Sensitivities to mom's diet?

[mrs.t]

I have a very fussy 5 week old...he has about an hour a day where he is content, but most of the time, when he is awake, he's crying. My gut is telling me it's just normal fussiness, because other than the crying, I don't notice anything wrong. His BM's are mustard colored and normal looking for a breastfed baby. He sleeps through the night except to wake up for feedings. He doesn't seem to be in any pain...although at times he does seem a little gassy. He will sometimes arch his back when crying.

I'm wondering if his fussiness could be due to anything in my diet, but I'm reluctant to start an elimination diet based on daytime fussiness and no real symptoms. Maybe there are other symptoms I'm missing?

The only thing that I find odd is that for as long as I can remember, when he has a BM it comes out pretty forcefully, where we can actually hear it in the diaper (sounds like passing gas) to the point where others have commented on it. Is this normal? I have no experience with breastfed babies so I'm not sure about this, however, there is no other sign of the bm being abnormal in any way, and no redness or diaper rash of any kind.

Does this sound in any way like a sensitivity to my diet? I am lactose intolerant, so my dairy intake is pretty limited anyway, but people keep suggesting that maybe he has a sensitivity to milk protein.

I'm just hoping that someone out there can tell me what a real sensitivity looks like, because I don't really think that's the problem, but I do have the constant fussiness during waking hours to contend with and if there is a solution I would like to find it!

TIA!

[ps4624]

You might wanted to post over in the allergy forum, because those ladies know everything about everything! I did have to do an elimination diet and for my DD, it was gluten and soy that was the biggest problems. Hopefully you can find the issue easily.

Congrats on your new baby!

[cocoanib]

I hope someone can answer your other questions. I'm new to this as well and am unsure about allergies and fussiness. However, my DD has had loud bowel movements since she was born. That's how we usually can tell that she needs to be changed. I think that's pretty normal.

[mrs.t]

cocoanib-Thanks! I thought it seemed ok, but my MIL was shocked when she heard the noises coming out of him! I started to wonder if I should be concerned.

[cocoanib]

Originally Posted by mrs.t

cocoanib-Thanks! I thought it seemed ok, but my MIL was shocked when she heard the noises coming out of him! I started to wonder if I should be concerned.

I hope it helped! There are so many questions and concerns with newborns. I guess this is how mommyhood goes

[spughy]

When he's crying, is he upright or reclining? Are you holding him or is he in a crib, a bouncy chair, or something else? Do any usual baby-soothing techniques like swaddling, rocking, bouncing or taking him for a walk in a carrier work at all?

If he cries mostly when he is reclining, either in a sling, or chair, on a lap or in a bassinet or something, then my guess would be reflux - although it's definitely odd that it wouldn't affect him at night.

If he cries when he's in a bouncy chair, crib, bassinet, etc. but not when he's being held - well, that's just being a fairly normal baby, and he needs to be held to feel secure. A wrap-style carrier is a great tool for hold-me-or-I'll-holler babies - it holds them securely but is comfortable and frees your hands for doing other things.

It's also possible, if he's your first baby, that he's overdressed and overheated. I work with a lot of new moms and many of them pile waaaay too many clothes on the baby and crank up the heat. Feel the back of his neck - if it's at all damp and sweaty, or just feels really hot to the touch, take a layer or two off him. The general rule of thumb is that babies need one more layer than you do to be comfortable on their own, and the same or fewer clothes than you if they're in a carrier. Past a few days old, there's no need to cover their heads indoors either.

His poops sound great (LOL). Baby poo is just like that. Good times, huh? Is he gaining well?

[Plummeting]

Is he actually crying all that time or is he fussing? A lot of new moms refer to it as crying, when really they're just fussing, and can be consoled as long as you bounce, rock, sway, find some position they really like...something. If he's really crying all day long, then maybe there's a problem, but if he's just fussing all day I'd call that normal newborn behavior. It's hard sometimes!

[Youngfrankenstein]

I had the same questions when my babe was that small. Please look at www.kellymom.com and look it up. It said that *most* times it's NOT what mom is eating. I think there will also be some self-quiz to see if your food is the culprit.

[mrs.t]

spughy-I thought about reflux as well, and at first I was thinking that he was happy in the stroller/carseat because they are the same seat and he's kind of upright. However, if I put him in the carseat in the house he cries, but as soon as we open the door and go outside he's quiet. So I figured it's probably not the position, plus like you said, he would probably be having issues at night and he doesn't. He is gaining well, so far he has gained 2 lbs since birth and the ped said about an ounce a day, so he's on target with that. He has plenty of wet diapers as well so I know he's getting enough to eat. I'm always checking if he has too many/too few clothes on, because sometimes I do think he'll cry when he's cold or hot.

plummeting-He's definitely crying. It starts with fussing and then turns into full blown crying, or maybe just yelling...but sometimes with tears and everything.

youngfrankenstein-I actually read that, which is what made me wonder! So many people are so quick to point the finger at dairy or something else, but I don't want to go through the whole process of elimination when it's just normal fussiness. Which is why I kind of want to know, how do you know that it's definitely NOT food sensitivity?

Thanks for all the replies everyone...it helps to have people "troubleshoot" my baby!

[spughy]

Does he cry if you hold him and bounce or rock him?

ETA: you don't want to put him in the carseat any more than is strictly necessary if it's a bucket seat - they "fold" the baby too much and can lower oxygen levels... not going to make him cry, but can be dangerous. If you need to put him in something in the house, a bouncy seat lets him stretch out more.

[mrs.t]

Sometimes he cries when being rocked or bounced, sometimes he doesn't. When I think I found the thing that makes him stop, it doesn't work the next day. Bouncy seat, swing, being held, being rocked, etc. will work one minute and not the next. The only things that are consistent are car rides and stroller rides, but nothing that I can use in the house. I just ordered a sling because I thought maybe babywearing would work...we'll see.

I don't normally put him in the car seat unless we are going somewhere, I just meant that when I am getting him ready to go out he will scream in the car seat until we get outside.

[spughy]

Originally Posted by mrs.t

I don't normally put him in the car seat unless we are going somewhere, I just meant that when I am getting him ready to go out he will scream in the car seat until we get outside.

Oh, that. Yeah in my experience they ALL do that.

Babywearing is *likely* to help but not guaranteed - it sounds like classic "colic". Slings are good - I used one - but make sure he's in it comfortably. The best illustrations I found were in the Dr. Sears Baby Book. Good luck, I hope it helps!

For what it's worth, I'm going to bet "fussiness" rather than food sensitivity. Most babies will outgrow both in time, and lots of babywearing, cuddles, and accommodating baby's schedule rather than trying to fit him to yours will probably help with both, too - basically, make baby as comfy and secure as possible and that'll minimize the impact of either constitutional crankiness or dietary discomfort. OTOH, if you can tolerate an elimination diet to see if that is it, that's one way to tell for sure. Cut out wheat, gluten, dairy, soy, nuts and eggs from your diet for two weeks. (Poultry, too, since chickens/turkeys are typically fed a lot of soy, even organic ones). This will NOT be fun. You will eat a lot of lamb and rice, and you will have to struggle to get enough calories in every day. (Avocadoes are your friends.) But, if your wee one starts to get more cheerful, that's a definite sign it's a food insensitivity. After two weeks, start adding foods back in to your diet, one at a time, until the fussiness returns. And if it doesn't, then it was just a newborn-fussy thing.

Actually, I would wait until after 6 weeks to do an elimination diet - a lot of newborn weirdness starts to even out at that point.

[mrs.t]

That's a great idea, waiting until 6 weeks! So obvious but I didn't think of it. I was kind of trying to avoid the elimination diet because I figured if I started now and he's five weeks, and newborn fussiness ended at 6 weeks, it would seem like it was the diet when really it was just coincidental. So that's a great idea...this way I know if he's still really fussy I have something else in my arsenal of "solutions" (using the term loosely, here) to try before I go completely nuts!

Strangely enough, he had a good day today, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he is just plain old fussy. What a thing to hope for!

[Bethla]

mrs t-
so glad you started this thread. my 5 week old (born 4/4) is exactly how you described yours. Today was a tough day, especially! I feel like I could have written your posts.