is this reflux or normal newborn behaviour?

[ninaandbean]

DS is one month, EFF and seems to be struggling with feeding/sleeping. It's getting worse, and we only stopped mixed feeding three days ago so I'm wondering if that has something to do with it too?

He's very irritable unless upright, he grunts a lot and when we give him a bottle he sucks really hard and fast, but spends a lot of the feed pausing, going bright red in the face, aangry/in pain squeals (not often though), arching his back and drawing up his knees, he looks like he's straining to poo but if anything has a lot of runny poo that comes easily and regularly. He also pokes out his tongue heaps, sneezes and hiccups a lot.

I can settle him upright on my chest/in a chair, but only after at least a half hour of winding and keeping him in an upright position. At night this is killing me as he only sleeps 2-2.5 hours, and half of that is ON me so I can't sleep with him... he does spit up, but its not forceful, it runs down his face after every feed and looks curdled? often seems to come out of his nose too and he snuffles/grunts a lot then too... He will randomly scream very high pitched screams like he's in pain all through the day (right now in fact), and will not tolerate going on his back unless he is already fast asleep. If I do put him down like that, milk runs out of his mouth and he screams, draws up his legs and goes bright red in the face again?

Don't want to rush to GP in a panic if this is all normal, but he seems so uncomfortable :( just wondered if anyone has any advice? He's on Aptamil btw, not sure if that makes a difference.

This sounds so much like DD1 but I'm unsure what EFF is? Exclusive formula?
My DD would be awake most of the night and day and appearing to be in so much pain that I took a video of it to show my GP.
It was almost like the actual milk was causing her pain (mostly breast milk with SMA gold top ups as she would vomit up most everything).
She was like this for four months making her early life sadly fairly miserable.
You do need to take some action IMO as it doesn't improve with age and without help.

I would go to your GP to see how helpful they can be.
My locum GP thought she might be lactose intolerant and was prepared to get drastic with feeds but then.....

I read MN and we were literally trying everything available and found Colief drops recommended. Almost immediately we noticed a difference when she was given this before feeds.

It's worth a try.

I've just read that you can buy lactose free SMA. Have you tried this at all?

(DD2 was completely different and fed like a dream BF and Aptamil).

BTW - it's not normal, but GPs come across it alot.

BTW - it's not normal, but GPs come across it alot.

He/she may have reflux but your GP will be best to determine.

thanks morag will make an appt with the GP and see what he says. My dad and sister are both severely intolerant of lactose and I didn't have any dairy until I was in my teens so did wonder about that. I've been using infacol but not seen much difference so maybe colief will be better. Yes I meant exclusive formula :) no idea really about the diff between formulas as intended to BF but it didnt work out, so will look into lactose free formula now - thanks for the tip!

There is a reflux support thread with symptoms.
here

It does sound like reflux to me. Please press the GP for a quick referral - I don't think this is normal newborn behaviour. And don't be fobbed off by the old 'as long as he's putting on weight' ruse.

It is possible your DS is intolerant to cow's milk protein. Lactose intolerance is extremely uncommon in babies and lactose is present in breastmilk as well as formula. Cow's milk protein intolerance can cause reflux-type symptoms. There are formulas which have the proteins broken down or are completely free of the problematic elements.

I do hope you get some answers/ relief soon. It can be very difficult to face this sort of situation with a newborn - been there, done that!

Have a look at this link:

www.cryingoverspiltmilk.co.nz/Food/LactoseIntolerancevsMilkProteinAllergy.htm

and the Crying Over Spilt Milk website more generally - I found it helpful.

thanks posie will read all the coping tips and make notes! Been wondering about a swing but they are so expensive was put off, but if it really works (sleep would be so nice for both of us) i might reconsider.

narmada off to read that site in detail now! DS has a dummy in and I reckon i have 10 mins at least of quiet time to concentrate...

Swing wise, I bought one brand new and resold it on ebay for #£15 ;less.....eaby is also a good way of getting a cheap one!!

It really saved my ds...with 3 others to give attention to and a house to clean it's the ONLY thing that gave me at least an hour hands free.

I bought the cheapest swing available at the time (M&P from Argos @£40 but now £60) and can honestly say it saved my sanity too.

I also carried her alot in a Huggababy sling.

DD1 prob had reflux after reading a bit more.

it sounds like silent reflux to me. my ds also started with v similar symptoms at 4 weeks, i was fobbed off by gp being told it was colic until 8 weeks. now at 20 weeks we are still trying to find right mix of formula/medication to help him. be persistent with your gp!!! ;o)

he has consistently followed the 91st centile which has helped the gp to fobb us off easier, but he is still frequently in pain

thanks for your replies guys, GP was lovely but didn't want to prescribe anythig yet. Last night DS would only take 1oz from each bottle (midnight to 9am he was offered 4) and he spectaculary vomited them all. :( sleeping upright in his sling now. I'm still in my pjs and frazzled. Going to try making up formula with chamomile tea, and go back to GP... poor DS.

Very similar to what my baby had 8 months ago and I feel for you as it is so exhausting. Screaming, vomiting, constant hiccups, not putting on enough weight very poor sleep. We tried everything, were referred to a paediatric who diagnosed reflux and prescribed medicines which seemed to make things alot worse. We took her to a cranial oesteopath. We thought possible lactose intolerance and tried goats milk formula. Eventually we put her onto Hipp organic formula which seemed a little more gentle and used colief in every bottle. (think you can get this on prescription as very expensive). We raised the head of the moses basket, then the cot with books under the legs (although as with you she mostly wanted to sleep with me). Over the next few months things improved slowly (although I was still covered in baby sick) and once she started weaning there was a massive improvement. It all seems so long ago now (she is 9 months) and a different baby.
Just wanted to reassure you it will get better and your little one will start to feel happier. If you can afford it try and get the swing. Really wish I had, just to ease the crying in those first months as it seemed to go on forever, and I remember swinging her in the moses basket and she calmed down straight away. Dp said no to swing on lack of space grounds.
Best of luck to you and your little one. x