Giving Expressed Breatmilk in Bottles, Possible Colic?

No if it was colic even moving her legs back and forth wouldn't make her fall asleep. Colic babies are nearly impossible to console. It sounds like she either has to have a bm or shes gasy. Mylicon drops work really well. So I would try the drops and see if thats any relief. Also if it could be that she has to have a bm, do a rectal temp to try and stimulate her so she can go. Good luck hope this helped

It's possible that something you ate caused her to have some gas. Try getting mylicon drops, you can give it with every feeding if necessary. That happened with my son - my husband ended up going out at 2am to get some, but it certainly works! I wouldn't waste precious breastmilk, but I know some moms who just throw it out if they ate something they believe will cause gas. Myself, I would never throw it out just for a gas causing food.

A.,
First, Happy Mother's Day to you!
Second, I am one of the La Leche League leaders in the area and I'd love to help you out (it's what we do...) :)
She may be getting over full--babies can over eat with a bottle since it is easier to get the milk out (even with a slow flow nipple). It's also easier to get gas--even with the best bottles. I can share some tips to help you (including eliminating dairy--one of the biggest 'sensitivities') whether you wish to continue to pump and bottle feed or if you would like to get baby back to the breast (it isn't as hard as you think!).
You (or anyone) can send me a private msg if you'd like help or more info and I'll reply with my phone number! Just not sure how 'safe' it is to put my number on a board like this... :)
LLL of Beavercreek meets at 1030am the First Wed of the Month at Grace Covenant Church on Fairfield Rd
The East Dayton/Kettering group meets at 7PM the Second Tuesday of the Month at Corinth Church
For info on other groups in our area, go to:
http://www.lllohio.org/groups/dayton.html

B.

Colic is not a diagnosis. It is just a word used to describe a fussy baby. There is always a reason for "colic." It is just a matter of figuring it out. The two most common causes of colic are reflux and a milk allergy. My daughter had both, and screamed for the first six months of her life until she was properly diagnosed and treated (she was allergic to the milk from my diet in her breastmilk). Do not let anyone tell you that you just have a "colicky baby"! Yes, babies do get fussy, but an inconsolable baby usually has some type of pain issue. I would advise you to talk to a lactation consultant and also check out the La Leche League website for really great information and forums--very helpful. If your baby seems to be in pain or is spitting up forcefully and/or very frequently, call your pediatrician. Good luck! I've been there, and it will get better!

I am going to go against the popular theory and tell you that breastfeeding is not all that is cracked up to be It is easy and successful for some people and is never easy or successful for others. (Not that those who are successful won't make you feel like less of mother is you decide to feed formula) Nearly all the professionals that are encouraging "breast is best" were born in the generation of "formula first" Child rearing advice and recomendations change all the time. Your little girl will not sprout a third arm if she is raised on formula or if you continue to wear yourself out trying to pump. What I'm trying to say is that there are many ways and views of what is right for your baby, but the thing to remember is what is right for YOU! If you remove some of the stress you will be more laid back and everything will seem easier. That is the best gift you can give your daughter...a happy mother. Chances are your little one did have gas...and she might be having a growth spurt, if she is fed, dry and swaddled and nothing seems to soothe it is ok to let her fuss a little and take a break. Sometimes they are over stimulated and respond like that. Please don't think I'm encouraging you not to breastfeed, like I said, it is great for SOME people, but don't let it hinder your enjoyment of being of Mom, there will be so many things in the next 20 years to feel guilty about...

I have two daughters, 16 and 18...one formula fed, one breast fed, both have over 4.0 GPA's and are healthy, happy, normal children. I am foster parent for an adoption agency and have had over 40 newborns in the last 5 years, and I didn't breast feed ANY of them and they are all doing fine! Just relax, take a break and try to enjoy.

I had similar experiences with my son. The only thing I wanted add was that I applaud and encourage you to continue to give your baby breast milk. It doesn't matter how you give it to her, breast or bottle. I pumped exclusively for 6 months and while it was a lot of work, I know that it was the best thing for my son. A lot of people told me, "Oh just try a little harder and he'll get it." I tried going back every now and then, and it never worked. You know, all that did was make me feel bad. I TRIED and with all the energy in the world put into it, that little guy was NOT going to take the breast. (I was very sick with a c-section related infection when I first got home. He did fine in the hospital, and then refused once we got home. Tried the lactation consultants, read all the books, NOTHING was gonna help me and the tears were just not worth it.)
Do what YOU need to do for you and your baby. If you need to supplement with formula, don't feel bad. Just keep it up as much as you can for as long as you can.

Good luck. Hang in there.

Hi, Please get the book or video of Happiest Baby on the Block Dr. Harvery Karp started this program to help soothe baby in minutes. In some cultures colic does not even exists. Breastfeeding is always the hardest the first two weeks. Also sometimes babies can have problems with food you are eating, my friend found out the spicy food she was eating was giving the baby gas. If you would like call me and I can help you. ###-###-####. I know I must be frusting, my last child was not easy baby. Happy Mothers Day. Jo

She might have GERD/ reflux, by daughter has it and it started around 3-4 weeks. She always wanted to eat, spit-up a lot and felt better when we held her upright. CAll your ped. and see if this is a possibility. (my daughter would cry for hours at a time when it acted up). She is now on meds and is so much better. Good luck.

Breastmilk digests a LOT faster than formula. And colic doesn't occur that early... Usually 2-3 mos if at all. I strongly urge you to try nursing again. It takes 4-6 weeks to establish a steady milk supply and even longer for your baby to get used to it and get a routine going. My daughter was in the NICU for the 2 1/2 days at the hospital... I would try to nurse her and had no success so she'd get formula. The first MONTH was hard but I kept at it. Successfull breastfeeding won't happen without a little work. Also, with breastmilk, for the first month or two, your baby will eat anywhere from every 45 minutes to every 2 hours. So she could be crying from hunger. She'll start out by eating a little bit each time but very frequently, to eating more at a time and less frequently. Nursing isn't frustrating for the baby - it's how nature intended.... it just takes time and patience.
You can also give your lactation consultant a call at the hospital for tips.

You guys had a tough start with the breast feeding for sure, but don't give up hope yet. It is still early and you can do it. Babies to get fussier when they are first home from the hospital. I've heard many moms say "is this the same baby?" I expect it is not colic - that's much worse than what your describing. Contact the lactation support person through your OBs office. Or look up LaLeche League for support. There is a lot of support out there and it is worth the effort, believe me. Get over this little hump and give it a couple more weeks - she'll get the hang of it.
Good luck,
S.

It might not be colic...yet. One night does not a colicky baby make, and hopefully it will only be the one night. My baby is 3 months and finally out of the colicky stage. He refused to nurse so we fed him expressed milk from a bottle. We started with Avent and, while all my friends and so many others swear by them, I HATED them. I switched to Dr. Brown's and saw a little bit of an improvement. Yes, they're more 'labor intensive' to clean, but for my baby they made a little bit of a difference...and when your baby screams and cries for at least 3 hours a day, 4-5 times a week, that little bit of a difference was wonderful.

Remember, your daughter is a tiny baby whose body is just learning how to work, whose mind is just learning to process so many new and different things, sights, smells, and experiences. Sometimes they get a little freaked out. Sometimes their digestive systems need a little practice and fine tuning (although, if this is happening more than just once or twice, consult your ped).

I used to spend a lot of time worrying "what is causing my baby's colic". I kept a journal of what I ate, when my baby ate and slept, when the crying would start, when it would end, poopy diapers, etc. I found NO recognizable pattern. I cut out dairy, high fiber, and cruciferous from my diet and it did NOTHING to help. Furthermore, whenever we went to Grandma's house or out in public, our baby was an angel. I finally decided that I had no idea what was causing my baby's colic and I would just do my best to soothe my baby and read Dr. Harvey Karp's "Happiest Baby on the Block" and used the methods to try to calm my baby. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. And...like everyone says, 3 months came along and like turning off a switch, the colic was gone.

Feel free to PM me if you'd like to talk more. My baby's colic was 3 months of hell and agony, so I completely sympathize with any mother who goes through it.

Happy First Mothers Day!!

Yes I agree that the motions you are describing are usually coordinated with a baby who has an upset stomach. If she has gas or needs help pooping this will help her. Could be related to her stomach and everything learning to work together and/or something you ate.
Good luck!

Since she's soothed by movement of her legs to her belly, her tummy might be upset, or she might have gas. You can try Mylicon. It's safe even for newborns. It worked great for my son when he was younger.

I know how hard it is when you first start nursing, but it does get easier! If you'd like to nurse don't give up. It sounds like your baby might have gas - esp. since she stops when you move her legs toward and away from her belly. I strongly recommend trying gas drops. They were a miracle for us when my son was a baby. Whenever he was crying and I didn't know why, I gave him the gas drops. It worked most of the time. I kept a bottle everwhere! I've also heard that gripe water has the same effect. Good luck. Hang in there!!! Happy mother's day!

Hey I am the mother of a 10 week old little boy and he is a very gassy little man. It could be that the bottles that you are using are causing her gas problems.The number one piece of advice I would give is ask your pediatrician about giving her some gas drops. The reason she likes when you bring her legs up to her belly is that it helps her get the gas out...even if you don't always hear it. I also found that he would stop crying imediately if I held him facing outward and just bounced him. I hope this helps you and just hang in there it gets easier trust me I was ready to cry for a week or so before I found these little tricks.

hello,
my name is D. and i completely understand your frustration the same thing happened to me with my first son, however this reaction is normal, most infants between 2wks and 4wks are still learning how to get rid of gas, what worked great for me was a warm bath, give her a warm bath when she is really fussy and when she is content rub her belly from left to right in a cirle motion this helps get the gas moving more easily for infants and makes it less painful for them,

i have a 4wk old at home now, he started to get really gasy and fussy, but when i started the warm baths and the belly rubs it was instant relief

I too am a first time mommy so I am not an expert, however it may be a few different things, unfortuntatley possilby what you ate, I felt while nursing (just stopped at 8 weeks of age b/c had to go back to work at couldnt pump there)i couldnt eat anything but bread and water. so just be careful about what you eat. however it may be the bottle, is she getting to much air with the bottles you are using. this was something i constantly obsessed with, which bottle is best b/c they all say "best against colic", and also just make sure she is burping during her feeding. i feel for you though, i too had a c-section for large baby and not only are you tired from being up all night but you are in pain from the incision. my baby has also been colicky since day one too whether on breast or bottle and it is very trying. good luck and congrats on the new baby

Babies go through a stage 8-14 days after they are born that they want to eat non-stop. If your breastfeeding you feel like a human pacifier. I wouldn't throw it away. She's still adjusting to the new world around her. When you go to her next appointment, talk to the doctor about it, especially if it's still going on. Try not to hunch over her, it's not good for anyone to do. If you want to hold her, sit up as straight as you can, use boppy's and pillows to help. Put a pillow under her mattress to prop the matress up. This will help if it's acid reflex. Congrats on your bundle of joy! And best wishes!

A.,
I've been through this myself so first of all keep your chin up and don't despair although it's really hard when the baby is crying and seem's to be in pain.

Colic is diagnosed if the baby seems to be in pain 3+ times a week and the crying goes on for hours.

It could also just be gas pain, in which case some gas drops you can buy over the counter will help quickly. Or as with my own daughter it could be GERD (gastro esophageal reflux disease) which is like really bad heartburn. When they have this they try and feed frequently to keep stuff moving through their stomachs which helps to temporarily relieve the pain. They also spit up quite badly with this and need to be burped really, really well after a feed. It needs diagnosing by a Dr but is fairly easily treated with medication. I would suggest you see your peadiatrician ASAP. In the meantime don't get rid of all that milk it must have been hard work pumping it! But just to warn you GERD can go hand in hand with lactose/dairy intolerance.

Whatever it is she'll grow out of it in a few months time. I'll keep my fingers crossed it's just gas pain, Sam.

I agree with several of the other moms that mentioned she might have gas or need to have a bowel movement. From what you are describing, with the movement of her legs, that's what would calm her belly. We gave my daughter Mylicon drops quite often for the first few weeks and that really helped her. All it does is work it's way through her system and pops any air bubbles that might be in there, so you'll have to wait until she actually has gas for it to work, but it's well worth it.

Some other things that were mentioned were that 1) breastmilk digests at a much faster rate than formula and 2) babies can "over eat" from a bottle vs. at the breast. Both are TRUE. So...maybe she really is hungry after just a short time OR maybe she's gotten *too much* food in her belly from the bottle.

In any case, it'll take a few trials to get it figured out. I applaud your decision to continue to give your baby breastmilk even though it's tough. Even a little amount is better than done, but don't give up trying. It will get easier. Good luck!

She may have colic, but not necessarly related to the breast bottle feeding. I bottled fed my son for 13 mo. with pumped breast milk and he was fine.

Maybe you can help by choosing a bottle that helps a little bit by keeping air out when she eats; I used the plaitex vent air and when my pediatritian saw it, he mentioned those were his favorite.

Another think that may help you, watch what you eat, somethings that we eat cause gas to our babies. Go to La Leche Leage website for more information, and don't throw away your milk; I don't think that's it unless you've eaten a lot foods that provoke gas.

Good luck!

Hi! I'm quite positive she is getting over some constipation and upset intestines from the formula. The motions you describe that you are doing with her legs that seem to comfort her are common when babies have intestinal upsets and/or just need to poop but sometimes when they are very young they have a little trouble getting it all coordinated. By all means, whatever you do, keep feeding her breastmilk and do not throw it away! Find a La Leche League Leader (an international network of mothers supporting breastfeeding mothers) or a lactation consultant who can help you get her back on your breast. It is absolutely possible with help from people who know what they are doing. Go to www.lalecheleague.org to look up a chapter near you. You can call a leader at anytime with questions. Also go to www.breastfeeding.com to find a lactation consultant near you. Pumping is hard work and I commend you for that. You are giving your baby the best start to life! Best Wishes,
J.