Hello. I wanted to reach out and get any advise or shared similar situations as ours. My son has just turned 4mnths and is 50% on the charts. (side info: 1st time mom too.) Very little breast feeding, latching probs. and from what we were told, tongue tied which we just got an ENT to cut his frenulum a couple of wks ago. Hard delivery via csection, he was consider term for I was 37 weeks, he was 6lbs. So what has happened and been happening. Hopefully the shorter version... : We have had ped doc visits/medical attention but with only bits and pieces of info for resolve. at 1 and half wks old, newly at home baby came down with horrible cough. (He had been sneezing, congestion and constant hiccups too since birth, that the nurses said it was normal.) But the cough was concerning to us. After a night of coughing spells and a immediate ped office visit not available we took him to ER. Bad experience there, for the ER doc took but a few mins to look him over and nurses were fairly rude and we got discharged with info on reflux and instructions to use saline and suctioning for congestion. From there on, from what we know now baby had been having diarrhea. His stools were always pea soupish, which I thought was off, since he was mailnly formula feed and should be thicker stools. He developed a white head looking rash, legs, arms and head about 1mnth and half. Started to have a weird out of deep sleep cries. Which now he has randoms ones, cries..(extremely, pained looking cries, purple face, shaking hands, stiff)outward legs). So the issue list goes on.I have certainly worn out the nurse line but get the response of, "well thats baby stuff, doesnt sound normal but... " FRUSTRATING. Watching my son go on like this is hard. So finally 3mnts his watery stools still happening and now mucous was present. Looked like he swallow noodles or something(smalls ones of course).. AND his feedings were just so concerning. It was taking about 1hr and 40mins at times to get an ounce and half into him. He would completely be hungry want to feed but turn from bottle and cry then try to feed again. Again so sad to go though these feeds. He was barely get about 18oz a day but would take all day almost to feed. With all that being said he had been on Advance Similac and was changed to Allimentum. We saw a GI doc that we once again had such a horrid visit. He literally looked at me like I was crazy as I started to give him my sons history thus far and why I was at this GI visit. He even asked if I got my degree from the school of google. Here I am super concerned mom with a baby that obviously is showing some signs of something going wrong and I left his office with no resolve. Well besides him saying his tongue tied could be the 1st issue. Hence why we did fix that.. I DO have another GI doctor(diff doc) iin July. SO this is what I have come up with so far and really on our own as I said with bits of info from the peds etc.. I assumed silent reflux(which from the ER visit all reflux techniques were in place, sitting up after feeds, sleeping inclined ect..burping, VERY hard to burp.. So yes silent reflux with milk protein allergy. With the Allimentum the stools did change became firm and green. Infact he just had one of those crying bouts 1 and 20mins a day ago and later that day he had a dirty diaper but the firm stool now seems more dry, thicker I guess. AND sadly these last 3wks on new formula he was almost doing 29 to 30oz a day(= and seemed ok until a few days ago where he started with the same turning from the bottle but still wanting to feed and turning to drink, stop, cry, back to the bottle, drink a few sips, fussy and back to the bottle then just stops with frustration and turns from the bottle completely but very obvious he is uncomfortable and not satisfied. **SIGH.. So here is our story to the day just about.. PLEASE any of you whom have had similar situations and or advise to share I'd appreciate any input. I have been on top of docs like I said but with little resolve. Thank you in advance for you time to have read our story. (If I posted this in the wrong section please let me know.)
Wow. Thank you all for the quick feedback/responses. THANK YOU SO MUCH-
I heard this was a great site for mammas. We figured silent reflux for that fact that he did not spit up but had that pained experience around and after feedings. Plus these choking gestures he does as wel. We have kept a log since the birth. They had us doing it at the hosp. Keeping track of feeds, diapers etc.. So we continued here at home. But I do have to add the fussy, crying bouts that I have not tracked. Just mental notes. Which these days I should know better then to trust my "mental notes(= " The crying thing really nerves me so much. I developed a fear of it almost. We know for certain it's some type of pain. But...
We are on top of the bottle situation. Dr. Brown's wide neck seem to work with level 2 nipples. We tighten and loosen the rim/ring depending what his feeding looks like, If he seems soo hungry he'll get hyper and start to suck fast, we tighten it just a bit to slow it down, try to possibly help the reflux and to also slow him down a bit. Do keep the nipple full of formula to prevent the air intake. We do the side laying feed as well. Lactation nurse advised this position is best for reflux.
I'll tell ya... I've really tried to reach out as much as possible to help my son's situation. And our sanity. The ear tubes is interesting info. No our ENT did not check for that, I made the decision to take my son to this ENT, he's my ENT(adult ENT) does see kiddos though but not an exclusive peds ENT. I love him, wish he was our everything doc. He's the type to call you at home on weekends to check up on you after a Friday afternoon visit. He check my son's frenulum and said, yep I could help. So I allowed the procedure. But yeah, no-not a whole ear, nose and throat check up. But not that has me thinking about looking into that..
I have searched so much to were my mind goes numb for peds. We've gone through two so far. For some reason here in Atlanta the group offices are popular. What happen to good ole fashion docs in private offices that care?? And we do have another GI doc visit in about 2weeks. I just want someone to sit with us and address our concerns with true intention of helping. I definitely don't feel like we have had that feeling from any of our visits.
Again I do appreciate you all being there...here.. to respond. Let me add that I turned to this site for we have limited support as far as friends and family. My family is 2600mls away. And my mom is a great mom but as she says I haven't dealt with babies in sooo long. It's for the birds she says to me (= Or like our pediatrician said, parenthood isn't for sissies.
OH, the nurse at the peds office suggested to give a bit of water since it seems his stools are getting a little dry. I'm afraid to give him some. What is your experience with water at this age?? I am sooo confused with alot of this. As I keep mentioning, I have bits and pieces of the stanard baby care for the medical side and I do have my research and reading I've done. But it seems that really there is no happy medium. For example we thought this WHOLE time that the rule of amount to feed is the 2.5ounces per body weight(ex: 10 pounds = feeds 20oz per day). Just the other day when my son had his scary,sudden crying bout I was on the phone with nurse and she mentioned that a baby should NEVER exceed 32ounces period a day. WHAT?? i thought the feed amounts should be way increasing as body weight increases. So just info such as that-that is puzzling. (1st time mom)
Non the less, my son seems to be more unhappy yes. He's feeds are all over the place. At 4mnths I did expect kinks to be sorta worked out. And I am every waking moment just trying to find help for my son. BTW, he sucks on his hands pretty hard and that makes me think he's hungry. I know it could be a false indication but man it's nerving wrecking to me.
I'm glad I turned to this site. I know I'm long winded and all over the place but it's been a very, very, very long 4months. And it is just my partner and I, no daycare or nannies... We fixed our work schedules for round the clock care for our son. He is our 247 focus.
One more bit of info.. I am pumping to get some milk..Since he stop breast feeding completely the milk is dwindling)= And he is definitely is not self soothing since he stopped BM.
Go back to the pediatrician and ask for a consult with a pediatric cardiologist and pulmonologist. It is my opinion that you need to rule out any cardio-pulmonary issues before trying to address any others.
G.:
Welcome to mamapedia!
For the tough part - please, please, please! use paragraphs! It is VERY hard to people to read what equates to one long sentence. It really will help you get better answers.
Find a new pediatrician.
Bottle feeding vs Breast feeding. If you still want to breast feed and have not dried up - contact a lactation consultant to get you and your son latched together properly.
Formula. he might not like the formula that you are giving him. Have you tasted it?
Bottle/nipple - the nipple may be too small for him and that is why it is taking soo long to feed him.
Infants - up to six months - have watery stools. Formula fed babies have very stinky BMs and breast fed babies typically have "sweet" smelling BMs...not that a BM is "sweet"~!!
Did the ENT check to see if his Eustachian tubes checked to see if they are complete? My youngest son was only 4 weeks premature - and had problems - constantly crying - tons of spit up - etc. they said "acid reflux" I called BS as the medication did NOTHING to resolve the issue. Had to sleep sitting up. Took him to an ENT - found that his tubes were not fully matured when he was born - had tubes put in his ears and VIOLA! HAPPY BABY!! I'm NOT saying that is what is wrong with your son...I'm just saying don't give up.
Instead of giving him all at once, take a break in between ounces - say every 3 to 5 and burp him...He might have gas.
Talk with your pediatrician. Show him/her how you are feeding your son. If you aren't getting the answers you need to hear - then find another pediatrician.
Babies DO NOT cry all the time. At 4 months, he should be cooing and starting to roll over and do more...read the book "what to expect the first year" it will help you!
Good luck!
Great advice so far.
I agree with Gidget- it's time to start a journal. Keep it simple, just get a spiral notebook and keep a pen attached to it. Log the date, time, how much he ate (I usually used ounces) and any comments about his temperment.
Look for patterns: any particular time of the day worse than others? Is he eating 6 ounces in one sitting and then only 2 in another?
After a week or two, you should have some solid information to give to a doctor, which as Cheryl (Wild Woman) suggested, find a new one. Use your journal for your appointment in July.
You sound like an awesome mom and your little guy deserves to be happy. He should not be this uncomfortable- by four months, their little systems should have most of the kinks worked out, and he should be eating, sleeping, pooping and smiling on a regular basis.
Good luck- this sounds so very frustrating for you, but good job mom, for being persistent with the doctors! Please keep us posted and don't hesistate to keep asking. Lots of good mom experience on this website!
First, shame on those doctors for making you feel badly. You are a first time mom trying to get answers.
The others have offered good advise. I would also suggest you continue to try different formulas. Sometimes even switching from the powder to the premixed can make a difference. I wouldn't focus on how much he's eating but instead is he satisfied? Is he happy the rest of the time? Remember too that sometimes they're simply a little thirsty and only want a few sips.
You don't say if the cough and congestion is still going on but the congestion can cause the mucus poop.
You mention breastfeeding in the beginning but it sounds like you have switched just formula. If you are still breastfeeding even a little, examine your diet too.
I would also try the larger sized bottle nipples.
The sneezing, hiccuping and white bump rash are totally normal. My oldest actually had the hiccups in the womb.
I wouldn't worry about his being in the 50th percentile. That simply means half the babies out there are bigger and the other half are smaller. Watch for a drop or decline in his percentile.
I hope you get more answers with the new doctor in July.
If something seems unusual to you, go back to the doctor. But find another dr., not a jerk who makes comments like that. It's a doctor's job to diagnose and treat, and reassure, not make snarky comments.
You deserve to be reassured about your baby -- find someone competent.
My first thought was you probably need to switch to a different flow type of nipple, you know they come in different sizes? It sounds like he is frustrated b/c the milk/ formula might be coming out to slow ( if he lets go but still wants to turn back to it and try again) or fast ( if he is gulping for air)!!
Second thought, the white pimples are TOTALLY normal! Don't stress on those AT ALL!
Third, baby poop comes in all colors & consistency..,so I wouldn't be too concerned...although the noodle looking things, causes me to go hmm?
Don't be afraid to bring up whatever you want to to the doctor, just preface it with 'I am a first time Mommy & need some reassurance'...they should be kind to you! If they are not, find a new pediatrician!
You got a lot of good advice so far. I have a ton of experience caring for babies as a mom, daycare provider and foster mom and many of them hav e had feeding issues.
It sounds like feedings are a huge problem for your son. Have you tried changing nipples or bottles? Maybe the flow is too fast or slow. Maybe he doesn't do well with the shape of the nipple, especially with a tongue tie. I know you got it clipped, but you never know. Some babies do well with wider nipples like avent . Some do better with narrow ones like Dr Brown. Then, you have different shapes like playtex (flat top) or nuk (orthodontic). Many, many babies I had preferred latex over silicone with the Nuk latex orthodontic nipple being the most successful.
I think if you can get him fed more peacefully and in a reasonable amount of time, you will be able to better judge if the other things you mentioned are problems or typical baby traits. It is normal for bms to be strange and for babies to have rashes. It isn't normal for them to be miserable. Follow your gut. You know your baby best.
Fr starters, lots of babies have reflux. It isn't a big deal. In fact, I have a 4 month old that doesn't burp. Instead, she projectile vomits. She is happy, so there is no concern. Your baby doesn't sound happy, though.
It does sound like a milk allergy. The same thing happened to a friend of mine. She thought her son had a cold, and then a rash appeared months later. Needless to say, he was allergic to the formula.
Now, babies have a wonder week at week 19. Around week 17, they will get super, super fussy. As they learn to understand events, they cling, stop sleeping, eat less, and just cry more. Check the book -wonder weeks- out of the library. It will help you relax during fussy periods.
Also, doctors do deal with lots of nervous first time mothers, but usually they aren't rude about it. if they are, get a new doctor.Babies fuss. They spit up. Their poop is weird. In fact, I exclusively breastfeed and my daughter has green, super smelly, peanut butter like poop! My first two kids had yellow seedy poop. It smelled sweet, but there is nothing sweet about this poop!
If it is at all possible, try to find a Pediatric GI or at least a GI who has a good reputation with babies.
It is really hard when the kids are so little because so much of what you described is not terribly uncommon in little ones - in moderation.
Do you keep a journal of feedings and diapers? If not, I would start doing that today. Write down what time he eats and how much he eats. Write down every diaper change, what you found, the consistency, etc. Really, write down everything, including times.
As far as you ER visit goes, that sounds a lot like one of my experiences. Our son had a bad cold and had been crying for 4 hours and nothing we did was helping. The doctor pretty much laughed at me, and the nurse treated me like I was 16 and only had a baby because I saw one and thought, "Oh, babies are so cute. I want one!" and didn't know that babies needed to be fed and changed and held and rocked. Really? I have to actually take care of the baby? I was furious!!!
The problem with many ER's is that they are rarely staffed with pediatricians. Too often the doctors don't knew the specifics of babies and don't give you the best care. If at all possible, wait until your doctor's office opens.
Hang in there! And try to find doctors that specialize in children. It makes a world of difference!
You've gotten a lot of good advice. My suggestions-
make use of the technology we all have on hand. If you are concerned about his stools, photograph them. Most cell phones have a camera. My idea of yellow and gravelly, and yours might be different.
when you get that ped that you are happy with, cling to them like glue. Ours knew how spirited our boy was. He's got more verve and fight in him when he's running a fever than most kids do when they are 100% healthy. When we told the ER drs, that our boy was acting malaised while he was doing jumping jacks on the exam table, they didn't believe us. Our own ped would have known better.
Lastly, remind yourself, that this too shall pass. Continue being vigilant and an advocate, but be sure to remember to be kind to yourself too along the way.
Good luck to you and yours,
F. B.
Two words for you: Pediatric Gastroenterologist. They can check for a milk allergy, milk protein sensitivity, and lactose intolerance. To check for lactose intolerance, which is what I'm suspecting by your descriptions, you have to ask for a nitrogen breath test.
What's great about a Pediatric Gastroenterologist is that they can refer you to a nutritionist and work in tandem with them.
I can't offer a ton of practical advice... only that my son also had milk protein allergies and the Nutramigen (Alimentum) formula was very helpfu. too! Most importantly, although you are a new Mom, you are his mom and doing a great job!!! If you feel something is wrong, continue to seek help from the right doctor. You will find one... Also GI stuff (if that's what it is is crazy to Dx and treat). The journal idea is one I'd try too. Hang in there - you are doing a great job MOM! :)
Bless your heart! Please keep listening to your instincts and keep trying docs until you get help for your poor baby.
Only thing I can suggest is that if you've figured out he has allergies, make sure you don't eat any of that food either since you mentioned pumping. You have to be a detective with foods to make sure you avoid allergens.
You sound like a great mom. A great mom with HORRIBLE doctors -- I'm sorry.
My son had a milk allergy (still has a very mild one), and he had some of these symptoms.
Based on my experience, here are some suggestions/thoughts for you. They're pretty diverse, so if one doesn't sound workable, please keep reading.
* Try him on a soy-based formula, with no dairy at all. I don't know from formula, but I know there are some hypoallergenic ones out there. (However, milk and soy proteins are structurally pretty similar; he may just not be a formula-friendly baby)
* If you're still able to breastfeed, try doing so exclusively. And if you're able to do this, try getting the following out of your diet (all forms of dairy, nuts, wheat/gluten, eggs, soy). This may mean a radical lifestyle change, but I found it was infinitely easier for me to do this for my baby than for myself. And, I don't know if this is an issue for you, but I lost the pregnancy weight and then some. I've just about never looked better, before or since.)
* Please, if you do nothing else, consult with a pediatric gastroenterologist.
* Try consulting with a naturopath. You will have to pay out of pocket, but most charge reasonable rates.
And, keep going. Don't give up hope. You're being an amazing, fantastic mom.
Sounds like there are some allergies at play, causing colic. My son had the worst colic- he cried, screamed, thrashed for 8 hours a day for 6 mos. It was horrifying, esp since I was a first time mom.
In desperation, I introduced formula, and turns out, about the only thing he wasn't allergic to was milk. The colic stopped almost immediately.
We discovered later he had multiple food allergies. Doctors are reluctant to allergy test an infant, so I had no idea that it was my breastmilk causing his problems and pain. I even did an elimination diet, but since I didn't know exactly what he was allergic to, I just couldn't get the combination right.
If you are pumping and giving him your milk, you must start an elimination diet yourself. Or stop giving him your breastmilk altogether for a few days (while still pumping and freezing) and see if things improve. If they do improve, you know the culprit. This is extremely important to find out, as you want to be very, very careful introducing solids in a couple of months.
My son is almost 7 and just outgrew his food allergies in the last couple of months. Now we've picked up environmental ones... :(
mostly sounds like normal fussy baby with some formula issues.. babies cry.. some cry a lot.
I have heard once a baby gets to 32 oz per day of formula.. they are probably ready to add solid foods. so the nurse is pretty right.
babies have immature gi tracts they spit up.. they poop.. my daughter did..she spit up.. she cried.. she fussed.. she had blowout poops..normal baby stuff..
