6 week old colic and allergic to cows milk

[Caitlin1998]

Hi all,
Only new to this I’ve just had my first baby hes 6 weeks old now, we have had no contact from health visitor since 10 days old and discharge from hospital 8 hours after birth, just thrown into deep end as this is my first baby it has been a little traumatising as he has done nothing but cry and strain so much, it took me 3 times in a and e to be referred to children’s specialist, they have given me nutramigen and also said he is colic, I have got the colic bottle and tried gripe water and infacol and none helping, can’t lay him flat what’s so ever or he is gagging and straining which leads to crying/screaming he’s in so much pain it’s killing both me and dad of baby, has any one any advice on what to do?

 

[DobbyForever]

Hi! I feel you. They really do just toss you out to the world. This may not be the issue, but this was my unique situation. Couple of questions:
1. Are you using just formula or mixing it with bm?
2. How is his weight gain?
3. Is he eating too quickly?

I ask because my son used to cry all the time. I was told he was just colicky, but my mother's intuition knew something was wrong and I nagged and nagged. My son was originally on Neosure (he was 5lbs at birth). I also had a terrible bm supply, so I had to supplement. Once my supply picked up, and I switched to mostly bm he would cry all the time and wouldn't sleep through the night. Turns out, he was hungry. He wasn't getting the calories/nutrients that he needed from my bm so he wasn't gaining weight the way he should have.

Then I started back to supplementing and the reflux kicked in. I tried a few different brands, but ultimately ended up with Similac Pro Sensitive and cutting dairy from my own diet. It was a big help but not perfect. I know switching formulas isn't ideal, but look into how the formula works. Some use proteins/enzymes to break down the milk for the baby while others are truly lactose free.

I also know my son chugged his milk. When he got older, I was advised to thicken it. Obviously your DS is much too young for that. But I do remember reading some tricks about how to slow the flow while they drink/ nowadays they have all these flow control nipples.

If it's so bad that he's not keeping food down at all, have they talked about medication? My son's reflux wasn't so bad that he needed it, but I do know children that have.

Sending bigs hugs. Whatever the root cause is, I hope that you find what works for him. I know it's hard when our babies are struggling to eat.

 

[Sander]

Oh gosh, my first had colic too. Looks like we were the same age for our first baby too (I’m guessing you’re 22/23 based on the 1998! )

Colic is such a horrible thing especially when it’s your first baby and you’re not confident as a mom yet! There is an AWESOME support group on Facebook for colic moms. I highly recommend you join that if only to feel less alone.

My best tips are:

1. Headphones. This is the best advice I got. Load your phone up with music you enjoy, put headphones in and turn the volume up LOUD. Then you can rock/console your baby without having to hear constant screaming. This will save your sanity.

2. Put him down when you need a break. Yes, he will cry. It’s ok. You need to be able to go to the bathroom or have something to eat or just not be holding a screaming baby for a few minutes. You will not hurt him by leaving him in a safe space (aka his crib/bassinet) and taking a mental break. I would set a timer for 10 or 15 minutes.

3. Try and remember that it’s temporary. It seems like it will last a lifetime and even though colic typically only lasts a few months, that doesn’t really help when you’re in the thick of it! But it will end, and one day it’ll be a distant memory.

It’s nice to know too that just because your first had colic doesn’t mean any future babies will. My next 2 boys were total angels. Stay strong mama, things will get better!!

This is my guy in the thick of colic:



Now he’s almost 3 and loves painting and Elmo and smelling the flowers outside our house. It does get better

 

[Kiwiberry]

My second daughter was like this as well. The only thing I can say that hasn't been mentioned yet at least not that I've read while skimming through, have you tried an inclined bed? Something like the Rock and play or similar might work. It didn't completely get rid of it for my daughter but it did help a lot. At the least it let me lay her down to take a nap without having to hold her upright. Another suggestion is also to try soy-based formula. What's my daughter she was breastfed until about 6-7 months when she decided she wanted bottles more (wanted to be like her big sister), so her issue wasn't exactly cow's milk but that she had GERD.

 

[Caitlin1998]

Hi! I feel you. They really do just toss you out to the world. This may not be the issue, but this was my unique situation. Couple of questions:
1. Are you using just formula or mixing it with bm?
2. How is his weight gain?
3. Is he eating too quickly?

I ask because my son used to cry all the time. I was told he was just colicky, but my mother's intuition knew something was wrong and I nagged and nagged. My son was originally on Neosure (he was 5lbs at birth). I also had a terrible bm supply, so I had to supplement. Once my supply picked up, and I switched to mostly bm he would cry all the time and wouldn't sleep through the night. Turns out, he was hungry. He wasn't getting the calories/nutrients that he needed from my bm so he wasn't gaining weight the way he should have.

Then I started back to supplementing and the reflux kicked in. I tried a few different brands, but ultimately ended up with Similac Pro Sensitive and cutting dairy from my own diet. It was a big help but not perfect. I know switching formulas isn't ideal, but look into how the formula works. Some use proteins/enzymes to break down the milk for the baby while others are truly lactose free.

I also know my son chugged his milk. When he got older, I was advised to thicken it. Obviously your DS is much too young for that. But I do remember reading some tricks about how to slow the flow while they drink/ nowadays they have all these flow control nipples.

If it's so bad that he's not keeping food down at all, have they talked about medication? My son's reflux wasn't so bad that he needed it, but I do know children that have.

Sending bigs hugs. Whatever the root cause is, I hope that you find what works for him. I know it's hard when our babies are struggling to eat.

Thank you for your response, I was using sma formaula at the start then when I went to a and e he was referred to the specialist, they have prescribed him with nutramigen as they think he is allergic to the cows milk protein and no I have not breast fed him, he is growing perfect and gaining weight perfect, I had a natural birth all went well and weighed 6lb 9oz and he doesn’t eat quick at all sometimes just an Oz then stops for about 15 mins then would ask for more, when He was on the sma he was taki Mc 3oz 3 hourly and when I changed to the prescription he’s feeding every 1.5/2 hours

 

[Caitlin1998]

Oh gosh, my first had colic too. Looks like we were the same age for our first baby too (I’m guessing you’re 22/23 based on the 1998! )

Colic is such a horrible thing especially when it’s your first baby and you’re not confident as a mom yet! There is an AWESOME support group on Facebook for colic moms. I highly recommend you join that if only to feel less alone.

My best tips are:

1. Headphones. This is the best advice I got. Load your phone up with music you enjoy, put headphones in and turn the volume up LOUD. Then you can rock/console your baby without having to hear constant screaming. This will save your sanity.

2. Put him down when you need a break. Yes, he will cry. It’s ok. You need to be able to go to the bathroom or have something to eat or just not be holding a screaming baby for a few minutes. You will not hurt him by leaving him in a safe space (aka his crib/bassinet) and taking a mental break. I would set a timer for 10 or 15 minutes.

3. Try and remember that it’s temporary. It seems like it will last a lifetime and even though colic typically only lasts a few months, that doesn’t really help when you’re in the thick of it! But it will end, and one day it’ll be a distant memory.

It’s nice to know too that just because your first had colic doesn’t mean any future babies will. My next 2 boys were total angels. Stay strong mama, things will get better!!

This is my guy in the thick of colic:

View attachment 1096706

Now he’s almost 3 and loves painting and Elmo and smelling the flowers outside our house. It does get better

View attachment 1096707

thank you for responding, yeah I’m 22 , I do try to do as much as possible and my partner is more than good also so I’m confident to go outside for some air for 10-15 mins and he also does the same, he goes to bed at around 12 I stay up all night to around 6/7 in morning then he would get up and I go to bed until 1/2, awk look at him, I keep telling myself that and that the wee creator can’t help the pain he is in, it breaks my heart but I can’t wait for the days out to the play park etc I just feel so so bad

this is my little heartbreaker born on Valentine’s Day

 

[Caitlin1998]

My second daughter was like this as well. The only thing I can say that hasn't been mentioned yet at least not that I've read while skimming through, have you tried an inclined bed? Something like the Rock and play or similar might work. It didn't completely get rid of it for my daughter but it did help a lot. At the least it let me lay her down to take a nap without having to hold her upright. Another suggestion is also to try soy-based formula. What's my daughter she was breastfed until about 6-7 months when she decided she wanted bottles more (wanted to be like her big sister), so her issue wasn't exactly cow's milk but that she had GERD.

thank you for replying,
Aww don’t even talk I have tried everything for him to sleep in, a next to me crib, Moses basket (blanket folded under mattress to raise head slightly), bouncer, pram, car seat, and I have a corner sofa so I have my cushions and pillows all propped up to keep him comfy but of course I can not sleep like this and never never have fell asleep I can’t because I know it’s his safety, the best place so far has been the car seat and the sofa and the doctor has gave me prescription milk, thank you

 

[HLx]

Sounds like silent reflux to me! Ask the doctor for lansoperazole and switch back to your usual formula if the prescription milk isn't working alone

 

[Kiwiberry]

thank you for replying,
Aww don’t even talk I have tried everything for him to sleep in, a next to me crib, Moses basket (blanket folded under mattress to raise head slightly), bouncer, pram, car seat, and I have a corner sofa so I have my cushions and pillows all propped up to keep him comfy but of course I can not sleep like this and never never have fell asleep I can’t because I know it’s his safety, the best place so far has been the car seat and the sofa and the doctor has gave me prescription milk, thank you

The inclined sleepers are raised a little bit more then what you can probably get propped up on the couch or in his car seat, they also are very safe for him to sleep in so that you can sleep soundly. I've used one for all of my kids so far. My first had silent reflux and my second had GERD, my 3rd did pretty well, with no reflux of any kind.

To be honest though, there's not much you can do that will completely get rid of any of his symptoms. You can do things that will help minimize but other than that you kind of have to just ride it out (if it's reflux or gerd).

 

[Bevziibubble]

How is everything going?