Colic??

[AugustMum]

I think Paige has got colic, and it's insane!

Ive breast fed Paige for the past week but last night was just too much. Both my nipples bleed and are so so sore. I thought it could be the way shes latching on, but thats fine. I spoke to the midwife today and without me even saying anything about her wind she saw Paige start crying and knew exactly what the problem was.

Ive spent the past 3 nights spending on average around 5/6 hours with her screaming or fussing until she gets put on the boob. I don't get time to eat as its just a case of feed, wind, try to calm down, feed, wind, change, try to calm down...for hours and hours. I think my nipples just took a battering as most of the time she wasn't even feeding properly, just using me as a comfort as its all she knows.

So last night I was in tears and in pain and decided to give her some formula. Ive brought a pump so I can try give her EBM but I dont seem to be getting much out, but does this just improve over time?? I also tried her with a dummy as she was searching for boob even when she wasn't hungry so tried to find a different way to comfort her.

I just feel like Ive got a week in and gone naaahhh its too hard, heres some formula and a dummy.

Does anyone know any good nipple cream, as the one Ive got doesn't seem to be up to the challange? Anyone else got experience on colic?...how do you try ease the pain for them? I still want to breast feed, and keep putting her back on the boob every other feed and she doesn't seem confused by it, but Id like to go back to just boob preferably.

 

[bearsmummy]

Lansinoh nipple cream is a god send!! I don't have any advice on the breast feeding because i gave in after a week because of all the fussing from liv and now i express for her. I hope you get some advice soon!!! xxx

 

[Dragonfly Fi]

Rather than bottle feeding, could you not try her on a nipple shield for every other feed? am just worried that your supply might be suffering if you are feeding her half bottle, half boobie - if you are going to do it that way, maybe try and express whatever you give her as formula as well, that way your still making what she eats

Colic is rubbish, colief is good, gripe water is also good

best of luck babes, we have Jasper on Infant gaviscon at the moment because his tummy is so bad

hugs xxx

 

[amyjayne77]

Oh no, that sounds really stressful!! with my 1st I found it so painful i stopped bf after 2 weeks as i didn't know of anywhere to go for advice. With my second it seemed to click more but i don't know if this is anything to do with the lansinoh cream!?!Honestly, it is a godsend as meeah says and I still use it with no 3. After the first or 2nd tube you will have both got the hang of this feeding lark and won't need it as much.

As for the colic, I don't know much about that but the constant wanting to suck boob, well oscar has been the same, no let up at all, but suddenly now he is 6 weeks old, he just wants boob when he is hungry. Maybe it is something to do with your milk flow becoming established or maybe their tummies get bigger and fuller??

 

[Laura_C]

Not much advice on the breast feeding front as I only fed my Grace for 3 weeks and then did mix and then totally onto being formula fed but with regards to good nipple cream Kamillosan Ointment is a life saver, it has natural chamomile in it and it is incredibly soothing straight away and starts to heal cracked nipples fast. I know you can definately get in from Boots but I think the supermarkets sell it too.

Your milk will improve over time if you are expressing, after the first week I was still not producing much but after a couple of weeks of regular feeding it was in full flow! So it does improve. I also used a dummy to soothe Grace as she always wanted to be on my boob just for comfort and it to hurt so much I couldn't bear it, so I gave in with the dummy! Luckily though Grace rejected the dummy once she was around 3 months and never wanted it again as she was able to soothe herself to sleep without it. I never put it back in if she spat it out at night, I def wasn't playing that game and she did learn that she didn't really need it.

Like Big Bump has said maybe you could try nipple shield every other feed and see if that provides some relief? I know how hard it is especially after a section as it does take a little longer for your boobies to get up to speed with the breastfeeding but it does get better

Oh, also we used Infacol with Grace at feeding time to help with Colic and winding and Grace never had it, maybe we were just lucky but I used it as a preventative measure in the early days.

 

[AugustMum]

Thank girls. The midwife recommended infacol and I had some in (someone else told me to get it in just incase) and used it with the last feed and it seemed to have helped settle her.

Big bump - I read your post earlier about Jasper and wondered whether it could be worth trying a nipple sheild. My supply is still going strong (just had to deal with a boobie explosion lol) its just a case of them hurting so much!

Deffinatly going to try some of those creams. They seem to have liked having a little break over the past 24 hours with only a handful of feeds so once she wakes up Ill give her a feed from them again.

*sigh* I dont mind the crying or tiredness, but you just feel a bit useless sometimes when nothing seems to help.

 

[Dragonfly Fi]

*sigh* I dont mind the crying or tiredness, but you just feel a bit useless sometimes when nothing seems to help.

this is actually the worst thing in the world

Jasper really wont sleep unless he is on his front, he seems to be fine settling himself actually if i lie him on his front so we have just been doing that...

 

[ERIN84]

Melio - I was just like you. I was feeding Emily directly and I got so so so sore!!! During the night a few weeks ago Rob had to go to 24 hr Tesco at 4am and get some formula (i didnt have any in as had NO intention of giving her it) as I just couldnt take it anymore., I started expressing staright away and was hardly getting anyhting but now I get plenty so just stick with it!

I felt like a failure giving up but the way I see it is she is still getting all the goodness from my milk and I'm not stresed trying to feed her so we are both happy.

Hope the colic sorts itself out soon xxxxxxxx

 

[AugustMum]

I was in tears last night because I felt so awful! Im going to keep expressing (infact, off to go express some more in a minute!) and see how things go. But as my parents and FOB keep telling me, if Im going to stress myself out over it, its just better to do what keeps us both happy.

Where Ive got the c-section wound its got fluid caught under it as well which keeps giving me fevers and making me feel rundown, which really isn't helping the situation. The midwife is coming round tomorrow to decide if I need antibiotics (which im debating asking for if im honest) but that will mean it will upset Paiges stomach even more with breast milk.

Bigbump, Ive heard of a few babies now that will only sleep on their side or front, I think its a case of doing what makes the baby comfortable. Not every baby fits into the recommended guidelines!

 

[Dragonfly Fi]

Melio we should so hook up - i am in the South West too and need to get out and meet people - we can have a colic-y playgroup lol

when/if you feel up for it let me know and i will come with grapes and smiles xxx

Oh and i have some nipple shields if you want to give them a go, will post a couple through to you - unused too because i just bought some more and decided to stop using them xx

 

[AugustMum]

Bigbump - its really hard for me to get anywhere at the moment (stupid c-section) but I go down to cribbs causeway quite alot (free parking and ALOT of shops...cant beat it!), and I know RM was talking about a meet up as well. I reckon end of September we should deffinatly get people together I know it seems like a long way off lol, but I wont be able to drive for another 5 weeks

Oh I decided Im going to express my milk, and until I start getting more out Im going to alternate, and have a formula and express feed eventually having about 80% or more expressed feeds. I went to put her on the breast today and I could feel myself stressing about it and got myself all worked up, so its best for both of us I think But thank you for the offer of the shields

 

[vixforever]

x

 

[katietateypot]

Ava-Mai has had colic for a little while now so i have been giving her colief which seems to be doing the trick. I heard once you buy the colief you can get it on prescription if it works ok, i know thats what my cousin did.
I was breastfeeding for the first week or 2 and it was so hard so i have taken Ava completely off the breast and have been expressing instead. She is still getting my milk just in a bottle, my health visitor told me not to as the milk will "dry up" but the mw told me thats nosense and as long as i stimulate my boobs every 3 to 4 hours my milk will keep flowing.
At the start i could only get about 2oz but after about a week i could get 3-4oz. If thats what you want to do keep at it, it will all come together soon!
Also if you can only get so much milk out per day you could always give day feeds with formula instead. When i saw my health visitor she tried to get me to breastfeed instead of expressing so i went back to that for a day but i seem to have a very demanding baby (wants feeding every hour) so its just to much for me to cope with alone, so back to expressing i went but my milk supply has lowered and i don't know what else really. It is building up slowly again though, just takes time i think, i guess its the same as getting the breastfeeding established in a way. For now Ava is getting formula throuh the day and breast milk through the night.

Sorry for rambling on just wanted you to know your not alone!!
Hope all is going ok!
Katie xxx

 

[bearsmummy]

I was expressing but livs fully on formula now and is so much more settled! I have sma stay down and it's great I try and give liv my ebm and she won't have it so I've had to give up (gutted) x

 

[Piglet10]

i have not much advice hun only that i know a girl whos breastfed all her kids and said she couldnt do it without the avent thing that goes over ur nipple that they suck on its clear and it means ur whole boobs being squeezed sorta :s dunno if u even know what im talkin bout or if someone else can help me and tell me wat im trying to advise u lol but good luck anyway hun xx

 

[AugustMum]

Im using SMA for hungrier babies which sems to work with her really well. We had aptamil at first but it was making her sick, so brought a few cartons of sma and a few cow and gate to try but sma seems to be a winner I can see me going to just formula soon. I still try and give her at least 1 EBM feed a day but I thin formula will take over soon. Ive stopped giving myself a guilt trip with it now. I love having a routine for feeding! and were both so much happier. Her colic is starting to be under control now, mainly because Ive worked out ways to calm it down as I know whats wrong with her now.

 

[katietateypot]

happy things are working out for you both...i no it can be hard but its best to do things you are both comfy with instead of getting stressed.
like you said no point feeling any guilt you tried BF and expressing which maybe just didn't suit.

Glad to see your are coping with the colic, we seem to still be having a mad hour or 3 a night!!!

Katiexxx

 

[AugustMum]

Oh we still get the odd hour or so of screaming! Sometimes she'll go purple from screaming but I just have a little giggle at her for working herself up so much and continue the constant bouncing and winding. I can see how people end up going crazy with it. I broke down a couple of times in the last week and a half (Im sure the hormones didnt help!) and its so so hard, but its a case of knowing that its nothing your doing, its just your poor LO needs some extra attention Will be nice when shes feeling better. Really hope your LO starts to feel better soon xx

 

[mel_ed]

hey melio,
totally know how ur feeling. my health visitor told me finn has colic today. made me feel so much more better now i know wots wrong with him.
when he 1st came home he was brill but this last week his feedings been ridiculus sometimes having 6oz!!
everytime he screamed i just fed him which settled him for a little while but few hours later he'd be screaming again. she gave me 1 of those dr brown bottles which are really ment to help with colic. havnt used it yet but will let u know how i get on. and she told me 2 use infacol after every feed.
she gave me loads of tips 2 help so hopefully soon he'll be more settled at night time which is when it gets worse

 

[AugustMum]

Yeah, Ive noticed night times are the worst. I wonder if its because it all builds up over the day. I debated buying some dr browns bottles. You can get 2 for £10 from tesco and it just seemed alot for 2 bottles but I have heard good things about them. I love infacol! Ive found its really good for helping her get her burps up. It makes her burps smell of orange as well which I thinks quite cute lol. I think paige started getting quite windy around 5/6 days old. So weve had a bit of time to try and work out ways to help it. Ive just brought a moby wrap as well (mainly because I cant move the pram around cause of c-section) which really helps even if youre just cleaning round the house, cause you can put them in it and your movements help with relax more