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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Sorry, me again, but I am desperate and need support...

31 replies

tenacityflux · 09/12/2008 19:20

My 9 week old DD is getting more and more fussy on the breast - at night in bed she feeds fine and dosn't spit up much; and if I get her when she's just woken up she is also fine, but at other times she gets frantic and screams, she will feed for a few mins then pull off and scream, and then latch on desperately and scream again. I have tried feeding her lying down which worked at first but not now; and infant gaviscon for reflux but it made her very constipated and she screamed from that - the doctor said the only way to avoid this was give her it six times a day in six bottle feeds! This is awefull as I have struggelled to get to all breast feeding and this will certainly end that. I am now going to try cutting out all dairy as this has been suggested to me - tonight she brought up all breast feed and ebm she has taken which is so upsetting! She doesn't cry when when spits up - could I also try giving her half the dose of Gaviscon as maybe six times a day is too much but if I gave her 3 doses a day she would get some benefit? For long periods she is so happy and plays with toys and grabs at things and smiles to herself already, but BF makes her cry and I feel so bad. I am so desperate not loose night times in bed together feeding and BF all together

OP posts:

JacksFirstChristmasMama · 09/12/2008 19:31

Bumping for you --- anyobody? I don't have anything helpful to say, there must be someone out there who does...

Anglepoise · 09/12/2008 19:32

My DD does the going rigid and screaming then latching back on desperately then pulling off again thing though usually just in the evening/in night - so horrible, isn't it, when it's something that usually comforts them Cutting out dairy has definitely helped us so hope it does something for you too. No other advice I'm afraid, just wanted to say that I sympathise.

FLORIAinexcelsisdeo · 09/12/2008 19:40

Not experienced this myself but someone in my antenatal group suffered it with her exclusively bf'd dd last year...I'll point her in this direction but can't promise she'll be around tonight...I hope you get good advice in the mean time.

J2O · 09/12/2008 20:18

just wondered-have you researched lactose overload? I will try and find something for you but may have to log off!

J2O · 09/12/2008 20:20

not the best to explain...but a litle reading material

here

IwishIwasamermaid · 09/12/2008 20:22

My DD does this too, horrible isn't it? Do you use a dummy?

CrochetDivaMadeTheElvesNewHats · 09/12/2008 20:33

Have been pointed here by Floria - your description of your baby right now is just how I was last year.

From about 4 weeks, M would fuss at the breast, arch her back, scream - the works.

Firstly, let me reassure you - it does pass - this I can promise you - my bf relationship with dd took quite a while to be fulfilling - now it's the best it's ever been.
Secondly, M was excl. bf until 6 months - despite the reflux meds (I used Gaviscon quite successfully), and, in fact still bf now (at 14 months)

You don't have to give the gaviscon in a bottle: mix it up with a little ebm, and spoon it / syringe it into her mouth. I'd suggest you give her doses at the times of day when she's worst to start with, and work back from that.

Also, to reassure you, if your dd was on ff, and Gaviscon, she would be more constipated than she is now - you are doing the right thing entirely.

I'd suggest you look at kellymom - and that you get in touch with your local branch of la leche league - it may well be that you have a fast let-down reflex, which can mimic reflux (so I understand it) ... you would probably benefit from tiktok's help too ...

Good luck - thinking of you!

CantSleepWontSleep · 09/12/2008 20:51

Stating the obvious here a bit, but you are winding her during feeds aren't you?

Give the dairy thing a couple of weeks to work before you reach any conclusions about it.

JacksFirstChristmasMama · 09/12/2008 20:58

Calling for tiktok - your help is needed!

JacksFirstChristmasMama · 09/12/2008 21:27

Bumping for TikTok

Original poster

tenacityflux · 09/12/2008 21:46

Thank you so far - I do wind her, unless she's had a quiet feed and fallen asleep - my DH will take her and wind her when she gets fussy to try and calm her and tonight she spit up an aweful lot - of course all the ebm! - I read the link about lactose overload and this does sound possible, but I have been trying to give her only one breast at a feed and letting her feed as much as she can off it, and somtimes express a little first to get the foremilk out - which works if she is willing to feed but not if not, obviously - and I will definately try the Gaviscon in ebm during fussy feeds, as she has a bottle of it at 7 I'll start then. I have also used the link and written to La Leche to see what they say. I am gutted about the dairy stuff especialy with xmas coming - no pudding,cream or chocolate but I will do anything!

OP posts:

Anglepoise · 09/12/2008 21:54

I can get away with a little bit of dairy (eg milk in tea) if that helps - but damn I miss cheese!

Turning DD onto her stomach often seems to calm her down when she's yelling - doesn't help with the bfing but might be worth a go.

katsh · 09/12/2008 22:02

My dd2 had bad reflux and I bf exclusively. I mixed the gaviscon into a paste with a little cooled boiled water and just gave it to her on a spoon or from my finger before her feeds. I did it before every feed so she was certainly getting it 6 times a day at least. She ended up on two other meds as well, but it did get better. I didn't change my diet ( no one advised me to). It is really tough, and I hope things improve for you soon. I tried to get her to take a bottle because I thought that thicker formula would help but she refused so I was stuck with bf! Do whatever helps you to get through it, but I really don't think there's any need to stop bf if that's what you want to do.

SniffyHock · 09/12/2008 22:05

Have you asked a breast feeding counseller to come and visit you - it might be a big help. Your local NCT branch might be able to help. Also, if you had a good relationship with your midwife, give her a call.

IlanaK · 09/12/2008 22:09

If you do decide to go dairy free, you do not need to miss out on food. For chocolate, you can have dark chocolate (like Green and Blacks - yum!). I use a cream called Oatley that is made from oats. It tastes just like real cream - not just in coffee, but poured over strawberries. You do need to be careful about puddings though - most will not be dairy free. I found a lovely icrecream by a company called Booja Booja. Made from cashew nuts believe it or not, but the chocolate one tastes JUST like yummy real chocolate icecream.

tiktok · 09/12/2008 23:39

Off to bed, sorry, will look tomorrow at this (was shouted for off another thread!).

swanriver · 10/12/2008 00:51

I had a baby with reflux, who I breastfed. I gave her gaviscon in a teaspoon before feeds. She did need lots of winding. I didn't give up milk at all. She went on being a sicky baby until she was about 10 months, but I would say her reflux was cured by solids (at 19 weeks very early for today's babies) I kept her upright after a feed during the day, and in a sling a lot. I went on breastfeeding for two years, and I don't think anyone suggested changing to formula just because of reflux. She never had a problem with lactose, and loves milk to this day.

CantSleepWontSleep · 10/12/2008 07:45

Ilana - Green and Blacks has milk in it now . I don't know when they changed the recipe, but I checked it out a couple of weeks ago and it def listed milk (in the 70% one). There was a diff swiss one that was ok though.

tiktok · 10/12/2008 09:19

tenacityflux - going dairy free is such a pain, it's worth exploring other options first.

You don't say what your baby's weight gain is like. Sometimes, this behaviour is linked with an over-generous milk supply which in turn means an overactive letdown. You have thought of this, from what you say, but in my experience, tackling this by feeding one-sided ('block nursing') over a period of a few hours has to be done properly and over a period of a couple of days before you can be sure it is/is not anything to do with copious supply.

I agree with the other posts suggesting you get someone really knowledgable in to watch you feed.

The Gaviscon sounds more trouble than its worth, I agree.

Original poster

tenacityflux · 11/12/2008 10:24

I'm trying to feed her in small lengths of time as frequently as she wants but she is really bringing up an aweful lot, she used to settle ok in the evening but is almost always wide awake now and almost hyper active - she isn't sleeping well and cries a lot in the later afternoon almost inconsolably. I thought I was coping but last night I really went to pieces and I can't seem to stop crying and feel too stressed to go to my doctors because I have so little confidence in them, but I will keep on trying block feeding - her weight gain stalled three weeks ago but by the begining of last week she put on 7 oz and is due to be weighed tomorrow,I am going to a breast feeding support group as the HV there said she would weigh her for me as she has been more supportive than the regular HV, who gave me bad advice and was down on my wearing her in a sling. I am trying to find other advice about reflux, I will try and feed her the gaviscon in breast milk.

OP posts:

swanriver · 11/12/2008 16:14

poor you, it sounds really awful. You must be feeling just exhausted. don't lose hope that the baby will settle down. Could someone else take the baby for a walk in her pram/sling so that you could have a break and a sleep? I wish I'd asked for someone to do this for me, but I was so focused on the baby I couldn't seem to stop.. It was a kind of adrenaline which just keeps you going against the odds and then it all seems just too much to bear.

CrochetDivaMadeTheElvesNewHats · 11/12/2008 21:27

tenacityflux - I'd also suggest you try and find a baby massage or baby yoga class - I used both with dd, and they also seemed to help.

I also propped dd up in her cot - using a belly wedge that a kind MNer sent me - I think I passed it on to somebody else, but I'll have a look for it of you want me to.

It just feels so d@amnably personal, doesn't it? I would cry myself sick, thinking that dd was rejecting me, and my milk, when what it actually was was an immature stomach valve.
When I look back at dd's first few months, I remember her seemingly constant screaming ... now though, she's a happy, busy, confident toddler ... and I'm so glad I kept on bf her.

Hang on in there ... cat me if you need any more help - la leche league also has a helplin - they are absolutely fantastic - their number is: 0845 120 2918 - phone them - they will probably be able to organise for somebody to come round and help you.

Original poster

tenacityflux · 12/12/2008 20:42

Thank you, I have done a massage class a stupidly haven't ever tried it, why not??? I'll try it when the screaming starts tomorrow. She has put on weight again, 9 oz in 10 days, and today she fed fine at 10, was bad at 12 and 4 and screamed for an hour after that; but she fed fine suddenly at 7 and took a bottle of ebm afterwards, so I feel better - she must be doing ok , maybe she just dosn't like lunch? I tried several things today, tummy rubs, leg pumps, front down hold, dancing, and finally propped her up sitting up and put the top 10 on the tv, which worked after 5 mins with me holding my knees to my chest and rocking!

OP posts:

katsh · 12/12/2008 21:25

You sound like you are doing really well - that weight gain is hugely impressive Hang in there

elvisgirl · 12/12/2008 23:37

I would suggest the lactose overload thing and/or fast letdown. Another link on the lactose one which also suggest changes to the mother's diet that may help,not necessarily cutting out dairy. Also try breast compression towards the end of feeds to get more of the fattier hindmilk out
I hope you can keep bf-ing - really up til about 3 or 4 mths it can still be not settled down.

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