Gas / Poop issues

[Catwmandu]

I haven't posted here before in this section..

Guess I always think things will fix themselves and we'll figure it out, besides never having the time or energy to type so just goof around on FB while nursing

Before I get started I should mention that I wasn't as dedicated at nursing with my daughter. I had surgery (implants and lift) about 8 years ago. She had issues latching on one side and in the end (after initially nursing) I pumped for her for 13 months and supplemented.

My son is 2 months, 1 week. He is uncomfortable often and many times just downright in pain - some of it appears to be related to gas and some of it just seems too exaggerated for gas (shrieking). We are working with the ped and I wanted to see if anyone here had any ideas.

Some bullet points because this may get to be too long / confusing and I need to get to bed:

- born at 8 pounds, 12 ounces down to 8/6 at hospital. 1 month check up at 9/2 and brought him in for a "sick" visit on Friday (2 months) and he's at 9/10

- BM's at hospital merconium, 1 seedy before leaving hospital, 2 loose ones 1st day or two home. Then... 12 days till next movement. Then another 13 days. We did some sugar water on the 12th day per the peds request. We had been doing some stimulation and massage with no results. At the 1 month appointment I expressed concern over the pain that he seems to endure when having to poop. He is only conforted by my breast when in this discomfort (and not all of the time) and my npples have been torn and recovered repeatedly from the "comfort". We talked about gas and decided to try a few things to minimize it. I called back two weeks ago with more concern over the struggling he was having and the fact that he wasn't going unless prompted and flipping out when he does. The consistency and color was like softened chocolate. Ped asked to try prune juice as we were wondering if there was an impact or something. Juice produced small to medium diarhea diapers but no hardened stuff. Since being off the juice he is back to an occasional wet color area in the back of his diaper. No mass to anything. Doctor palpatated his stomach on Friday and it does not appear distended. Inserted finger, and said he did not feel anything.

- Minimal spit up, though seemingly more lately than in the past. Also is digging head to side (my daughter used to do this) like food is rising in belly.

- Off of dairy (since Wednesday last week). I was only doing cheese and chocolate up till then. I do eat a bit of soy though as I do not eat meat and we substitute.

- His periods of alert and happy time do not seem sufficient to me.

- I may have had some oversupply issues in the past weeks. The painful random letdowns have seem to stopped.

- One of my nipples if flattened. I can compress it and get him to latch but when it gets too slippery he will lose his latch and need to be relatched. This can happen numerous times at some feedings.

- I was, until Friday, pumping and supplementing with expressed BM when needed (occasionally evenings and middle of night). Lactation indicated I might have to as a result of the surgery.

- He is swaddled at night and therefore this is usually his one period of day when he sleeps well.

I hope this wasn't too confusing. In our discussion with the ped on Friday we talked about making some adjustments in my breastfeeding. Instead of expressing first thing in morning to allow him to take as much in as he needs to see if we can get his weight up. He expressed concern that he had fallen off of the curve. He did however note that he appears healthy. We both agree though that he is not happy. Our next appointment was supposed to be the 30th. We'd check weight and discuss any changes in gas/bowels and perhaps do some labs. Then depending on labs consider next steps like barium, etc.

After another very bad night of him really upset my husband and I are going to call tomorrow to get him back in. I just want him to be comfortable, to have more alert periods, and a better time at the breast.

Thanks for listening to me ramble. Not sure if this should be posted elsewhere or cross posted.

[Bokonon]

My first thought is that yes, 8 oz. in a month is a concerning weight gain. Were those weights taken on the same scale in the same state of undress? Different scales can differ by up to a pound. That said, most pediatricians don't know squat about breastfeeding and may not be supportive of it when there are issues.

And I'm confused - you had oversupply but the LC told you that you would have to pump for nighttime feedings? What were your symptoms of oversupply? When you supplement with EBM, how many ounces are you giving and what kind of nipples (fast flow, slow flow, etc.)?

It sounds like a dairy elimination is worth trying. Is the LC that you are seeing an IBCLC? If not, I would highly recommend seeing one instead.

[Sasha299]

My DS also had issues with gas and exagerated screaming. It turns out DS has milk allergies, soy allergies and egg allergies - When ever I age these things he would suffer greatly. After cutting them out and getting him on prevacid and malox he was great! Gas can be caused by oversupply but usually you know that because the baby will gag. Did your lactaction consultant weigh him before you nursed, and after you nursed? That would give a rough idea of how much milk he is getting.

[Catwmandu]

I'm so confused and tired. And my nipples KILL today. (Lots of comfort sucking during gas for him..)

I see now why people give up. It's not easy when you see your boy in pain and wonder whether its something you are doing or eating. I suspected oversupply due to the amount of pads I was going through coupled with the clicking at the breast and the gas. Though know it could be other things. Like I said, very confusing.

I feel like I barely know what to do and thought it'd be easier. I can't tell when he's hungry he eats his fists and roots rapidly when he's gassy which is all the time (because he gets comfort from the breast) so I never know when to feed him. I just offer him the breast when I am not sure what else to do.

Weight was checked on same scale at Peds office. And the last two trips to the peds he actually surprised me with encouragement. When he walked in I was sitting there with Gabe latched on, my husband standing and we talked while Gabe ate / comfort sucked.

I'm not sure of the lactations qualifications. She is with local LLL and recommended by my midwives. I am currently supplementing with 2 - 4 ounces EBM a day given to him with Dr. Brown "P" nipple. We also had done some Breastflow. Usually night and overnight. Though now thinking I may really need to do night feedings to help both his weight and my breast production which has gone from wetting many pads (and feeling many random letdowns all throughout the day) two weeks ago to not feeling full or going through pads.

As far as diet, I had (until the night before last - husband and I didn't bother to check the marinara sauce) eliminated milk and milk products. And haven't touched it since. Maybe there was a slight noticible difference, but not severe (and I miss my chocolate chip cookies which served as stress release).

I'm really at a loss. Today and last night were really bad. I look back at what I ate yesterday and the chicken substitute (Quorn) could have as it's got egg powder. Or the salad I ate for dinner with some gas causing foods.

Ugh.