New Mom here.. need help!!

Hi girls, I am new to this board, gave birth almost 2 weeks ago. I need help! My baby boy has serious gas issues. Cries after feedings.. He is constantly farting. AND LOUD! He makes these grunting noises, turns beat red, then farts or tries to at least. Sometimes he cant and then he starts sreaming. I have tried Dr. Browns bottles, no help, now i am using the playtex ventaires. He seems to drink the formula so loudly. Does anyone else's babies make such a loud swallowing noise when they eat? I have also been giving him the mylicon drops, but he still has the gas. He also wont sleep in the bassinet, he's been in his car seat since being home from the hospital. I tried the sleep postioner, put him on his side, elevated his head, nothing... wont sleep in the bassinet. I told the Ped and he said gas is normal. But so much??? For him to be screaming so bad??? Its 10:20 now and he has been up since 4:30...crying off and on. He'll close his eyes, then wake up few min later sreaming, and i'll pick him up, and out comes the farts.. Anyone else have this problem? I am gonna call the ped tomorrow and let him know the extent of this. I dont like seeing him in so much pain. Its breaking my heart

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! TIA

Re: New Mom here.. need help!!

I've heard to bycicle their legs. Bend his knees towards his belly and gently bicycle, this helps to work out gas

Re: New Mom here.. need help!!

It could be that he is gulping a lot of air if he's swallowing so loud when drinking.
Are you using formula? Maybe its the formula and you need to switch.
Do you try helping him by pushing his legs in and out to help release the gas.
Bxgell (Beth) had a trick too and I can't remember because her daughter was really gassy.

Re: New Mom here.. need help!!

GRIPE WATER!!! my friend from england introduced me to this works like a charm my daughter had unbelievable gas, colic this works 100% better then any gas drops, instant relief!!!! http://www.colicshop.com/woodwards-gripe-water.shtml

Message edited 1/7/2006 10:30:26 PM.

Re: New Mom here.. need help!!

Ryan got like this when I stopped BFing and started formula...

I just switched right to soy formula.... and I got a different much happier baby instantly... We still use the mylicon once in a blue blue moon... (maybe its needed twice a month) but usually only if he didnt burp good...and gets some gas pains....

I use Isomil advance with Iron.... but there are all different kinds....

ALso- dont feel bad about him hating the bassinett Ryan hated his 2 and slept wonderfully in his carrier for 2 months...then we transitioned to his crib with No problems!!!

Re: New Mom here.. need help!!

If there is no formula issues (some formulas are more gassy than others) and your doctor said it's normal, then try feeding him as upright as possible. Hold him with a pillow behind your arm in almost a sitting position. This will help the gas to escape easier. You can also feed him in his car seat so he's more upright using a Podee http://www.podee.com/main.html (you can buy them at BBB or BRU). I do think there is a huge amount of bonding that's done during feeding time. I couldn't imagine not holding Maddie as I fed her, so try the upright position first.

Also burp him many times during your feedings. The way gas works is if you can eliminate it (by burping) while it's in the stomach, it's not as painful. Once it's traveled down to his intestines, intestinal gas is much more painful...and of course they scream bloody murder. Everyone has different ways of burping, I think holding them over your shoulder or on your knees works best because he'll be pressed against your belly. Of course the shoulder thing also gives you spit-ups in places you can't see.

Besides bicycling his legs, putting him on his belly is a much more comfortable position for them & actually helps them expel it on their own. Think about having a stomach ache & wanting to lie down on your stomach - same theory.

Hope he feels better soon...and you too The first few weeks are tough.

Message edited 1/7/2006 11:59:15 PM.

Re: New Mom here.. need help!!

Beth's trick was to lay him on his left side in a sort of fetal position - it worked a few times for Joseph but what worked best was Mylecon drops every 4 hours. He made the same noises and faces (still does sometimes @ 3.5 mos) and the Mylecon was the cure for us! Hopefully it'll work for you too!

Re: New Mom here.. need help!!

This happened to Jake. It ended up that he had a milk allergy and we switched formula. HE was on Nutramitgen and it was a world of difference. Talk to your doctor about trying another formula. Good Luck.

Re: New Mom here.. need help!!

Alex had TERRIBLE gas issues in the beginning... I mean TERRIBLE (she got it from her daddy...LOL) . She was BF, not formula. I took her to the doctor so many times and there really just wasn't anything they could do for her. I thought about switching her to formula, but I thought the payoff of protecting her from illness with the Breastmilk was more important. There are some ways to handle it:

-Try to distract your baby. It's hard in the beginning because they aren't as interested in their surroundings, but try as best you can. Sometimes it's as simple as taking her into a different room or changing her surroundings.

-Lay her on her left side, and push her legs up into a fetal position and rock her body a little, or pat her back. It helps get the farts out

-Lay her on her back and pump her legs

-Put her in the superman hold (Alex LOVED this... she would immediately stop crying when DH did this for her). Put her body over your arm. Her head should be in your hand, her legs towards your elbow and she should face downwards so that her belly is resting on your forearm. The pressure alleviates the gas.

-Use a sling or the Baby Bjorn. FOr some reason, it really helps to keep a gassy baby close to your body, probably because it's comforting. On days it was REALLY bad, I would put Alex in the Baby Bjorn and walk on the treadmill on the lowest setting. It usually worked like a charm.

As she gets older and her digestive system matures, and she's more aware of her surroundings, it WILL get better. Unfortunately, this is just something most babies have to grow out of...

Re: New Mom here.. need help!!

Thanks for all the advice girls! I called the ped last night at around 11:30 cause he was screaming so much and had been up for almost 8 hrs. The Dr. told me to switch to Enfamil Prosobee... so off to walgreens i went at midnight. I've only fed him 3 times now with the soy so we'll see if anything changes. The Dr. says u have to really wait a week to see any difference. I'm just praying the formula change helps, i hate seeing him in so much pain!! I will keep you all updated!!!!!!!!!

Re: New Mom here.. need help!!

I hope the change in formula helps your little guy!!

Re: New Mom here.. need help!!

I hope the new formula sits better with your little baby.

Re: New Mom here.. need help!!

My son had the same issues, I too use the Prosobee - although it has made a BIG difference in his uncomfortableness, he is still somewhat gassy. But not screaming!

Re: New Mom here.. need help!!

Bumping for Charly and Kitkat

Re: New Mom here.. need help!!

OMG..at first I was like..what new Mom??? Jacob is almost a year old!!!

Re: New Mom here.. need help!!

Posted by AndreaLMT

OMG..at first I was like..what new Mom??? Jacob is almost a year old!!!

Re: New Mom here.. need help!!

Yeah me too!! I was like.. hmmm did i have another baby and not realize it!! : Well hope the bump helps some of the new moms!

Re: New Mom here.. need help!!

wow i was wondering if this was an april fools joke but a little bit early.