Help with 5 month old tummy troubles (X-Posted in Breastfeeding)

[LadyCatherine185]

DS2 just turned 5 months old. He was born with a pretty tight tongue tie, but he latched fine and nursed great. He has been gaining lots of weight, growing well (he was 19 lbs 3 oz's and 26 inches at his 5 month appointment!!) and meeting all milestones on the early side. He is sweet, cuddly, very social, and loves to laugh and smile. However, starting around 2 weeks old he started to have the dreaded "witching hour" of inconsolible screaming for a few hours each evening. After a couple of weeks we took him in to see our ped and got him on some Zantac for reflux. The next 3 nights there was no screaming. 4th night- screaming came back.. so we upped the dose of the zantac and i cut dairy and it stopped again. He still had his fussy times but no more inconsolible, gut wrenching, someone-is-sawing-my-leg-off screaming.

Fast forward about a month or two, and our house was hit with the flu, pnumonia, RSV, and ear infections all at once. Needless to say, DS2 was put on abx. Which totally killed his stomach- he was pooping 30 times a day, and didn't get back to "normal" for 3-4 weeks. During this time I was giving him 3 doses of probx a day. Then about 2 weeks later, the screaming came back. And instead of hours at a time, once a night- it was now 30-60 minutes a time, several times a day. We tried upping the zantac again, didn't work. Gave Prevacid a try- didn't work. Since then I've been doing elimination diets, and it has been a roller coaster of ups and downs.

As of right now- I am dairy (2.5 weeks), wheat, soy, nuts, eggs, and beans free. Have been for a week and a half. He is getting 2 doses of probx (udos choice infant) and 1/4 dose Zantac twice a day. He is not screaming inconsolibly anymore, other than for about 20 minutes at night before he is out for the night. He is still super fussy during the day, and he is waking up a lot at night crying and passing gas. His poops have gone from very green and watery to more formed and greenish yellow. So we are getting somewhere, but he is still having issues....

I am not sure what steps to take next, or to just wait until he outgrows this... any advice is appreciated!

[Blessed1]

Probiotics helped my babe with gas.  Check into it.  I think it could help.  :) 

[LadyCatherine185]

yes like I said in my OP, he has been getting probiotics all along since about 2 weeks old, and I am giving him 2X the dosage right now..

I think I may have figured out though, that it is a foremilk/hindmilk imbalance issue

[PatioGardener]

Originally Posted by LadyCatherine185 

I think I may have figured out though, that it is a foremilk/hindmilk imbalance issue

Just coming here to ask if you had read this.

nak

[MamatobabyA]

How long did you try prevacid?  It takes a full week to work usually.  Also, how were you giving it?  It has to be given on a totally empty stomach and the stomach needs to remain empty for 30 after giving it. He is "just" screaming, or does he have other issues that make you think reflux? 

Is his poop mucusy or bloody?  Those are usually tell tale food allergy issues.  With just green poop, I'm with you, foremilk/hindmilk issues.  I never did get that issue solved with my LO until I started back to work and was pumping.  We mixed the milk all in a big old glass container and made bottles that way. 

to you with the screaming.  It's the worst.

[LadyCatherine185]

yes he had all the reflux signs (my second reflux babe) but i think the reflux was caused by dairy intolerance and the foremilk/hmilk issue. also he would scream with gas pains so i know it wasnt just reflux.

thank you patiogardner for your tips!! :)

i have been block feeding since last night, and things are already better! he had two YELLOW poops this morning, and was super happy today. :)

[LadyCatherine185]

so ian has been a disaster today, and had green runny poops again his morning. i have been staying away from dairy but eating most everything else. he is also cutting his first 2 teeth, which have made it tough with the block feeding because he hasnt wanted to nurse as much.. he went 5 hours without the other day! i have been doing 4-5 hour blocks (basically letting him nurse 2-3 times per side before switching, or until that side is empty)........i am so at a loss right now. i want him to stop crying but also want to figure out the problem! it seems everything i try helps for a few days and then we are back to square one. maybe i just make poisen milk :(

[dovey]

Have you tried expressing part of the foremilk out before he starts to nurse? 

My son had lots of green poops too when he was 2-5 months old.  He also had digestive pain, screaming and good weight gain like your son.  I think my son had a problem with foremilk/hindmilk imbalance too.  I can tell that I have a very strong letdown because milk sprays everywhere if he unlatches at the beginning of a nursing session.  We never completely solved the problem, but he seems to have outgrown it now.  (He's almost 7 months now and is eating solid food too, so I don't know if it's his age or it's the solids that are helping.  The screaming and pain seemed to stop around 5.5 months or so.)  My daughter and I had the same experience when she was small.  

Don't worry!  Your milk isn't poison!  It's helping your baby grow big and healthy. It just takes awhile for babies' digestive systems to get working smoothly.  (Though I've had similar thoughts about my milk too....)

[LadyCatherine185]

thank you for the hope dovey! i do express some if they get too full, but not usually as i don't want to up my supply anymore.... i think i will just stick with the block feeding, and cutting dairy and pray he outgrows this soon. only a few more weeks and we can start solids (he is soooo ready) and maybe that will help...

[LaydieBugs]

We use Hyland's Homeopathic Colic tablets often. 

Having Dad and I get AgG blood tests for food sensitivities helped a TON.  Then when the colic hit at 2 months, I knew it was most likely egg or whey (to which his dad is allergic). 

I also notice that when I get bad heartburn, he gets more spit up. 

Maybe you're one of the lucky ones in an area where there is a pediatric naturopath?  (pretty unusual, unfortunately).

[Mamato3wild ponnie]

Just a thought...does the probiotc have dairy in it? This can make a huge difference! There is a probiotic that is dairy free that worked great for us. I can look up the name if your interested.

[LadyCatherine185]

the homeopathic colic tablets have dairy in them (base of lactose)

the probiotics he takes do not have dairy (udo's choice infant probx)

since the block feeding things are starting to slowly get better. I think I am going to have to take other measures to reduce my supply though, because I am still making too much milk.

[PatioGardener]

How are things now?

[MoonWillow]

Please feel free to join the existing thread here. 

Thanks