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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

People! Slap me back!!

61 replies

treedelivery · 03/04/2009 20:31

I've read everything I have and I've read thread after thread....

I really want to give my 10 week baby a big fat bottle of formula. She cries and cries and cries. She burps, farts, poo's - they all make her cry. It' slike her digestive system was really NOT expecting to have to, well, digest.
I have been the chiropractors, oesteopaths, GP, HV, she has had colief, infacol, gaviscon, I have been treated for ductal thrush [ouch], we co sleep or ambynest sleep, have baby worn for weeks.

She will not not not be put down for more than 10 mins, on a good day. On a bad day I have held this child from 4am to 6am the next day.

I think maybe a massive slug of fm will maybe knock her out and she wont care where she is. She'll just be stuffed and lay there. Surely it's worth a try?

But - I want to exclusively bf. It is my job to do so, thats why I have maternity leave and 2 G cups to carry around. I can't give her such a product just because I'm finding it hard can I?

Arghhhh!!

OP posts:
maygirl · 03/04/2009 22:45

You are a positive role model for DD1. She's seeing you patiently caring for and loving her baby sister, even when she's crying and angry.

maygirl · 03/04/2009 22:45

You are a positive role model for DD1. She's seeing you patiently caring for and loving her baby sister, even when she's crying and angry.

maygirl · 03/04/2009 22:45

You are a positive role model for DD1. She's seeing you patiently caring for and loving her baby sister, even when she's crying and angry.

Original poster
treedelivery · 03/04/2009 22:46

I dunno how often she feeds relly, if gripey then40 min to hourly for 2-10 mins, if settled 2-4 hourly for 15 -20 mins I guess.

I take demand feeding literally and pay nooooo attention to the time, it just stresses me out wondering about what time it is. Basically incompatable with preschool runs and being places on time, sadly.

One feed at a time. So true. Had so hoped life wouldn't be like this, especially 10 weeks in. I am bloody knackered.

OP posts:
GreenMonkies · 03/04/2009 22:48

Dairy free worked for me too, it takes 10-14 days to clear your system so the results are not instant, so don't give up!! Try to avoid soy milk too (similar protiens) I used rice milk instead, ok on cereal and in coffee but bleurgh in tea. There are lots of nice dairy free alternatives around now, chocolate, ice cream, yoghurt but sadly not many good cheese replacements, I only found a parmasan-style one, nothing melty.

Two weeks is worth a try, and sling her upright, not lying down.

Hang in there..........

Original poster
treedelivery · 03/04/2009 22:49

Bless you all, love the mantra post maygirl. Cheers Moose - I read the thread back so I know of the trauma you had.

I'll probably give the bf counsellor another go - I might have overwhelmed her with my action mamma list of things i had diagnosed - tried - got fed up with iyswim?

OP posts:
Original poster
treedelivery · 03/04/2009 22:51

Oh but tea and kitkats and muffins. what else is there???? Wail!

Two weeks is worth a try, two weeks is worth a try, two weeks is worth a try....I could set it to music I suppose.

OP posts:
StarlightMcKenzie · 03/04/2009 22:55

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maygirl · 03/04/2009 22:57

Dunno what happened there! Lots of people say their colicky babies turned a corner at 12 weeks old. Hope is the case for H.

moosemama · 03/04/2009 22:58

Gosh, what a lot of posts while I was trying to write mine.

You are a fantastic Mum and so patient - I would have had a breakdown weeks ago. Please try and be kinder to yourself, you are doing a fantastic job under really difficult circumstances.

I agree with Maygirl, you DD1 is learning by example how to love unconditionally. She's bound to get jealous and want Mummy to herself sometimes, but it's not forever and things will come right in the end.

Btw, I found if I fed DD closer than 2 hours from start to start of feeds she seemed to get a lot more gripey and windy, so now make a policy of only feeding her at 2 hourly intervals. The only thing I could think was that if she fed more frequently she was snacking on foremilk each time rather than taking a full feed. (I'm afraid I don't know the scientifics, just went with trial and error I'm afraid so there may be someone more experienced along to refute this hypothesis.)

moosemama · 03/04/2009 23:02

Oh and try these stores for yummy dairy free alternatives:

www.veganstore.co.uk/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=1&Category_Code=510
www.veggiestuff.com/acatalog/dairy_free_chocolate.html

Original poster
treedelivery · 03/04/2009 23:07

Thank you people. Its a good thing to hear reason and empathy. Family try but I am talking at them not with them - they don't get it.

Bf just what I do. It is the way of things around here. I just can't believe it could be less than perfect [wobbly lip smiley]

I'll be cool. Another evening done, and lots to go at in this thread which I will re read when times are tough.

x

OP posts:
maygirl · 03/04/2009 23:09

Sterilize pump last thing at night, seal it up and take upto bed with you, so is there ready for first (daylight)feed. Or just a bottle if hand expressing I guess. If you're awake first, express a bit off, if DD2 awake and screaming for milk, express off the other side as she feeds, then let her finish the side you expressed, which should now have a slower flow.

Original poster
treedelivery · 03/04/2009 23:15

I have the mega brill medella too, so thats good. Am bit down in dumps about having to do all this stuff though y'know?

Negativity not good however - must fight to secure bf happiness!!

OP posts:
maygirl · 03/04/2009 23:38

I understand, shouldn't need to do all this stuff. Hopefully will be v short term.

StarlightMcKenzie · 04/04/2009 11:03

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idontbelieveit · 04/04/2009 11:19

tree, my dd is 10 weeks on monday and exactly the same, i also have a dd1 so know how you feel about the excluded pre schooler. I am using my moby sling for about 8 hours per day, I also have loads of milk but get dd1 to feed first (am a weirdo tandem feeder) so she gets rid of some of the foremilk before dd2 goes on.
I don't really have the answers, i think some babies just hatre being babies but i feel your pain! i am really hoping things get easier as we get to the 12 week mark.

Original poster
treedelivery · 04/04/2009 14:04

Hi all, thanks for these votes of confidence and words of wisdon.

last night I expressed the watery milk off - that was 40 mls, then popped her on.

Dh sat with her till 3, and she slept for an hour in the ambynest.

She is in alot of discomfort this morning, that might be following 2 bf in the night just stuck her on in my sleep I think!

Will do the expressing prior to feeds today, so guess I'l be staying in! I am 100% feeding in public, but expresing the 1ft cannon shot might be pushing it

Starlight - you are very right abouot the stronger baby. SHe used to shoke and gag where as now she glugs. Maybe should have thought of expressing it off before! Doh!

idontbelieveit - if dd1 would do it for me I'd be getting her to deal with the let down milk - but she ran off when I offered her a go

OP posts:
ilovemydogandMrObama · 04/04/2009 14:16

Have you tried burping her mid feed? A friend of mine says it helped her DD's colic. Feed for a few minutes, burp, feed, burp.

Also tummy massage. Under belly button in circular motions.

Funny story: When DS was recently at Children's Hospital, it was getting quite scary about the various possibilities. He would cough and a respiratory consultant was called in. His heart (apparently) was irregular, so a Paediatric cardiologist was called in.

So, he was constipated. Nothing dramatic. He was bunged up. I was massaging his tummy, and one of the various consultants examined him, and said his tummy was hard. I explained that he was quite constipated with all the iron supplements, but the consultant was not listening. So, a surgeon was called in.

Meanwhile, DS has massive blow out, surgeon arrived about half an hour later to find a soft tummy

Original poster
treedelivery · 04/04/2009 14:20

Daft buggers!

OP posts:
Original poster
treedelivery · 04/04/2009 14:53

Poor Hatts - she struggles and strains with tummy ache. She squirms and is very dropable!

Today her poo is green.

OP posts:
StarlightMcKenzie · 04/04/2009 19:18

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Original poster
treedelivery · 04/04/2009 19:27

Thanks starlight.

Have just had a really snappy stressed out day. DD1 has run off to nannas for the night to escape me - don't blame her.

Have also just tried a £2 freefrom dairy choc cake. Bet that cake has caused many cases of PND all on it's own. Sheesh!!
If I could put her down I could embark on my own dairy free baking. Deffo not dairy free until have exhausted other avenues.

Will keep up the expressing for sure. About 15 mls sprayed outWill wake up and do it at night too and stop being a lazy arse. And will b urp througout feed too. Haven't tried that.

She just had feed and is ridgid bless her

OP posts:
Original poster
treedelivery · 04/04/2009 20:23

Ok - so the point of todays gripes has arrived, a poo.
She had mega deep resonating burps after her feeds.
So I think the pain is bowels not belly.
It shot out in a huge squelching type way with anough wind to cause a sail a ship. Its greeny mustard with bits and some bubles, and there isn't that much of it considering the noise.

That sounds like milk intolerance or hind milk overdose - do you think?

OP posts:
Daffodilly · 04/04/2009 21:24

Firstly I should state I am no expert - but also have 10 week old (plus neglected 2 year old) and struggling with fast/over powerful let down. Can spary several feet no problems [proud]!

I consulted a private LC and she suggested the following:

  • Let DS latch on, once let down starts and he is choking/glugging on fast flow I take him off, burp him and catch vigorous flow in a muslin. To me this is easier than expressing which I hate and gets rid of excess foremilk. Then I put him back on once flow is just dripping and feed as normal.
  • Taking Sage drops (Boots/Health food shops). This reduces amount of milk. She suggested start with 3 drops x 4 times a day in a bit of water and increase by 1 drop every couple of days until not spraying anymore. I guess this depending on your overall milk supply though.

I have noticed an improvement since doing this.

HTH. It is hard, even the second time around. But at least this time you know it is not forever and they will EVENTUALLY grow out of it and into another (more challenging) phase!