MSE Newborn to 1 year (& beyond!) baby club 2

Mrshaworth2b

Well after having lo on this thicker milk he's constipated so we tried him on his old milk and was going to try some gaviscon but his reflux has been terrible.

So now were back on the thicker milk however he's having to suck so hard to get it out we tried variflow teats and he was having the bottle on like 12 mins and then throwing up. We can't win!

Oh actually said he thinks I need to see the doc because he thinks my mood swings are bad when lo cries. What he doesn't realise is that I have to deal with this all day every day, he gets just a snippet when he's home from work. And I'm not going to lie it is getting me down but I need support not critisim!

Gillyx

MrsH, get the fastest flow teats you can, we were on feed thickener and used size 3 teats from the get go. It used to flow out easily with those. Secondly if the milk is working but it's making him constipated, go back and tell the doctor that, they can prescribe stuff to help with him being bunged up How long has he been on it now? Even changing one formula brand to another can cause constipation/the runs for a week or so until babies tum gets used to it. If you feel it is the thickness of the milk definitely go and see about getting something to help I know doctors will prescribe lactulose.

Another option would be feed thickener in his normal milk, really helped here, it's all natural ingredients so no constipation issues

Also it's not easy being at home with a screaming baby all day, try if you can to get out for even a short walk, even if he is screaming the whole way, they definitely don't seem as loud when you're outside and walking Hugs xx

Mrshaworth2b

Hi gilly, thanks for the advice ill go and get some tomorrow, he sucks hard on any teat so will he be ok with fast flow?

I get out with him everyday, I don't mind his crying I think more my issue is my oh at the moment but that's something we need to deal with!

He was on cow and gate and went on to sma staydown, been on it a week now, it's sorted his reflux but like I said the issue was the constipation and teats, the doc said water in between his feeds but most days I've only managed to get 40 ml down him, because he's been napping until his next feed, he won't drink water straight after a feed obv and he had his jabs this week so for two days he was completely off.

Lola888

If you want to try tonight get a needle and sterilise it- with some alcohol or just heat it up then let it cool. Pop another hole into the teat, then sterilise the teat. I did this with some bottles I bought they only came with size 2s and I needed 3's, but also needed more bottles so I popped the teats with a needle until I could be arsed to get some new teats.

Mrshaworth2b

I did that with a fork after reading some one had done that, the hole became to big and again he gulped it down like drinking a bottle of pop! So I'm wondering if a bigger size teat will flow too quickly, like I said the variflow was too fast

Gillyx

I think it's very easy for the men folks, even now my A can be a horror the whole day, and the minute my OH turns his key in the lock it's hyper mode, happiest baby in the world, which makes me feel wonderful, NOT. Then if I happen to mention we've have a bad day or whatever he'l roll his eyes, BUT on his day off, or if he witnesses it after or before work, it's "oh he's a nightmare blah blah blah" try dealing with it day in day out is what I'd like to scream at him

He's sucking hard because he can't get the milk out I'd imagine, You definitely do need to go up a teat size with the thicker milk, I'm not sure what bottles you use, but if there is a size 2 and a size 3, maybe get one of each and see which suits best. Tommee Tippee bottles were awful for us, caused wind and seemed to make his reflux worse.

They don't tend to like water when they're little, and obviously it can bag them up and then they don't want milk, I've been there I'd definitely go back to the doctors about the constipation. Not sure if I have any thickener in the cupboard but if I do I'll send it to you. Think I may have thrown it all out a few months ago x

Lola888

Maybe something like the Medela Calma teat not sure about the technology, but they only do one teat no different sizes. I used them when my Lo was newborn, but then I stopped and she wouldn't drink from them anymore.

Mrshaworth2b

Thanks gilly, I'll go get next size teats tomorrow and try him with them, I tried him with the variflow and thought hell learn to not suck as hard surely but bottle after bottle he drank so so fast and then was sick so it wa one big cycle!

I don't feel like I'm not coping, I just hate not knowing what to do for the best, do I treat the reflux with the milk and have him constipated? Or do I keep him on the milk with good poos but he's sick all the time? I know it'll get better eventually its jus hard in the here and now

Kayalana99

Just want to second Lola...a fork compared to a needle is a BIG differnece I wouldn't dream of using a fork.

But its not about making the hole bigger its about turning a 2 teat into a 3 teat (after all the only difference is an extra hole).

If your unsure just hold it up to the light and if the 3rd hole looks bigger then the other two then don't use it...but with a needle it should be the right size for it.

As for your question..Maybe he needs time to adjust to the new milk? Mine was consipated when I moved from breast to bottle feed for a week or so...then he got bunged up again when I moved on to the hungry baby milk..but it all balanced out in the end.

I think I'd rather have a sickie baby though then a consipated one.. (assuming he doesn't get used to it perhaps give a little boiled water as well to help him adjust?) on the condition he was still putting weight on...!!

I don't think thier is one right answer just have to do what you think is best and change it if its not working xx

Thanks everyone for advice about Center parcs... I think I'm just going to go and if we end up staying in the villa most weekend then so be it lol..not really keen on the whole thing as most gathered but OH wants to go and its something to do I guess.

Gillyx

There is a right answer, there will be correct meds/milk to get it all sorted and you will hopefully have a good balance, it's just finding that can be difficult