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Colic/Reflux?

6 replies

MrsMoorcroft · 28/11/2012 20:36

Hi, regular user of mumsnet but first time poster.
First time mum, needing help with my 4 week old LG.
I don't know if she is ok or not....she grunts and growls at points through the day. It looks like straining but isn't followed by a poo. She isn't constipated either, 4-6 dirty nappies per day and lots of wet ones.
She is exclusively breastfed but because of flat nipples we have used nipple shields from about day 5.
With the grunting/growling/straining, she sometimes cries but not often so I don't know if it hurts or if she's just learning to use her voice? She does go red in the face quite often though.
People mention colic or trapped wind but she farts loads, so can she still have anything trapped inside? Also, I thought colic was screaming and crying and inconsolable for hours each night but she's not like that!
I do often struggle to burp her and today she hasn't burped, she has just spit up each time, sometimes very little but sometimes a lot.
Looking on google, the things that come up are reflux, colic and trapped wind. Thing is, I have infacol and gripe water sitting looking at me right now but I don't know if I want to use them! I read somewhere that if its reflux, the infacol and gw will relax the oesophagus to help burping but if its reflux it'll make that worse! Are they pretty much for the same thing?
Basically I am after some advice! Any ideas? Thing is, I would take her to the doc but she normally sleeps when out so how can I explain the noises she makes?
Oh another thing, sometimes she growls at the breast and pulls away then cries because she wants to go back on, this can happen a couple of times a feed (but not every feed).
And finally, I don't know if it is relevant but she has had thrush from day 3 and been on nystatin from day 5-could it be any relation?
So sorry it's really long but I am worried and get upset when she does, I just want to help but don't wanna make it worse!!!!!
TIA

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
LIZS · 28/11/2012 21:13

If it is n't affecting her behaviour and she is gaining weight and content I wouldn't worry yourself. Squirming, straining, making odd noises etc is perfectly normal.

narmada · 28/11/2012 21:48

Does she still have thrush?

IF you haveb't been treated at the same time, she likely will have. It should have cleared off four weeks in with appropriate treatment.

Everything else sounds totally within the bounds of normal.

MrsMoorcroft · 29/11/2012 11:15

Yeah, she still has it :-( we're onto 3rd lot of nystatin and it seems they can't give anything else as she is so young! I have been using clotrimazole but I am also using nipple shields so shouldn't be transferring anything anyway-pretty sure I don't have thrush as I have zero pain.
Thanks for your answers, I guess I am just fretting! Smile

OP posts:
narmada · 29/11/2012 12:35

Nipple shields themselves can harbour thrush - well, I think they can: bottle teats definitely can and need to be sterilised in a way that kills thrush. Are nipple shields disposable or reusable?

IIRC nystatin is not the treatment of choice for thrush - I thought it was miconazole gel. There is some bumph on the packet about it not being used for small babies but this is because of a notional choking risk I think.

BFN leaflet on thrush- might be helpful to show doctor.

MrsMoorcroft · 30/11/2012 06:13

Oh wow, that's great, thank you. I'll wait out the rest of this bottle (and keep fingers crossed!) and if it doesn't work, I'll show this to the doctor!
The nipple shields are reusable but I clean and sterilise them regularly anyway!

OP posts:
MidLine · 30/11/2012 21:07

MrsMoorcroft what you have described sounds exactly the same as what my 4 week old DD does, she even does the weird growling and wriggling at the breast like she wants to pull away but is stuck to the nipple so I'm assuming it's normal! I was considering filming it to show the Dr to make sure it's ok! By all accounts newborns make a load of odd noises, mine also does a nice impression of a lamb and squeaking mouse most days too. I spoke to the HV and he just said that they make a lot of noises as their nasal passages are very small which is why they are commonly snuffly too. I also worried about colic/reflux although like you say, mine luckily doesn't cry for hours on end and only does a massive vomit about once or twice a week.

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