Formula issue or Collic problem? Newborn baby

[EnchantingRaven]

Hi all,

Just looking for some wisdom from MN really. I have a 4 week old LG who is my first baby. I was bf however, due to a traumatic pregnancy and labour (HG, pre eclampsia, 1200ml blood loss, blood transfusion, sepsis and a forceps delivery) I’m still recovering myself, so stopped after a week. I’m looking into counselling options as my HV thinks I may have PTSD.. which I’m beginning to agree with. So I’m aware I’m not back to my normal, healthy self which is difficult in it self.

Anyway, we’ve been FF DD we started on the cow and gate and moved to Aptamil. Since moving to Aptamil (powered version) my LG seems very fidgety and unsettled particularly the last 2 days, we’ve been using it for almost a week. It’s been very painful crying, not settling for me and only wanting to be on me but eventually crying again. Shes only having a poo every 2 days which tends to be one of the explosive ones. Did you try different formulas before settling with one? Any recommendations? We’ve just got some infacol which we’ve used since yesterday. At what point should I be considering the doctor though? As Im worried about her pooing habits and the arching of back, unsettled and painful crying? The HV isn’t too concerned and said it’s only a concern if the baby hasn’t pooped in 3 days?! It was yesterday morning her last poop and there are a lot of wet nappies per day.

However, Today has just been awful I’ve cried just as much as her with me eventually calling my mum in tears, doubting myself and just being a crying mess on the phone. I took her round my mums and it was like a different baby she was so settled again. This is making me think is it the formula? Surely if she was in pain like I thought originally she would have behaved the same for my mum? She had her for 5 hours and she had the odd cry but nothing like I’ve experienced the last 2 days. I’m completely exhausted with the night feeds anyway, she always seems hungry and it’s exactly 3 hours for each feed - by the time I’ve changed, fed, winded and settled her I’m pushing around 2 hours sleep before being woken up again. I can’t nap through the day which is annoying and tbh the last 2 days would have been difficult anyway. Even with my mum having her today my head was spinning and I just couldn’t sleep. I haven’t slept properly since I gave birth to her. I’ve had a max of 4 hours (Undisturbed) once and felt like a new woman!

I’m sorry for the rambling mess of a thread - I just don’t know what to do. I did have a proper question but I’ve just whinged on. I feel like the worst mum and that my LG just doesn’t like me (I know that sounds ridiculous) but I just can’t stop thinking it.

Any tips on the formula / painful screaming etc would be great.

I’ve just bought a sling too which I’ll be trying out.

Congratulations on you DD!

Does she have a dummy?

If she was better on the cow and gate is going back on that an option?

Poor baba and poor mommy. My daughter was like yours. Breast fed for a week then on to aptimil. Screamed every day - put her on aptimil comfort which did help. She woke up at 10 weeks a brand new baby. Best of luck x

Your not doing anything wrong!

My Lb was like this, I sat and cried on a number of occasions sobbing that I felt like I was feeding him poison by the way he reacted - marked back arching, persistent crying, waking every hour at night, clung toe like glue. He was treated for reflux at 2 weeks until 12months which helped, he is also cows milk protein and soya intolerant. We had a year of misery before eliminating this from his diet as we were advised by GP that it wasn't likely due to there being no eczema, my health visitor admitted she knew very little about it so couldn't really help and we were first time parents so just thought all babies were like this and what the hell had we let ourselves in for! Also traumatic birth and couldn't establish BF.

So if you think there's something not right trust your gut and go to the docs, we tried different formulas (aptimil being the one that made him the absolute worst) different anti colic bottles, infacol, dentinox the list goes on!!! Always holding onto the 6weeks they improve...then 12weeks its much better........then 16weeks most colic has gone...........needless to say we were waiting a long time!!!

Your doing your best for your daughter, it's very early days for your body and mind in terms of recovery but I can 100% tell you it does get better and easier xxx

Congratulations on your baby and I'm sorry to hear it's been so tough for both of you.

Google your area for an nhs infant feeding team. They should be able to give you support.
I would suggest the baby is checked for tongue tie as that can cause feeding issues like you describe. This is best done in person.

What colours are her stools? Any mucous in them? What's the condition of her skin like? Any rash? Does she wheeze at all?

The answers to those questions would rule cow's milk protein intolerance in or out.

It is possible that the aptamil is causing the issue, some babies are just unsettled on it, esp since they changed the formula of it last year.
It might be worth trying another standard one rather than comfort etc. Comfort formula is likely to constipate her and you haven't ruled out the other possible causes yet. Change of bottles can help too. Infacol needs to be given every feed and takes a few days to build up in babies system before the benefits can be seen.

I can assure you your baby doesn't hate you and you aren't the worst mum, its just your baby is in discomfort and you need to try to figure out why, so you can resolve it. That will allow you to have more sleep, and at least if baby is awake they may not cry as much which will be much less draining for you.
Don't change more than one thing at once or you won't know what is working. It is a case of trial and error.

First step would be to access a professional for tongue tie assessment, and to consider CMPI. You should have Nhs services in your area to do this or if you prefer, access a private practitioner (make sure they're registered to the association of tongue tie practitioners).

If it's a "no" to both of those, I would try a different standard stage one formula.
Then try different bottles, a lot of people rate the mam anti colic ones.

If none of that works I'd be accessing gp.

I hope you manage to get sorted soon. It's hell to live through and can have a real impact. Keep the faith though, that you can get through it. Take any help offered, like your mums yesterday. Even if it's not directly with the baby but with cooking, laundry, running errands etc.
If dad is around can he give some bottle feeds so you can get a good stretch of sleep eg one of you go to bed early and split the night into 2 halves so you're both getting 5 hrs? Or alternate nights?

Congratulations! I vaguely remember that the crying ramped up at about the month stage for us - I remember just bouncing my LO in his bouncer till I could feel my legs!

At one point he only ever went 2 hours between a feed (he's huge!) and it just feels like it never stops. Get your head down when you can - even if you can't sleep, resting is good! Wind her as much as you can - and do bicycle legs for bottom burps! I found, and I don't want to upset up further, that my baby fed off my emotions so if we were both crying (happened a lot), he'd get more upset - I remember having to call my in laws when my husband was away because he'd been crying for 4 hours and the second my FIL held him, he stopped and fell asleep! It does get better

I'd read up on cows milk protein intolerance and see if you think it fits

The gp can prescribe a formula that has much smaller molecules of protein in it which is much easer to digest called aptimel pepti

If that doesn't help you can get others prescribed from a paediatrician that don't contain any cows milk protein, we had one called neonate

I'd also consider trying dr browns bottles as our paediatrician recommend them for dd and they definitely helped

Have a look at reflux symptoms and see if any apply to your baby. The back arching and screaming after feeding sounds like reflux to me and medication can make a huge difference if it is. You could try a dummy if baby is comfort sucking, holding her more upright might help too. Trust your instincts and don't be afraid to take her to the GP if you feel something isn't right. And look after yourself too I've been there with the traumatic birth/PTSD/reflux baby etc and it will get better.

I’ve actually had 5 hours last night and I feel like a brand new person! Thanks for all the replies. I’m glad I’m not alone.

My LG does have a dummy although she’s not a big fan of them to be honest, she usually spits them out.. she sometimes has them when she’s napping though. Does anyone else’s baby do this? I thought most babies loved them.

She’s been absolutely fine today, had a massive poo and she strained a lot but she’s relaxed again?! I’m wondering if she was just bunged up and perhaps the infacol is taking effect, today is the third day of using it. However, I’m still going to make a GP appointment just to get her checked I think. NoClueWithStyle thanks for you reply, I don’t know much about tongue tie so I’ll have a google of that. Her stools are yellowish and quite runny, no mucus. She doesn’t have a rash although I’ve noticed some whitish spots on her face - There’s about 5 in total so wouldn’t say it was a rash. She only wheezes when she’s drinking her milk but her nose is a little blocked so assumed it was that? Does anyone have tips on how to help a babies bunged up nose? My friends mum mentioned cooled boiled water and salt but I’m not sure?

My DP (her dad) is around and does his fair share but I’ve transformed into the world lightest sleeper so I’m awake anyway if he feeds her. He’s went back to work this week so I’m picking the majority of the night feeds up.

Thanks for the bottle recommendation too Fraggle - I’ll have a look into these. We have been using the Nuby anti collic ones.

sunday sorry I might not have been clear in my OP, she was just screaming all the time the past two days, so wasn’t just after feeding her. I am concerned over the back aching though as I know that can be a sign but as I say she’s been okay today. Think she’s just keeping me on my toes!

I really appreciate everyone’s help though