding or expressing which is just so overwhelming.. He's also so fussy when latched it takes forever and it makes me anxious he's not getting enough.

Dc1 had issues with milk but we were fobbed off quite a lot during covid and we switched to oat milk around 15 months and saw a huge change almost immediately, so I don't want DC2 to suffer the same way and hence me pushing to find what it is. He seems to be able to tolerate it much better now he's nearly 4 and will have yogurts, ice cream etc without too much of an issue.

We've been on Nutrimagen for a week and he's improved massively, he settles and sleeps, his breathing has improved and he's not uncomfortable. But his diarrhea has returned since the switch from Aptilmil Comfort and he's really sicky since being on it too, unsure if that's normal and will settle?

I am trying to Bf as much as I can but we're still having to give him a top-up as he's so hungry!

It does sound like it could be Cow's Milk Protein Allergy then.

Are you getting any RL support?