Please help with Exorcist baby. I'm losing the will to breastfeed.

[CoteDAzur]

DS (7 weeks) thrashes about like possessed by the devil while on the breast, screaming, arching his back, and pulling the nipple to quite incredible lengths. During BF, while burping, or after burping for no reason I can see, he vomits copious amounts of milk, and wants to feed soon after.

I'm shattered. We go through at least 4 set of clothes a day for him AND for me (that's how much he vomits). Oh and he also does an impressive explosive poo act, which leads to being washed 3-4 times a day as well.

After he fed and vomited non-stop for three hours last night, out of sheer exhaustion, I gave him the bottle. He slept for a hitherto unwitnessed four hour stretch. Now I'm contemplating switching to formula, or at least mixed-feeding.

Somebody please help me understand what is going on, how to make this better and continue to BF.

It's coming out too fast is it? I had this problem. I would take her gently away until the huge splurge had calmed down (you need a towel) and then latch her on again. I think the sudden jet of milk in the back of her mouth took her by surprise every time.

As for the vomit, some babies are little vomiters. dd was, ds wasn't. But ds had the explosive backside that dd didn't. I remember once calling up dd's nursery saying I'd be late because ds's arse had exploded! It was what I was thinking but I wasn't meant to say it out loud!

"What do you mean give up chocolate? Are you crazy?"

CoteDAzur it's been a very long 7 months

Hope you find the solution soon

I haven't read the full thread - will in a mo tho - but totally sympathise. My DD2 6 weeks is like a devil possessed at the nipple - thrashing around and pulling it in al sorts of directions. I have given up and given her expressed BM on many occasions. But here's how I improved it:

Have a standby bottle ready of cooled boiled water.
Swaddle baby so hands arms and legs are less of an issue. Put baby on, if she tears at nipple and wails, I took her off and calmed her down and tried again. If it happens again - offer bottle with water (my DD initially took a lot of water before realising) - then put on breast. After a few good goes (winding inbetween) she eventually settled down - not perfect and you are in for a long night - or whatever but it has helped.

My DD2 is very vomity too - haven't resolved that one yet.

Had the same prob with my so - thin it is a combination of over supply and reflux. theoversupply issues will settle but the reflux should be treated.

Try to breastfeed while reclining back on a few pillows with your LO a little upright. Also reflux babies are far more comfortable on their tummies.

We treated our son wih motilium and gaviscon for the first 4 months. Speak to a peadiatrician about it.

Our LO still vomits occasionaly but is much better. Now 8 months and BF is a breeze now.
I'm glad i didnt give up. But I knowwhat ur going thro , it was a mightmare for the first couple of mnths and i felt robbe of that cuddly newborn phase. Hope this helps.

Hello

Sounds like my dd, she had reflux.

First try giving Infacol before each feed, it takes up to three days to work. Must be before each feed. This may help.

They want to feed straight away because their tummy hurts and the suckling relieves them but it causes a vicious circle because they are having trouble digesting and so vomit it back up.

i cant remember the receommended age that its ok to wait two hours between feeds with bf. This is what i had to do to help her digest any milk that did get to stay down. In between i gave her a dummy which really helps babies with reflux.

expensice but great help is cranial osteopathy, as your gp for local recommendations. really helped ease my dd.

eventually it normally goes around 4 months or when you wean. i had to wean her ealrier than planned for this reason.

def call breastfeeding councellor, they relly helped me. i feel for you because i remember how frustrating it was and she never looked content like dd1 did after feeds.

good luck x

Also wanted to say I bf until 10 mths so dont let this put you off.

Thanks for all your suggestions.

We are on Gaviscon. Sometimes she vomits that up, too, but in general it seems to help. She still vomits, but much less - clean face & neck with tissue rather than DS and myself having to take respective showers

What is Infacol?

Also, he acts especially possessed from about 3 AM until he poops an explosive one at about 7 AM. I don't think he is constipated because there is poo in pretty much every nappy, but what is this straining and wailing at early hours of the morning?---

Infacol is a colic medicine - helps them burp! Dentinox also does the same job.

Ah. We have 'eau de chaux' down here which does the same thing.

I used that for a while until I realized it made DS's burps more violent and more likely to lead to vomit.

colief drops which you can get on prescription are supposed to be even better than infacol cos you have to give infacol at least half an hour before feeds which is a bit of a bummer having to wake them up to give it to them. You can buy colief drops but they are about £9.75. worth it though

alypaly - thats good to know, i didnt realise you had to give it 30 mins before. thats next to impossible.

will remember colief drops drops. im pregnant with no.3 and want tobe ready for more reflux.

does anyone know whats causes reflux? i was more stressed with work duing my 2nd pregnancy and thought that maybe something to do with it?

dd1 was so relaxed and chilled out compared to dd2. poor little thing looked like a grumpy old lady until about 5 mths old!

its normally caused by a dysfunctional sphincter at the top of the stomach. It isnt strong enuf to keep food down. More common in boys than girls. Your next one wont necessarily have it... think positively