Maturing digestive system

[Keren]

I was wondering how long it takes for the lo's digestive system to mature so they aren't in so much pain from gas and spitting up?

My lo is 4.5 weeks and for about a week now she is progressively over feeds becoming very fussy at the breast with crying and pulling up of legs. I try and burp her but not much comes up sometimes. Other times she will spit up alot. I am thinking it is her system just getting used to feeding.

Am I correct or could it be reflux or something else?

Thanks
Keren

[First Time Mom]

Hi Keren,

I think it depends on the baby but it seems as most newborns have a hard time learning to burb. I found Oval Drops worked for my dd to help her with gas. In her case she had great pain/gas for about 7 weeks but we also found out that she has a milk protein alergy so she only got better once I eliminated specific foods from my diet. I fed on demand for 5 weeks (until I found BW), shortly after that I put her on 3 hour EASY and her spit up improved.

Enjoy your precious darling! Mine is now 6 months and I can't believe how the time goes so love every minute of her newborn state!

[Mum to Ella Rose]

Hi,

Just to answer the reflux question...
Most babies are born with a degree of reflux. Officially known as gastroesophageal reflux or GER. It's, as you said, an immature sphincter muscle between the esophagus and the stomach. It doesn't close properly yet. Hence the spitting up babies are so known for!  Most babies don't "need" anything for it and will outgrow it. You can try elevating the crib and holding her upright after feeds. When it's a more serious case it's called gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. Some clues to this can be failure to thrive, and obvious serious pain. If you're concerned about it here's a link to a sticky that will give you more specific symptoms.

https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=654.0

Hope that helps! And congratulations on your new baby! 

Sharon

[Keren]

Thanks Marion and Sharon

I don't think it is reflux after watching closely today what she did after feeds. It was only the morning feed that she really spat up a lot and I guess that is because there was an oversupply of milk. It is the crying, screaming and scrunching up during the feed that is getting to me. I wonder how much she is actually taking and scared that she isn't getting enough. Marion, was that when you lo was 7 weeks old the crying stopped?

Cheers
Keren

[Samuel's mum]

It does sound like it might be oversupply or overactive letdown. This problem often goes away as your supply settles in the next few weeks. Here are a few tips about things you can try:

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/fast-letdown.html

[First Time Mom]

Hi Keren,

In my dd's case she would scream and not sleep until 4:30am every night. Everytime she screamed I would put her on the breast, thinking she was hungry when in reality I was making her pain worse due to her alergy (I used to eat lots of cheese and other milk products). In week 5 (the specific day I started EASY and held out 3 hours for feeds in the day and night) she immediately cried/screamed less and actually slept at night waking for 3 specific feeds. In week 7 she became a much happier baby and all screaming stopped because I eliminated all milk products out of my diet and started the Oval Drops which helped her burb. I think it was around week 10 that she was able to burb really well on her own and I stopped the drops. Gripe water works well for many babies for gas as well. Chances are it's not an alergy in your dd's case but more gas and perhaps the letdown.

Count her wet diapers, if she's having 6 or more she's getting enough milk from you. If she wasn't getting enough she would get dehydrated and would not have enough wet diapers. If you're feeding on both sides try getting a burp out of her after she's done on one side. Make sure you leave her on long enough on the first side to ensure she's draining the breast and taking the hind milk. If she's sputtering while gulping you may have an overactive letdown or oversupply.