colicky breastfed baby - in agony!

[carrierchc]

Hi
I have a 3 week old baby girl who I have breastfed from the start. It was all going well till a few nights ago when she has seemed very colicky in the evenings- I have 2 other children who were bottlefed and it's the same behaviour - arching her back, pulling away from the breast and crying inconsolably, that raw cry they do. Anyway it means her 8pm feed is absolute agony on my nipples - I am crying whilst feeding her - she is so upset she is not latching on well (she normally latches perfectly) so is just clamping her mouth on and chewing over and over again, I can't seem to get her to open her jaw properly as she's in such a state.

I am already expressing 6 oz a day so her dad can give her her 11pm feed and she gets her 3am feed in a bottle too as she was taking 3-4 hours over it otherwise, leaving me exhausted to take the other two kids to school. I don't think I can express any more and don't really want to replace this feed too with another bottle.

Does anyone have any advice?

donthave experiance myself but im a nanny and the youngest who is now 10m had this.

Mum found drinking fennel tea helped alot...as did baby massage...see if theres any baby massage classes near you and try that, i took her to a few and it was fab!!

She sounds exactly the same as my 6 week old DD. Also as my DS was at that age. Im afraid to say they both have/had reflux.

It might not be, it might just be colic.

Look for other signs though. Does she hate being lay flat?

Does she have to be held upright after a feed or she is sick? If not it could still be silent reflux when they are not sick.

Is she snuffley? Coughing a little as if something in her throat?

Listen closley when she comes off and is frantic, is she gargling liquid in her throat, almost choking it back?

She might not be too obvious at 3 weeks but keep an eye out.

Colic and wind problems come hand in hand with reflux so the following will help with both incase she doesn't have reflux and just has colic.

1. tilt cot/moses basket 30 degrees (i use a plastic storage box but you can use books. It's quite a high tilt.

2. Once she has calmed down and dosing off on you, put a hairdryer on for the soothing white noise, lay her tummy first, head to side in her basket/cot. The hairdryer will keep her dosing and stop her fighting the new position at first. If your uneasy with this in the night, do it during the day when your keeping an eye out. Babies break wind in this position and it soothes their tummies. She will sleep sounder and longer as the startle reflex wont wake her. Then her tummy will cope better for next feed.

It will also make sure the feeds are more spaced out as she needs at least 2 hours, ideally 3 to digest a full feed. One feed on top of the other causes colic.

If you find you'd like to sleep her on her tummy at night to get the extra sleep but are nervous - buy a moniter such as tommee tipee with sensor pad. It has a flashing light every breath and an alarm sounds if they havent taken a breath in 20 seconds - peace of mind.

If she does have reflux the doctor will give you gaviscon. If it's mild it will help, if its bad only omeprazple and domperidon will help.

It lasts for up to a year but is easier if you know what it is and how to treat.

I was trying to manage it on my own but she is getting worse so have to get stronger meds.
Its the feeding I find impossible too. On off screaming, frantic feeding.

I hope your DD just has colic, good luck. x

You poor things, this must difficult for you and your little one. Have you thought about cranial osteopathy for alleviating the colic? My DS had a course of it for another problem and it worked a treat, it really calmed him down. I know that it can help babies with colic, so it might be worth finding a good practioner near you. Good luck.

have you tried colief? expensive but worth it.