My baby is 5 weeks old. I am breastfeeding, and she is doing well and gaining weight. She loves to eat! My problem is that she has become increasingly unhappy after feedings. After she eats, I burp her and then sit her upright for up to 30 minutes (as the doctor recommended). However, she has been displaying signs of major discomfort about 3 minutes after eating-- kicking her legs, arching her back, scrunching her face into a frown, and turning red. Sometimes, she gets hiccups that last for up to 30 minutes and make her miserable. It appears that she is having some sort of problem with either gas or reflux. She starts to cry at this point, and becomes inconsolable, sometimes crying for hours on end. I've tried everything to make her feel better: rocking, swaddling, music, baths, toys, walks, pacifiers, rubbing her back & belly, swing, etc. At her 1-month doctors appointment, the doctor had me get Mylicon for her gas. This has not seemed to help at all. The doctor also gave me a paper about GERD, but the symptoms listed on the paper seem very extreme (baby refusing to eat, losing weight, excessive vomiting, etc.) My baby isn't experiencing any of these extreme symptoms, but she is obviously in some sort of pain. It's horrible to see her so uncomfortable, and I'm getting worn out with all the crying. I am beginning to feel defeated since I can't seem to help her. Does anyone have any similar experiences or suggestions?
The spa baby tub will help, go to the website and check it out. I have the Tummy tub, but found this one later, could have saved a little money. It will seriously help with gerd, colic, and gas. She will float and relax. It saved Alice and I,and she was a happier baby that is for sure!
Hope that helps,
M.
Hi J.,
I have a couple of suggestions:
1. Check YOUR diet. Look into what you are eating. Perhaps the foods that you are eating are making her gassy.
2. Does she have any signs of a food allergy? (red ring around the anus, rash around the mouth?) She may be allergic to a food you are eating and it's getting passed thru the breastmilk.
Best of luck to you.
L.
Hi J., I went through the same thing with my son who is now seven.I will never forget it! He turned out to be colic. ( even know they say breastfed babies have a slim chance)Try being strict on your diet. My some never spit up,so reflux was ruled out, He was a healthy eater , but after he ate it was horriable. I would hold him face with my arm around his belly or i used one of those baby carriers, which was a life saver. It definately sounds like colic ,the doctors would never say that to me , he just has a little gas and i would think i was going nuts. So try to watch what you eat ( no foods that give gas beans, brocc., some dairy) I cut alot of food and it helped. So did running the vacuum, He would sleep with that at nap time. Hope i helped you some what. Kristin P
we had a lot of issues at that age too. Have you tried cutting out dairy from your diet? That seemed to help us. Also you could try gripe water if you think it is colic. Mylicon did not work for us. Also you could try the colic hold. go to askdrsears.com for more info on that. good luck. it should get better in several weeks which I know seems like a long time. hang in there.
My son was the same way and of course the doctor prescribed medication for reflux. As long as the doctor hasn't said anything serious might be going on, I would offer the following advice that a mom of 2, 30 year olds gave me. She said that the whole focus of a babies life at this age is their digestive system and that it is a transition to make for them to go from being in the womb to the outside world. They do have gas, throw up, cry and get miserable...just like we do when we have tummy issues. Just remember, this too will pass. Follow your mothering instincts if you think something serious is wrong but otherwise know that by breastfeeding you are doing the best for your baby and she will figure it out on her own, with your loving support. One thing that did help my son was to be held while I bounced on an exercise ball. Also, to raise his head while he was sleeping and to wear your baby as much as possible....I really loved the moby wrap. I know it's scary but hang in there and resist the urge to medicate such a small child for a problem that is a normal developmental issue.
best,
K.
Talk to your doctor. There is a form of reflux called silent reflux where you don't have to spit up and you can still be a healthy weight gainer. My last son had very similar symptoms and it turned out to be reflux and after some medication he was a totally different baby. No more hours of crying. No more arching his back after eating. You can also try Gripe Water to help soothe her stomach rather than the Mylicon. I think you can find it at most drugstores now. Good luck.
