Completely confused about feeding my baby now...

Cookie_monster_7

I've had a nightmare of a day so far and could use some advise. I've previously posted about my baby having reflux and painful trapped wind and wanting to get her into a routine and got some advise about feeds and reflux etc

Today I took her to the doctor having found that there is a prescription feed called enfamil for windy bloated babies but she said it was for lactose intolerant babies and prescribed nutramigen. Came home, fed her that....it took an hour because she struggled to get it through the teat holes. Then she was sick after it. I don't think it is right for her anyway, I don't think she's got a problem with lactose. The next feed I gave her was back to aptamil with gaviscon and I left my MIL feeding her that while I went to asda to buy cow and gate comfort to give that a try! When I got back she'd only drank a tiny amount so she was hungry again an hour later so I tried the cow and gate comfort....which she struggled to get through the teats so again she has only taken a small amount so she's not settling and not comfy.

I'm feeling terrible because neither of my children have had much attention today while I try to address this feeding issue and I'm so exhausted because after the night feed I get no more sleep because the baby is either groaning in pain from trapped wind or throwing up.

I am completely lost and don't know what to do next.... help!

pigpen

get variflow teats!!!

And stick to one milk for a week and see how you get on.. 1 feed is no use and likely to do more harm than good!!

ETA.. now I have finished my dinner..

Symptoms of lactose intolerance is quite hard to identify.. one of the main symptoms being excess tummy gas from the gut bacteria not producing lactase and basically it ferments like in wine making. Also vomitting.. usually the main indicator is watery odd coloured or frothy poo.. but this is also a sign of the trapped wind from reflux.

It is possible for a baby to have both lactose intolerance and reflux.. hence my DS3.. he was gross lol

Try this new milk for a week.. as it is thicker and clogging the teats get some of the variflow teats. They have a cross type 'hole' rather than a single puncture.. this means the harder they suck the more they get.. also it is easier to get thicker milk through reducing the suck pressure needed to get the milk out... they were very very good for DS3, he had lactose free milk, gaviscon and thickeners in his milk it was like porridge!

Try a different feeding position too.. I fed DS3 sitting up in his car seat (he practically lived in that thing!) it also meant we didn't have to disturb him to put him down after a feed he would just be fed and left to sit there for up to an hour.. until the tummy stopped gurgling. If we we not at home he would be fed upright in the pushchair or I fed him sitting on my lap and tried not to move him after a feed. The slightest movement and we would all be covered!! He couldn't even be laid down to sleep!

SkintGypsy

I think you need to give new formula a decent enough trial period, because chopping and changing won't help you work out what the problem is.

sarahhajdari

hi

my daughter had reflux and the gaviscon did not do anything to help. I put colief drops in her milk and it helped a lot. It might be worth a try. You can get it at pharmacies, and if it works go to your doctor and ask for a prescription for it.

SkintGypsy

Stopped mid post to read DD a story and cross posted, albeit ten minutes later. Kids!

Molly41

I always found Dr Browns teats and bottles to be really good with very colicky windy babies - i always recommended them to mums.

http://www.drbrowns.co.uk/index.php

Tigsteroonie

When Andrew was put onto prescription formula, I was advised to mix it in daily-increasing proportions with his normal milk (EBM in his case), so that he could get used to the much thicker consistency. The next size of teat was also a necessity.

freebiequennie

I would second dr browns bottles def the best on market for colicy babies and also help with reflux.

give the prescribed milk a week's trial unless things get really desperate - i know seems like they are now but no doctor will take you seriously if you dont try.

If your baby really does have reflux then she probably needs an assessment by a paediatrician and would request the GP refers you - there are 2 medications that can be prescribed but not allowed to give medical advice on this forum but ask GP about stronger medications some can only prescribe it on paediatrician say so.

During the day let her sleep propped up in her baby bouncer chair. At night fold a towel under head end of mattress so she is tilted slightly - do not place directly under head.

Her feed should take about 30mins if takes longer then need to use faster flowing teat, wind her at least 3 times during a feed sat upright on your lap held under chin patting and rubbing back from bottom upwards to shoulders, at end of feed do this for 5 minutes before placing her down either in tilted cot or in bouncy chair - do try to let her settle herself which may involve some crying especially as you have another child.

Reflux babies dont tend to vomit whole feeds as such it tends to be large possets of milk, or lots of small sicks (so in effect is alot of the feed but dont normally bring up whole feed).

If baby is bringing up whole feed after then it could something else, cant remember babies age but pyloric stenosis is a possiblity but baby would be vomitting every feed and be in alot of pain and not gaining any weight.


I guess if you are not happy go back to GP or alternatively just go to accident and emergency more than likely will be admitted to childrens ward but least baby will be fully asssessed and you will have a better explanantion for symptons.

(I am a qualified childrens nurse so have nursed many reflux babies and work as a night nanny so have dealt with many reflux babies in this role too).

elfen

pyloric stenosis - is that the one where the stomach muscles push up instead of down and push everything back out? If so, my big sister had this, it's easily sorted by a small op to sort out the muscle so it goes the right way....the scar left from it (the op was over 30 years ago) is a star shake which she calls her second belly button.

freebiequennie

elfen wrote: »

pyloric stenosis - is that the one where the stomach muscles push up instead of down and push everything back out? If so, my big sister had this, it's easily sorted by a small op to sort out the muscle so it goes the right way....the scar left from it (the op was over 30 years ago) is a star shake which she calls her second belly button.

yes in so many words great explanation!!! sorted with an operation but easily mistaken for other problems but is usually picked up in young babies quickly by GP's.

danielle1977

I went thru a really bad time with ds2. He was waking drinking the night every hours being sick, feeding, being sick going to sleep waking. By the time he was 14 weeks we had been to the doctors 15 times. I was an over protective mum and he was apprerently allergic to milk, so I changed my diet as he was breastfed to cut out all diary. This was no help. I tried expressing to different bottles. Tried rantidine from doctors as he was breastfed he couldn't have gaviscon. Eventually we went to the doctors and I said 'if theres not a problem keep him' and stood up. We were referred to a mother and baby unit-as I was a mum who had problems and needed help-they got the needing help right except it wasn't mental health help that I needed. After 2 hours I was told it was ridiculous, given ranitidine AND gaviscon, the rantidine is a liquid and was told to mix the gaviscon with water-a few hours later much happier baby! The doctor explained that some babies need ranitidine and gaviscon, he gave a much more detailed explaination that I can't remember. So you could try asking for both of these and hopefully it will help you.