Discomfort maybe?

[Freya'sMum]

Part of a post by MumofAlice on the BLW Support Thread - thought others might have ideas too

"I have a post on the EASY board which has been going on for months now - it was originally about moving from 3 to 4 hr EASY (which we've never quite managed to do) - the post has gone on so long cos the wonderful Melissa / Grace's Mom has been so fantastic with her advice (as is everyone on here) that I'm always picking her brain / asking for more advice whenever I'm a bit stuck. Anyway . . . a couple of times over the last 2 weeks I've had an inconsolable DD when I've been putting her down for her afternoon nap. She's shown her cues - I watch for them closely as she is Textbook / Touchy and I've learnt that if we miss the window she has a meltdown and it takes a while to settle her. On these occasions she's been 'screaming' rather than crying and after 20 mins (which seems like much longer!) of trying to calm her - even taking her out of the room - I've ended up BF (even tho it's only been 2 to 2.5 hrs since last feed) as it's been the only thing to settle her. I'm so worried about AP - but as she's gulped the milk down I did think maybe she was hungry. Melissa thought it might be a GS - I haven't had a 'typical' one yet, so wasn't sure. However, the last time it happened a couple of days ago (didn't notice the previous couple of times - mum brain!) she filled her nappy (a definite power poo) and I did wonder if maybe it was to do with the solid food - maybe she was in pain as she'd not been for a while and was trying to pass 'more' than usual iykwim (apologies if this is TMI). Melissa suggested I post here (and report back with my findings!) as she isn't a solid food guru - so was just wondering if anyone else had experienced a similar thing with a very upset / uncomfortable LO? Any thoughts / comments always appreciated."

Ax

[*Nicola*]

Berni,

I would maybe keep a food/milk diary for a week or so and see if you can find any pattern/link between foods and sleep/nappies.  If she is trying new foods it is possible that her system is getting used to them.

If she is uncomfortable it is entirely likely that she will not want to be doing a wind down and settling to sleep until she feels better.  When Ciara was a baby and suffered constipation, we had to hold her until she managed to pass a BM as she would scream blue murder if we put her down.  I wonder if something similar is happening with Alice and she is just using the breast for comfort?

Personally, I would be offering her the breast if you have a good routine going and she settles independently.  It might be that she is really hot and thirsty as it has been particularly warm over the last few weeks.  Does she take water from a sippy cup/bottle? Could you try this in the A time before nap to rule out thirst?

Probably not very helpful but thought I'd just throw those thoughts out there x

[mumofalice]

Hi Nicola - lovely pic of your 2 girls BTW.

Thanks for throwing the thoughts out there - they are indeed helpful.

Will keep a diary over the next week and see what happens - it's just been a bit out of character for her. I know that if I miss her sleep window it's hard to settle her - but on these occasions we've not missed the window and we've gone thru wind down fine - the screaming has started when I've put her in the cot. Maybe she is just using the breast for comfort - but as she gulped down the milk like she'd never been fed I did wonder if she was hungry even tho it had only been 2 hrs since the last feed . . . it's so tough as it could be so many things - and to see her so upset is heartbreaking 

I was just worried about offering the breast - so scared of AP when we've got quite a good routine going - okay so it's not a perfect 4 hr EASY but it's not bad. Alice naps
well most days and is a really good night sleeper and always has been - and she does go to sleep independently as long as read her cues AND (more importantly!) she is in her own bed as she's not good at sleeping when out.

As far as a sippy cup goes - we've been offering 10% juice in a sippy cup since we introduced solid foods - she sometimes gets a mouthful with our help but I wouldn't exactly class it as a drink iykwim. We keep persevering (as with the food  ) and try to be patient - it will all fall into place at some point, right?!

Berni x

[*Nicola*]

Just checking in to see how things are going with you both x

[mumofalice]

Hi Nicola

How sweet of you to check in on us. 

Things are okay here thanks. We've only had one meltdown since this post and that was due to OT (too long an A time - and no tired cues, so I missed the window  ) but I did manage to settle DD with the help of sh/pat.

Also did a bit of reading on the BF forum (should probably have done that before  ) and I felt better for doing so - one post especially talked about BF babies not always making it to the 4 hrs and that as long as you weren't feeding to sleep (which I haven't) you might want to top up your LO - so I guess EASY became a bit EAE-SY.

Just like you said, the post also mentioned that a LO might be thirsty - and as it had been really warm that may well have been the case.

Fingers crossed things stay as they are!

Berni x

[*Nicola*]

Great news

Ciara didn't make the 4 hour EASY until she was quite old.  Callie was there at 4 months but I think her reluctance to breast feed/reflux played a massive part in that.

I totally agree with doing EAES or EAEAS when it is needed.  Also agree that it is difficult to do it without worrying about starting a feed/sleep association!

x

[mumofalice]

Thanks for the support - am glad it's not just me that worries about so much stuff . . . ie beginning to worry I might cause a feed / sleep association after spending so long working to do exactly the opposite - does that even make sense?!! I know what I mean, just not sure I'm wording it correctly!!

Funnily enough just when I think everything is going alright something else happens - isn't it always the way LOL!

Last night Alice woke at 8.30pm - she'd gone to bed early (6pm) as she'd woken early and ended up at the point of OT by the end of the day. She was really upset but I did manage to settle her - until my knees cracked (old age!) as I got up to leave her room and I woke her    It was 9.20pm by then - so I decided to give her DF early as I didn't want to spend another 20 mins or more trying to settle her only to feed her (and possibly disturb her) after another 10 mins or so. (DF is at 10pm - usually given by DH who is on nightshift at the moment).

I didn't mention this in my PP cos I thought it was due to Alice having a bit of an 'off day' iykwim. Anyway, our routine today has been pretty spot on - almost a perfect 4 hour one! - but Alice woke again at 9pm. We've pretty much done the same thing as we did last night - ie I tried to settle her for 20 mins and she was pretty much gone - she then jolted awake and by then it was 9.30pm so I gave her DF half hour early . . . not really sure it's classed as a DF if your LO is awake!!

So . . . will just have to see what happens tomorrow night - maybe it's a new thing?!!

Berni x