What's going on? Crying at breast

[tazsmum]

Poor Callie.  Let us know how it goes at the doc's.

We used a syringe for Arthur's meds, but it didn't matter when he got it so we gave it to him before feeds when he was hungry and he took it no problem.  I don't think there's any way we could have gotten it into him after a feed.

[Purplecattypants]

Well, I had a look at loads of info and although it says give gaviscon after a feed, a lot of it says its fine to give before....so I just gave it to him before, and just used the 5ml water so there was less. He still cried but got most of it into him and just had the best feed in weeks! So going to go with that approach from here and hope it works this well everytime 

[tazsmum]

That's fab!  Hope feeds continue to go well 

I think my ds has gone from feeding badly cuz of reflux to feeding badly cuz of teeth.     He clearly wants to be weaned.

[Purplecattypants]

Thankyou!

Eeeeek teeeth!! I'm not looking forward to that. Hope little Arthur improves soon 

[SallyDom]

Hi girls,

not sure if it'll help but I remember the midwife telling me (to try and get Dom to take his Vit K after he was born) that as soon as the meds are in the mouth, rub the soft bit under the baby's chin, in circular motions and apparently it makes them swallow. This might help your lo's to swallow the meds before they try and spit it out.

Hope everything went ok at the docs today Nicola,
Sal
x

[Erin (redstarfalling)]

Great news Angela!

[*Nicola*]

Sal ... I was just reading out your post to DP and started rubbing under my chin and had a HUGE need to swallow!! LOL! Going to do that tomorrow.

I just updated on Reflux boards, but basically GP was fine, gave us gaviscon.  Feeds have all been fine for days now (since before meds) spitting up seems less but we will see how it goes over next few days. 

Angela, how's Josh?

[Purplecattypants]

Hey there!

Much better since we started the gaviscon thanks. Still only has short feeds in the day but he isnt unhappy or spitting up anymore. Damn stuff is making him constipated though...had his forst poo in 3 days this morning (usually goes at least once a day!), and has just woken up straining for a poo now! Poor little chap. Doesnt sounds like dh is having much luck settling his so better go to the rescue 

[SallyDom]

Glad the chin rubbing worked on you, now just need it to work on our lo's!

x

[*Nicola*]

Worked on her most of today.  What a great tip 

Angela, glad Josh is doing good with the gaviscon, long may it continue 

[Purplecattypants]

Hows Callie doing now? Josh's feeds got better for a bit, but his daytime ones have gone to pot again...getting sooooo frustrated! He will feed for about 4mins, rarely longer, and just WONT have anymore. He doesnt appear to be in pain from the reflux anymore and pukes very little now. But I still, no matter what I do, cant get him to feed well in the day! I know he's not getting enough....my poor boobs are always full, and he's waking hungry in the night  Evening and night feeds are great, 20-50 mins average.

I tried cutting his feed short when he woke at 2 this morning ( he usually protests loudly when I do this and I end up letting him go back on, but he let me last night)....boy did that backfire!!! Put him down at 2:20am, only for him to be up again at 4am! AHHHH! Needless to say he was hungry, I tried pu/pd for half an hour but he wasnt settling so just ended up feeding him. I'm getting so disheartened with the whole thing  Sorry to moan.

[*Nicola*]

((hugs))

Callie's feeds are going fine, no crying or refusing feeds now. She is absolutely the same as Josh though, will not feed any longer than she wants too.  If she hears an interesting noise she is off and that is that.  Breast compressions, switching sides, burping very rarely makes a difference. 

He will feed for about 4mins, rarely longer, and just WONT have anymore. He doesnt appear to be in pain from the reflux anymore and pukes very little now. But I still, no matter what I do, cant get him to feed well in the day! I know he's not getting enough....my poor boobs are always full, and he's waking hungry in the night  Evening and night feeds are great, 20-50 mins average.

I wonder if he is just feeding when the milk is coming fast and is stopping when it becomes a bit more work for him?  Do breast compressions help any?  Will he feed at other side?

((Hugs)) it is hard work.  I think you should start a separate topic Angela, that way plenty of people will have a look and give you some good advice.  You'll probably get lost in amongst this one. 

[tazsmum]

Hugs Angela.  Arthur's the same -- feeds brilliantly at night, but that's it.  It is so frustrating -- I end up usually just letting him play for a bit and then try again 20 minutes later because I get so mad at him   He's always trying to look around and my boobs actually hurt from all the nipple-pulling.  Sophie was never this bad and I'm thinking if he'd been first he'd be on formula by now!

I also try to short-change him at night and it backfires (glad I'm not the only one  ).  He'll kind of nod off after one side so I'll put him down and he'll wake 2 hours later for the other side -- it's just so tempting when all you want to do is go back to sleep to say, "oh, he's done"

[jenjordi]

I have just spent the last thirty minutes reading all your posts from the beginning. I am sooooo glad to see that I am not alone.  My 13 week old is doing the EXACT same thing.  He will eat for 4-5 minutes and start pulling off.  I then switch to the other side and it is like clock work.. after a few mintues he starts to pull off.  Sometimes he gets really really fussy and won't go back on ..  I then have to pump and give him a bottle. (Which he gulps down)

I have found a new and exhausting trick. If he starts to pull off after 5 mintues. I stand up and walk around and re-latch him while walking.  He stays on a little longer. I usually can get him to eat this way. yippee... but I have to say it is getting very exhuasting.  I rented a scale to see exactly how much he is eating. Usually after 5 minutes on one side he has taken anywhere from 2.5-3 ounces... so if he would only stay on fro ten minutes we would be all set!

The nighttime feeds are great. With the scale I can see that in 10-15 minutes he eats about 5-6 ounces.. no problem.  I wish all feeds were like this. 

I talked to my doctor and she seems to think that it isn't reflux because the nighttime feed is fine.  She put him on thrush medicine to see if that is it.  (too soon to tell) I think it is letdown. I think after it slows down he gets lazy and doesn't want to try very hard... not sure why the walking around helps.. Maybe he is distracted... who knows. 

I have to give the scale back soon and i am dreading it.. I love knowing how much he is getting to eat.  I try to at least get 4 ounces out of him at a feeding.  The 4 am and 7:30 am feeding and bedtime feedings are the best. I usually get him to eat 4.5 to 5.5 ounces.  The rest of the day it is closer to 4 ounces.. sometmes it is 3.5
His daily intake is usually around 26-29 ounces.  The lactation consultant says he should be eating closer to 30-32 (he is almost 13 pounds) but the peditrician says it can range from 24-32.  So who knows!!!

I am just glad to see I am not alone.. My husband thinks I am looooney tooons.  If anyone has any updates.. please reply. 

[*Nicola*]

((Hugs)) and welcome Jen 

Getting a good bunch of us here now 

Reading your post I thought about the letdown issue too.  If he is taking the bottle without any issues it might well be that he is doing this as it is less work for him.  If you don't offer the bottle at all what does he do?

Regarding reflux .... my doc also told me that if Callie had reflux the nightfeeds would also be a bother. Well it turns out she does have reflux and the night feeds are fine.  We were also treated for thrush (a brush off I suspect).  Callie would also feed longer if I walked around or if I rocked her for a bit.  Apparently this can also be a sign of reflux.  Have you visited the reflux board?  It might help you to have a look there to see if anything stands out.

Out of interest how do the scales work?  Do you weigh your baby?  Or your boobs!?? LOL 'scuse the ignorance