Baby arching back and throwing head back while feeding

[kezz_howland]

My 3 week old boy keeps doing this. Only maybe one or two feeds out of his 8-10 a day, but he will start doing it half way through and then does it several times making it hard to feed him! Is it a reflux/wind type problem, or is he just discovering what his body can do and playing up?! lol. He often grunts at the same time so I don't know if it's related to him trying to poo! He only poos once a day but it's a massive explosive one!

 

[vintage67]

My 3 week old boy keeps doing this. Only maybe one or two feeds out of his 8-10 a day, but he will start doing it half way through and then does it several times making it hard to feed him! Is it a reflux/wind type problem, or is he just discovering what his body can do and playing up?! lol. He often grunts at the same time so I don't know if it's related to him trying to poo! He only poos once a day but it's a massive explosive one!

Those can be colicy symptoms. My first son would do the arching and turn bright red! Have you tried experimenting with what angle you are feeding him? Our 3 month old will not stand for being fed unless practically sitting up. If he is laid back too far, he will stiffen and get angry.

 

[kezz_howland]

Thank you. I'll have a go at trying some different angles!

 

[Trumsiz]

Hi,
my son used to do this a lot and we had a lot of problems with him bringing up wind, so it could be that..

but also I found that he did this more when he was overtired, along with jittery actions and flailing around..

or simply he just wasn't hungry and didn't really want it.

hope your getting somewhere with it as it's not nice seeing them arch like that,
good luck,
Sue

 

[Pandasnax]

my 2 week old does the exact same thing! he goes red grunts and bends his back and head! I thought it was just him trying to go to the toilet :/ whats actually wrong with him ?

 

[kezz_howland]

I think that's what it is, cause he's nearly 4 weeks now and he is still doing it, but bringing up his wind fine etc. He grunts and pushes when he needs to trump or poo... and it can go on for hours! He even does it in his sleep (not good at night when you have him next to your bed!) I asked the midwife and she said as long as he's not in pain and he is not constipated to not worry about it. Some babies apparently take a while to learn how to coordinate their muscles in order to poo! Our babies are just working things out! lol

 

[Sam182]

Sounds like reflux. The arching of the back is a sure sign. You should try elevating his mattress at an angle to help and he may need infant gaviscon

 

[kezz_howland]

He has infacol before every feed and his mattress's are all elevated with reflux cushions but it doesn't stop the grunting/straining noises and fidgeting and kicking his legs about I got no sleep at all last night because of it. I'm knackered!

 

[Sam182]

Infacol will make his wind easier to break but gaviscon thickens the milk making it sit in the stomach better and eases the acid reflux a little but sometimes other medicine like ranitidine is needed to take away the 'burn' which causes the back arching because of discomfort