Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Flip

Original poster

Can I introduce a bottle to my baby if they have colic??

11 replies

LittleLady101 · 06/03/2015 21:15

Hi, my daughter will be 3 weeks tomorrow and she has colic. Poor little dear, I hate seeing her in pain. The only thing that seems to soothe her at the moment is nursing or feeding from me. And she is doing it constantly and I feel like my boobs aren't producing enough food for her to actually be getting anything out of. I was thinking about introducing a bottle of formula to her as her last feed before bed but am worried that it might make her belly worse mixing the two and don't want to make her any more uncomfortable.
Anyone else have this problem, or been through this?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Writerwannabe83 · 06/03/2015 21:34

When my DS had colic when aged between 4-7 weeks all he wanted to do was breast feed. I was exhausted and in tears because of how much I hated seeing him in pain.

I thought I was doing the wrong thing by feeding him as I thought it would make his stomach even worse and I used to hate myself because I truly believed I was making my baby worse and I felt like his stomach pain was down to me.

I was in a very dark place emotionally during the colic phase and I had to have a lot of emotional support from my HV.

However, the reality was they colic occurs for no reason at all and there is actually a component in breast milk which settles the baby's stomach, hence why they want to nurse so often.

Once it had been explained to me that my DS feeding off me and comfort sucking was actually helping him I felt the dark cloud lift.

I then sat up for hours on end during the night with DS at the breast and knowing that despite him still seeking so uncomfortable and crying all the time my milk was helping, well it made things more bearable.

PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom · 06/03/2015 22:16

Are you sure it is colic? I just ask because it seems to have become a catch all term for lots of things, including wind and cluster feeding. What are her symptoms.

Sympathies. It is horrible when they are upset.

Original poster

LittleLady101 · 07/03/2015 11:20

It's good to hear that breastfeeding helps as I also felt like by feeding her I was surely making it worse.
Her symptoms are bringing her legs to her chest, crying no matter how much we try and soothe her, not bringing up wind when trying to burp her and constipation. I'm only going on what the hv said when they said that they thought it sounded like colic. She's on infacol which seems to help a little but it's still upsetting her which is horrible :(

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Babies & sleep Families General parenting

icklekid · 07/03/2015 11:28

My ds had awful colic from 3 weeks too - I didn't want to introduce bottle as heard can make wind much worse. Gripe water did make a big difference but totally know the utter frustration and like a pp had a very supportive health visitor

callamia · 07/03/2015 11:41

Nursing isn't always for food. At three weeks, she could be having a growth spurt, so she's nursing a lot to stimulate production. She may also find it really comforting to be close to you and sucking while she's feeling uncomfortable. I know this can feel overwhelming, uncomfortable and draining for you - you have all of my sympathy. You need to be as supported as possible, with drink, food and a comfortable place to be with some awful television on.

Is your daughter putting on weight ok etc? It might be worth having her checked for tongue tie, but I suspect that this will start to improve soon. My son was quite similar, and I spent a lot of time bicycling his legs, or keeping him in the sling to keep him upright and comfortable.

Original poster

LittleLady101 · 08/03/2015 13:55

Yeah I've been moving her legs around a lot and her bath this morning seemed to help a little. I'm just hoping it passes soon for her.

OP posts:

Original poster

LittleLady101 · 08/03/2015 13:56

Oh and yes she seems to be putting on weight well. :)

OP posts:

callamia · 08/03/2015 20:53

I hope it possess soon too. It's a tough time for both of you. It sounds like you're doing the best things though.

GlitzAndGigglesx · 08/03/2015 21:03

I second gripe water. It helped hugely with dd when bfing. I can't remember how old they have to be though to use it but I remember using it earlier than recommended because nothing else would help

Original poster

LittleLady101 · 09/03/2015 16:38

I asked the hv about gripe water but they said she was too young. They came round today to show me how to do a colic massage so hopefully that will help her

OP posts:

minifingers · 09/03/2015 18:20

colic

Some really useful info on colic here.

Incidentally, your baby pooing infrequently - this can be normal for a breastfed baby who is more than a couple of weeks old.

Flip