I just don't understand what he is trying to tell me . . .

[libb]

Today I am mostly confused - and peeved - and tired. DS won't settle for a decent feed or sleep at the moment, he seems to be uncomfortable as he stiffens his whole body straight after a short feed and gripes (no real crying). He then seems tired, dozes off and I put him down, he then wakes up after 30 mins crying out. I realise that it sounds like average baby bahaviour but it is wearing us both out and any predictable behaviour has gone out of the window. Right now he is laying in his basket just whimpering to himself and occasionally giving out a yell. He seems to be winding well enough, although he has been a bit more vocal in the nappy area for the last two days and there is a slightly different smell. He is also quite sicky after a feed. What can I do? I don't want to complain about the little sweetie but we are all getting a bit worn down with it! He is obviously frustrated as he keeps stiffening himself rigid.

I don't think it is colic as there is not a particular time when it gets worse. Could it be reflux? Sorry, I realise these threads occur regularly but any advice would be great! Thanks

Anyone? it is the stiffening up that is puzzling me more than anything ...

Sorry, I don't have a clue but:

BUMP!

How old is ds? If it is reflux, and if he is very young it might simply be that the valve at the top of his stomach is not yet mature enough to hold the volume of milk he is taking rather than any long term problem, it might help to keep him upright for about 1/2 hr after each feed in a car seat, baby chair or on your lap and raise the head of his cot/basket using books or rolled blankets under mattress. Also feeding little and often may help with the sickiness. It should n't affect his other end though but if he is breastfed could something you have eaten upset him?

libb - when I started reading your message the first thing I thought of was reflux. My daughter had reflux and her symptoms were different, but it is one of those things where every child seems to react differently. I would definitely talk to your health visitor or gp and get some medication for him. Infant Gaviscon might even help the poor mite. Good luck.

He is 6 weeks on Friday and it does appear something to do with the feeding that is bothering him. He's had a decent sleep and then a feed and screamed/stiffened up immediately afterwards. So I sat him upright and he seems to have quietened down again, although he is back to lying wide awake in his car seat right now (having been a little sick).

oh blimey . . . .

I forgot to mention that he has started holding his head back really far and staring upwards, this is puzzling me too.

Hi Libb, my Ds used to do a very similar thing. He would also stiffen up after a feed and was quite sicky for a while.

My H.V just advised me to change his milk (sorry don't know if you are BF or BB).
It took several changes of milk before he stopped doing it, eventually ending up on Omnio Comfort (expensive taste see ).

Hope you find a answer soon

My Ds used to stiffen up and then throw himself back if that makes sense.

Before we got it sorted it got to the point where he would scream and go stiff as soon as we put the bottle anywhere near him.

I'm breastfeeding him so don't know if that would help - I do want to formula feed him soon though so DP can get more involved.

How are things today ? You could try some fennel tea between feeds to help digestion or drink some yourself (an acquired taste) to pass on to him. The doctor can prescribe a thickener which you could add to ebm or formula to thicken it up (use wider hole teats!)or even Infant Gaviscon although MNetters report variable reactions to this.