End of May 2013 babies CONTINUED..

[Zfbaby]

Well I've decided to switch Alastair over to formula, his colic is awful we ended up at drs today as he'd been up and screaming 18 hours straight with no sleep and his cramps were getting worse
I've been trying to combination feed over the last few days by just topping up his usual night breastfeed with formula but apart from filling him up for longer didn't stop the colic... I'm now thinking my milk might be the issue and gave him two formula feeds in a row today and he seems much improved. I'm hoping its not a fluke, but I've been really struggling with breastfeeding such a hungry baby so I'm going to give exclusive formula feeding a go.
He's already constipated colicky and suffering with bad wind so I don't see what I have to lose from switching him cold turkey.
Do you guys have any tips or advice re feeding formula? The bottle recommends 4oz for his age but he was still hungry after that so I gave him more - is that allowed?!

I feel a bit lost with it all tbh. I just want to see him happy & out of pain.

God I sympathise, Louis is the same. His trapped wind is ridiculous. His face is always blue with wind and his stomach rock hard. Feeding him takes sometimes 2 hours with the constant stopping to wind him or calming his screaming. He's always hungry as he can't eat much in one go plus he thinks hes full from the wind. As soon as some of the wind has passed hes hungry again. Hes also never comfortable enough to sleep and when he does fall asleep out of exhaustion he's thrashing about in pain.
Which formula have you gone with?
We found aptamil made him worse. There's something in there which ferments faster creating more gas.
The comfort milks were too thick for the level 1 teats and level 2 made him gulp more air. We are now using hipp organic formula with gripe water (dentinox made him spit up more and infacol does nothing) and biogaia pro-biotics. They are really amazing and have really helped. His coliky hours have dramatically reduced over the past couple of days. He was screaming the house down from 6pm-6am Wednesday and tonight we've had no colic at all!!!!
We are also doing osteopathy which helped relax him and allowed him to sleep a lot the day he had it which was good to see.
Have you noticed any difference with the colic massage? I do it every nappy change but honestly I don't think it's doing much.
We were advised to leave as much time between feeding as possible to allow the gut to rest more. If its constantly working it will constantly make stomach acid which makes the colic worse.
Have you tried warming his tummy with a warm towel or a warm bath?
If all else fails turn the Hoover on by his crib. Louis goes into a trance which gives him (and us) a break from the screaming and allows him to calm down.

 

[babyface15]

yay for a good night zfbaby. hope it keeps up for you hun.
sorry you're having a tough time too ducky.

 

[Little Ducky]

Zf god that sounds exactly like Alastair! Weirdly though he seems to prefer aptamil milk to anything else, he would projectile vomit sma, the comfort milks made his gas worse and he seems happiest with the aptamil cartons but its early days so we'll see.
I swapped him over cold turkey but he doesn't seem any worse for it, my boobs on the other hand feel like they are about to blow up!

He is hungry ALL the time, but I'm really struggling to get the wind out of him when I burp him after feeds, mostly nothing comes up and his mouth is constantly blue.
He's not old enough for gripe water yet either so we're just plodding along with infacol. He seems much happier after a warm bath but that soon fades once he's had his feed poor mite

 

[Zfbaby]

I'd look into the biogaia ducky. The sooner you start it the faster his tummy can settle. I've had little success with bicycling the legs but putting him over my knee seems to work for Louis. And the tiger in the tree hold has saved my eardrums a few times. Helps lo sleep too.
What bottles are you using? We switched from medela to dr brown a d that seems to have helped too. Does alistair gulp milk? Louis is terrible for it and it makes his tummy grumble badly

 

[babyface15]

my baby girl at 9 days old!! xx

 

[babyface15]

i want to add more pix of her alert but that involves going to the computer which i.never seem to have time for lol

ducky have you thought of pumping in case you change your mind?

 

[Little Ducky]

I'd look into the biogaia ducky. The sooner you start it the faster his tummy can settle. I've had little success with bicycling the legs but putting him over my knee seems to work for Louis. And the tiger in the tree hold has saved my eardrums a few times. Helps lo sleep too.
What bottles are you using? We switched from medela to dr brown a d that seems to have helped too. Does alistair gulp milk? Louis is terrible for it and it makes his tummy grumble badly

Yeah he gulps really badly, his tummy grumbles something chronic bless him, we've been using NUK bottles but might try dr brown to see if that helps.
He still hasn't done a poo either which I'm sure is not helping things

ducky have you thought of pumping in case you change your mind?

Hmm, I hadn't but perhaps I should!

 

[OmiOmen]

Aww babyface that is a great photo. I have read those cute newborn poses like that tend to be taken in the first 2 weeks, I'm not sure if it is true but there is no way I would get CJ looking that calm ever.

 

[Zfbaby]

We've just bought some nuk latex nipples today to go with our dr brown bottles. Dh has a theory that the silicone is too hard. Idk, I'll report back if it helps the wind.
Does your lo sleep well? Louis will only sleep on me. If we put him in the basket or swing we are lucky to get 10mins before the crying starts.
Last night was a good night crying wise and I'm hoping it will be the same tonight but dh is home tonight and he really doesn't understand the idea of calm. He laughs and talks loudly at Louis whilst he's trying to fall asleep, drives me mad as it just keeps him awake.

 

[babyface15]

thanks hun!yeah she even thought that 9 days was a little late for it, she usually does them around 5 days. but she was good and sleepy minus a few little fusses

 

[babyface15]

yes ducky that was my first thought. if you pump for a few days while you're transitioning then if you find the formula ends up making things worse you'd still have the option to switch back. if he gets better then you'll know the formula is better for him!

 

[babyface15]

We've just bought some nuk latex nipples today to go with our dr brown bottles. Dh has a theory that the silicone is too hard. Idk, I'll report back if it helps the wind.
Does your lo sleep well? Louis will only sleep on me. If we put him in the basket or swing we are lucky to get 10mins before the crying starts.
Last night was a good night crying wise and I'm hoping it will be the same tonight but dh is home tonight and he really doesn't understand the idea of calm. He laughs and talks loudly at Louis whilst he's trying to fall asleep, drives me mad as it just keeps him awake.

poor little guy, your nerves must be shot

 

[Zfbaby]

Haha yeah they are pretty shot. I spoke too soon as well. Last night was horrendous for colic, worst it's been. He screamed constantly, wouldnt sleep and only ate 1/2-1oz at a time. We did everything we could think to wind him and it was still a nightmare. Dh let me sleep from 10:30-1 then I took over. dh has gone to work now hell be back for 7ish tonight. Gonna be a long day. How did things go for you?

 

[Zfbaby]

yes ducky that was my first thought. if you pump for a few days while you're transitioning then if you find the formula ends up making things worse you'd still have the option to switch back. if he gets better then you'll know the formula is better for him!

That's a great idea. I pumped to get rid of milk but wish I could have continued.

 

[OmiOmen]

Zfbaby, DS1 was like that. It is so stressful having a high needs baby. Oddly once he hit around 2 he was easier than the average toddler to look after. DS2 is starting to get moody about me putting him down now too though. On a night the projector with sea sounds really helps him some nights although does nothing on others.

It seems that the wind/sickness issue for us is improving although still not gone. He gulped down milk to start with but seems to be slowing ever so slightly now.

I wish we had gotten photos earlier but we couldn't have really. We want to get a nice sibling shot soon to get printed up as a canvas but I do worry that he will scream non stop. Especially since he seems to find his big brother annoying at the moment.

 

[Little Ducky]

We've just bought some nuk latex nipples today to go with our dr brown bottles. Dh has a theory that the silicone is too hard. Idk, I'll report back if it helps the wind.
Does your lo sleep well? Louis will only sleep on me. If we put him in the basket or swing we are lucky to get 10mins before the crying starts.
Last night was a good night crying wise and I'm hoping it will be the same tonight but dh is home tonight and he really doesn't understand the idea of calm. He laughs and talks loudly at Louis whilst he's trying to fall asleep, drives me mad as it just keeps him awake.

Exactly the same as you, he won't sleep unless upright on me. The second we put him in bouncer of moses basket he starts squirming around and grumbling, then full on crying
Let me know how you get on with the bottles!

 

[Little Ducky]

yes ducky that was my first thought. if you pump for a few days while you're transitioning then if you find the formula ends up making things worse you'd still have the option to switch back. if he gets better then you'll know the formula is better for him!

Yes good thinking, I'm doing this now just in case, but on the whole formula seems to be helping I think so fingers crossed!

Haha yeah they are pretty shot. I spoke too soon as well. Last night was horrendous for colic, worst it's been. He screamed constantly, wouldnt sleep and only ate 1/2-1oz at a time. We did everything we could think to wind him and it was still a nightmare. Dh let me sleep from 10:30-1 then I took over. dh has gone to work now hell be back for 7ish tonight. Gonna be a long day. How did things go for you?

I sympathise, I really do
Lo seems less colicky on the formula, but his wind is still making him so bloody uncomfortable. Have you tried dentinox colic drops? They seem to really help Ally get rid of the wind.

 

[Zfbaby]

yes ducky that was my first thought. if you pump for a few days while you're transitioning then if you find the formula ends up making things worse you'd still have the option to switch back. if he gets better then you'll know the formula is better for him![/QUOTEI

Yes good thinking, I'm doing this now just in case, but on the whole formula seems to be helping I think so fingers crossed!

Haha yeah they are pretty shot. I spoke too soon as well. Last night was horrendous for colic, worst it's been. He screamed constantly, wouldnt sleep and only ate 1/2-1oz at a time. We did everything we could think to wind him and it was still a nightmare. Dh let me sleep from 10:30-1 then I took over. dh has gone to work now hell be back for 7ish tonight. Gonna be a long day. How did things go for you?

I sympathise, I really do
Lo seems less colicky on the formula, but his wind is still making him so bloody uncomfortable. Have you tried dentinox colic drops? They seem to really help Ally get rid of the wind.

Yeah dentinox made his reflux worse gripe worked really well the first few times but not that great now. It's like he enjoys the wind and wants to keep it ????!!!

Omni- 2??! I'm really hoping he becomes easier sooner than 2. I need some sleep now and a shower more than every other day plus I'd really like him to eat more in one go rather than every hour small bits then crying for food all the time. Fx

 

[Little Ducky]

yes ducky that was my first thought. if you pump for a few days while you're transitioning then if you find the formula ends up making things worse you'd still have the option to switch back. if he gets better then you'll know the formula is better for him![/QUOTEI

Yes good thinking, I'm doing this now just in case, but on the whole formula seems to be helping I think so fingers crossed!

Haha yeah they are pretty shot. I spoke too soon as well. Last night was horrendous for colic, worst it's been. He screamed constantly, wouldnt sleep and only ate 1/2-1oz at a time. We did everything we could think to wind him and it was still a nightmare. Dh let me sleep from 10:30-1 then I took over. dh has gone to work now hell be back for 7ish tonight. Gonna be a long day. How did things go for you?

I sympathise, I really do
Lo seems less colicky on the formula, but his wind is still making him so bloody uncomfortable. Have you tried dentinox colic drops? They seem to really help Ally get rid of the wind.

Yeah dentinox made his reflux worse gripe worked really well the first few times but not that great now. It's like he enjoys the wind and wants to keep it ????!!!

Omni- 2??! I'm really hoping he becomes easier sooner than 2. I need some sleep now and a shower more than every other day plus I'd really like him to eat more in one go rather than every hour small bits then crying for food all the time. Fx

Lol! Pretty sure Alastair also wants to keep his wind!!
Have you tried infant gaviscon for the reflux?

 

[passion4shoes]

Gorgeous photo baby. Really cute.

Sounds bloody awful what you are going through. We were travelling in the car yesterday and Matilda was crying with hunger so we fed her in the car seat on the move. Big mistake. She had trapped wind and was screaming uncontrollably. It was awful. OH and I got really stressed and snappy with each other. Jesus it was stressful. Hats off to you ladies and your relationships for being able to cope with that.

I can't believe how common colic, tongue ties and reflux are. I wonder has it always been like this.