Inconsolable crying whilst breastfeeding - help!

[nixrolz]

I need cheering up....

My 9 week old DS has really bad reflux, and we are currently feeding him Gaviscon Infant after each BF... which needless to say is a messy nightmare to get in to him (even with a syringe) and leaves him with really difficult poos to pass (excuse the description - but they look like mashed up butternut!)... poor little thing. It also makes his vomit really lumpy and "snot like" (once again - please excuse the descriptions). I have also noticed that he is very wriggly at night when he sleeps - almost like he has really bad tummy cramps.

DS also decides that it is a good idea to empty his bowels AFTER I have fed him... making changing nappies a nightmare as he vomits all the time whilst lying on his change mat - no matter how long it has been since I fed him - so I wonder how much of the Gaviscon he has managed to absorb too!

I know that the above is par for the course now that DS is on Gaviscon, but the bit I am struggling with is that DS starts feeding, and then starts a sniffling cry, and then bursts out in to inconsolable crying and screaming (I am told that this is due to his reflux)... I then have to calm him down (using a dummy, gripe water and plenty of rocking)... and then start again. I end up with BOTH boobs hanging out and shuffling him from one to the other, calming him down in between, changing positions from rugby ball position to madonna position - and as upright as I can have him to help with the reflux... All in all - it is so exhausting, upsetting and really making BF'ing a nightmare for me.

Since this has all started (about 3 weeks ago) I hardly ever go out in public when I know that I will have to breastfeed, as the crying is awful AND I have to make up the Gaviscon and syringe that in to him too - plus with both boobs hanging out - well, can you imagine!! Such a faff! So now I literally feed DS, wait for it all to settle - load him in the car and DASH to where I need to be for a couple of hours, ensuring that I am back home in time for his next feed!

By the end of each day - I am exhausted and in tears - and covered in vomit! Is anyone else going through this????

I am hoping that DS is going to grow out of this stage... he is very well in himself, and is a really happy chatty little fellow. He is gaining weight nicely and is mapping on the 50th percentile. But the crying is really making me so sad, as I wish I could do something to take away his pain.

I need cheering up, as I am REALLY close to giving up my exclusive BF'ing and moving DS on to formula feeds, or trying combination feeds (Breast at night and bottle during the day - as he only fusses during his daytime feeds, and in the past when I have given him formula he has guzzled it down with no tears!)...

sob...sob....

Have you trued cutting dairy out of your diet?

Does any of this sound familiar?

Also try feeding in Biological Nurturing positions rather than with him supine, rfux babies are often much happier on thier tummies.

Hi GreenMonkies
Thanks for your responses.
Re: the article - DS goes thru some of those things, but not nearly as severly as the poor boy in the article....

I will give the Biological nurturing positions a bash....

x

Sounds very like both my DDs and they improved dramatically when I cut dairy out of my diet.

You should see some change after a few days but it takes a few weeks to see the full effect as it takes a while for all of your system to be cleared.

I suspect that the majority of reflux cases are undiagnosed allergy/intolerence.

Try not to replace dairy with soya in the beginning as around 50% of babies who are allergic to dairy are also allergic to soya. You can use rice milk or oat milk as a substitute.

Good luck and chin up. I remember those early days with a reflux baby only too clearly. It is exhausting hard work, you have my sympathy.

Ok - so I've just tried the Biological position. DS latched on beatifully, but sadly he did the usual sniffle and then full on crying and screaming....

Will cut out dairy from my diet - which is only 1 yoghurt a day, and milk in my weetabix....so, not much but am going to give it a bash

I also gave him a bottle of 2.5 ounces of expressed milk now after my feed - he guzzled that all down with no prob! Oh dear! He is now sitting on my lap as happy as larry!

x

Hi nixrolz
A lot of what you've described sounds so much like my dd! She had reflux as well (although had a few other problems,like constipation...) I was referred to a consultant and was informed that dd was intolerant to milk protein so she was reacting to any small dairy that I ate or drank.
Don't want to put you off breastfeeding! .
Just want to say that maybe you should try avoiding dairy (even if you're not taking a lot) and see how it goes although will take a while. Watch out as well, so many products we eat - biscuits etc - have milk so you need to read the labels carefully for things like whey. Also what Beachcomber said about soya milk is true - dd reacted to that as well.
If you want to know, dd has no reaction whatsoever to dairy now and she's 5.
Good luck, I know how hard it is and really do sympathise.

I have absolutely no advice to offer but wanted to post to say that you sound marvellous.

Thanks BallonSlayer!

Another long day has drawn to an end, and DS is sound asleep at last....

No milk in my cereal tomorrow... I shall let you all know how it goes.

Thanks for all your help and support!

xx

This sounds very familiar to me - went through it 8 weeks ago. What really helped for me was a visit to the cranial osteopath - was sceptical to say the least but got to the point where I was desperate - within about 3 days DS had settled.

I'm still exclusively BFing, keep it up!!

I've been told to go see a cranial osteopath before.... think I'm going to give that a bash too - am getting so desperate!

Another one who was going to suggest milk intolerance, although odd that he takes it ok from a bottle. Do give it a shot for a couple of weeks (expect some good and some bad days during this time), but remember to watch out for hidden dairy - it gets everywhere.

For butter substitute you will want either Pure Sunflower spread or vitalite - both are soya free too.

DD1 used to scream every weekend - it turned out she was allergic to eggs which we ate on a Saturday morning, and was getting it through my BM. See if you can find a pattern in the screaming.
dd2 screamed until we went to a cranial osteopath who saw that her spine was crooked...
good luck - it can take a while to find an answer, but maybe try keeping a diary of what you eat, when the screaming is worse etc and you might find out what causes it. You have my sympathies

Yes, don't give up if it turns out not to be dairy.

Dairy is the most likely culprit but there are other foods that could be a problem too.

My DDs took milk more easily from a bottle too before I cut out dairy, I have no idea why. The other symptoms remained the same but the actual taking of milk was easier if it was a bottle of EBM. Very strange and bloody annoying.

Food diary is a very good idea. I ended up having to cut other foods out too with DD1 but dairy was definitely the one that made the most difference.

Ditto beachcomber!! (I seem to be following you around the board)

My DS was allergic to eggs and dairy and had all the symptoms you describe. He also took my milk from a bottle fine bizarrely.

I used to dread going anywhere as well as he made such a fuss while feeding, so I can totally empathise.

I think i also had a fast letdown which lying down to feed helped with (although you can't do that when you're out!!)

It does get better eventually, honest!!!

Hello trixy. Yes saw you on another allergy thread giving sound advice, keep up the good work.

Have you been on the 'how come rich folk have to pay so much tax' thread? [shit stirring emoticon]

Weird isn't how it seems to be easier for allergic babies to take EBM from a bottle than nurse from the breast. Have no idea why, might post a thread to see if anyone knows.

Hi everyone

I thought I would just give you an update on the situation! After visiting my GP on Tuesday about getting DS referred to a Cranial Osteo, the doc recommended that I try Colief in the meantime.... WELL, I CANNOT BELIVE THE DIFFERENCE IN DS!

This stuff is Godsend! DS is so much more comfortable, sleeps well at night (6 hour stretches at night - what bliss!). He feeds like a dream too - no more fussing on the boob and no more incosolable crying. I feel like a new person!

It is a bit of a faff to prepare, but it is so totally worth it.

check out www.colief.com

Anyhoo!! Take care everyone, and thanks so much for your advice and well wishes!

Nix

That's great!!

you can get it on prescription btw.

I have no advice either but wanted to re-iterate that you sound marvellous and a wonderful mummy.

It might be worth looking into fore & hindmilk imbalance issues as this can give similar symptons to reflux, or in any case will make sure LO is getting the best out of your milk. The hindmilk is fattier & more easily digested whereas if he has a lot of foremilk he may be getting lactose overload (not the same as intolerance) & this can cause digestive discomfort, wind, cramps, poos that are uncomfortable to pass, etc Try feeding on one side only for a couple of feeds, use breast compression towards the end of the feed to get the most hindmilk out, put him back on the same breast instead of swapping & only swap if he wants more. More info on kellymom.com about all this if you want to try it - it's quite simple to do so probably worth giving a try at least. Experienced breastfeeding counsellors may know about this sort of thing so ask around if you need more info.
The other thing I would suggest is either a sloping change table with head end raised or if you know he is going to go hold him over a potty or similar receptacle so that the main part of his body can stay upright if it helps with the vomiting. Also are you carrying him around in a sling next to you for a lot of the time? This is supposed to be generally comforting for babes & helps them settle. Some people can even feed in them.
I know what you mean about dashing out as I was like this for the first couple of months anyway. Try to find places that have feeding rooms, preferably with private booths, as you may be able to extend your time out. And of course it won't last forever & you have been awesome getting this far.

Hi everyone

I thought I would give you an update on my forever eventful breastfeeding....

So - the Colief worked for a while, but he still continued to fuss and cry on the boob after a number of days.

My latest solution is that I have now started giving him a few squirts of Gaviscon mid-feed - which does help settle him from time to time. He will then happily feed away and move from one boob to the other with no hassles.

I have also gone back to feeding him every 3 hours during the day rather than every 4 hours.... this has greatly reduced the amount of vomits he does as I think it has stopped him guzzling like mad during feeds and getting really bad wind!!

I don't want to tempt fate - but I think all in all his reflux has slightly improved.... fingers crossed . It is a relief to know that he is still putting on weight and is very happy in himself (when he is not feeding that is!).

I have been referred by my GP to the Pead on the 15th of Dec, who will hopefully take a look at him and work out if Cranial Osteo is going to be the best course of action for him.... here's hoping!

I have also been shown a really great breastfeeding position where I sit DS on my thigh - facing me and then slightly lean him over to the "opposite" boob - so he is literally feeding sitting up - works really well if you are sitting in the right hight chair, and DS is not too hungry and is relaxed!!!

Once again - thanks for all your messages of support! It really does keep me going!!

xx

Hi - I am endlessly posting with a similar issue - my DD goes through phases where she screams and won't feed - I have tried feeding her lying down but she now dosn't respond to that - I've tried infant gaviscon but it gave her really bad constipation as you describe and she was crying for the pain of passing a stool. She's been to a cranial osteopath, who said she was fine and as she's treated me sucessfully over the years so I have great confidence in her. She will sometimes feed ok, not to bad at night and usually one time during the day, the evening before bed feed is terrible but yet again, she will take a bottle then; I can hardly ever express enough for a feed but do what I can and then formular. I try and feed her roughly every 2/3 hours but sometimes I wonder if that's almost too much, sometimes she may just be tired and not bothered about eating, she is a bad sleeper and rarely sleeps in the day; I wear her in the sling a lot which usually calms and allows her to sleep, but last night she got so hysterical trying to BF at 7 it wasn't until 10 she finally fell asleep, and even walking around outside with her in the sling, ususaly fool proof, didn't work. I will try and cut out dairy food from now on, even though I have just eaten a yogurt...are there any other tips you might recommend? I have stuggeled to establish breast feeding against slow weight gain, MIL and HV endlessly saying 'Give her a bottle if she won't feed' and so on, I really don't want to give up now, DD is only 9 weeks.