Anyone else have a "puker"? (possible allergies)

[Baby_Cakes]

DS is 5 weeks old and is a happy, not fussy, steadily growing little man.  He's a wonderful baby.  But...I'm up to my ears in spit up!!   I need to vent a bit and maybe find someone to commiserate with

After doing lots of digging online and remembering how DD was at this age, I think my babies are just pukers.  I do have overactive letdown and a bit of oversupply, but it's been regulating and things were getting better.  Then DS just hit a growth spurt and ramped up my supply a bit, and yesterday was one of the pukiest days so far.  I'm also tired b/c he was up at 4am to eat, and then again at 5.  I was so tired at 5 I just sat up in bed rather than traipsing out to the living room, and once I lay down with him in the bed -- BLARGH he nailed the bed with a mess of spitup.  It even got my pillow.  Wah.  It's not massive amounts, it's just enough to be gross and annoying.  >.<  I moved to the couch and then at 6:45 am he woke again fussing, and I figured, Ok, sit up, get him fed, get one more hour of sleep before DD wakes.  I sat, fed him for 15 min or so, and as soon as he popped off.. he nailed me AGAIN!!  Luckily I had one more clean shirt to change into.

So, I'm starting this thread.  Idk if anyone will reply but at least I'm getting it all out!!

I'm starting to dread every feeding.  He's like a ticking timebomb!  In my overtired delirious state, I feel like I'll never be able to leave the house with him b/c of this issue.  

And just FTR, he's not in any pain, not fussing.  He might squawk a bit like he has a burp stuck, but then once he burps/spits up he's cooing and happy again.  I'm not terribly worried, as he's gaining weight fine and has plenty (plenty) of wet and dirty diapers...it's just a laundry issue.  And a grumpy mama issue.

Anyone?

[Stayseeliz]

My oldest and youngest have been pukers. Keep them upright a lot. That really helped my youngest. We did do prevacid for awhile since the puke was just neverending. She just stopped it at almost 6 months! Hang in there! It's frustrating all the way around!

[Megan73]

Yep. Both of mine have been pukers. DS1 was a miserable colicky baby and DS2 is a happy little dude, so go figure. In both case, however, it got much better about the time both could sit up alone so have hope.
It is a total PIA. DS1 once spit up in poor DH's MOUTH once. Utterly gross.

[behaviourmama]

Originally Posted by Baby_Cakes 

once I lay down with him in the bed -- BLARGH he nailed the bed with a mess of spitup.  It even got my pillow.  Wah.  It's not massive amounts, it's just enough to be gross and annoying.  >.< 

Okay maybe this is an overshare, but both my girls have been pukers. Most disgusting thing ever, IMO. We co-sleep, and DD often spits up in my bed.. and being the lazy laundress that I am, I usually end up sleeping in stinky, sticky, piles of puke. Sometimes I cover it with a swaddle blanket.. but then it dries, and I move the blanket, and the sticky stinky puddle becomes a stiff stinky spot. GROSS! Somebody tell me I am not alone in being this disgusting? LOL!

[rinap]

Yeah. My standards for what is clean enough to go out in, and whether the sheets are dirty are sinking sinking sinking. And sometimes I change shirts four times in a morning.

[bignerpie]

My son was a puker and didn't stop until about 6 months. My daughter is even worse! I am doing at least 1 load of laundry every day of all her clothes, receiving blankets, and my shirts.

I have a waterproof pad under the sheet on my bed, plus I have a towel on top of the sheet. Between spit up and leaky boobs, everything is soaked by morning.

[Baby_Cakes]

  I found my tribe!!  LOL!!

Ditto on the crusty sheets, the constant laundry, and the sleeping on towels.  At least we're in this together. 

Right after his last nursing, he was fine and happy and cooing.  I was so happy maybe we had avoided spitting up this time!!  I put him up to my shoulder to burp and BAM he got me -- my cheek, down the neck, down the shirt.  UGH.  It was my last clean shirt!!  Serenity now!!  I admit it I started to cry a little.  DH finally saw what I've been talking about and googled.  Sigh.  There's nothing to worry about.  So why the hell am I so worried!!??

[rinap]

Right down the cleavage is what I hate the most. Especially when I'm out and about.

[Comtessa]

OP, if you're genuinely worried, trust your instinct.  It's probably nothing... but it might actually be a clue about something wrong.  I wish I'd identified my little guy's dairy sensitivity earlier -- and the massive quantities of spit-up were our first clue.  After a few weeks, he started reacting more and more ferociously to the dairy, and I couldn't figure out why he was so unhappy and screaming so much of the time.  A few days after I cut out dairy, I had my content, happy-go-lucky baby back.  But it took us 4 months to figure out what should have been obvious by the time he was 3 weeks old.  If you're concerned about the spitting, you could always drop dairy for a couple of weeks and see if anything changes -- it's the most likely culprit, anyway. 

[penstamon]

Oh mamas, have I btdt!  Both my boys were/are spitters and DS2 (4 mo) is the worst.  Down the cleavage, down the back, in my pockets- you name it.  It is miserable but like your LO's he doesn't have any other issues.  We went down the "why" road with DS1 so I am letting it go with DS2.  He did have 2 CST treatments but they only helped a little.  The worst part is that he can't resettle to sleep most nights after a feed until he pukes, but then he is fine.  He has spit up ounces of milk but he has always been 90+% in weight (and height) so there is no worry. *sigh*  I stink like old milk most always...

[Baby_Cakes]

Originally Posted by Comtessa 

OP, if you're genuinely worried, trust your instinct.  It's probably nothing... but it might actually be a clue about something wrong.  I wish I'd identified my little guy's dairy sensitivity earlier -- and the massive quantities of spit-up were our first clue.  After a few weeks, he started reacting more and more ferociously to the dairy, and I couldn't figure out why he was so unhappy and screaming so much of the time.  A few days after I cut out dairy, I had my content, happy-go-lucky baby back.  But it took us 4 months to figure out what should have been obvious by the time he was 3 weeks old.  If you're concerned about the spitting, you could always drop dairy for a couple of weeks and see if anything changes -- it's the most likely culprit, anyway. 

Im going to take him to the ped anyway, but i think he's ok deep down.  Just want that etra reassurance, u know?  I'm actually vegan, so Im thinking if its anything, its soy??  Not sure...

[Baby_Cakes]

Originally Posted by Baby_Cakes 

And just FTR, he's not in any pain, not fussing.  He might squawk a bit like he has a burp stuck, but then once he burps/spits up he's cooing and happy again.  I'm not terribly worried, as he's gaining weight fine and has plenty (plenty) of wet and dirty diapers...it's just a laundry issue.  And a grumpy mama issue.

So things got worse.  It was getting clear to me that he WAS in pain and feeling burning when spitting up.  Some arching of the back when puking, and a sharp, intense scream.  He would spit up and then frantically root for more milk, to ease the pain.  We started him on the lowest dose of Zantac on Wednesday, and so far it's like night and day.  He's still puking, but now there is no real scream associated with it, and he's sleeping AWESOME.  No more waking up choking and screaming!!

But now I'm thinking that it's something I'm eating that's causing him to puke.  I slacked a few times and got cream in my coffee while out and about so I'm going to completely COMPLETELY eliminate all dairy and cut back on my caffeine more.  I'm hoping it helps.  I just can't imagine what my diet will be like if I have to eliminate soy.

[Peony]

All my kids have been pukers, all 4 of them. I think my couch still has spit up on it form the last baby! Ditto to the crusty sheets, the puke down the front of the shirt, I am so tired of smelling like sour milk all the time. Sigh. I only tried Zantac with one baby and it didn't do much. This guy pukes but doesn't seem to be in pain from it, his main source of fussiness is gas. 

So... I'd have to look up the percentage but a high number of babies who react to dairy, react to soy as well. It's high enough that I tell moms to cut out soy the same time they cut out dairy, and then try introducing it later to see if their baby can tolerate it. 

[Baby_Cakes]

I could probably easily cut out soymilk and tofu, but soy seems to be in EVERYTHING.  I wonder if I just cut out obvious soy if it would be enough.

[Peony]

It just depends how sensitive the baby is, sometimes cutting out the "big ticket" items could be enough, but with a highly sensitive baby, every little item has to go. Trial and error. 

[coldandsleepy]

My son was like that.  He spit up more or less constantly.  Sometimes he'd be fine right after a feeding and then 30-45 minutes later, WHOOSH!  The white wave!

He was growing well (VERY well... perhaps a little too well, chunky monkey!) and was generally a very pleasant and even tempered baby, so his pediatrician was not concerned about it.  Easy for him to say, huh?  He's not the one constantly covered in vomit!

My diet didn't seem to impact his spitting up at all.  I don't eat dairy at all anyway and was eating soy fairly infrequently at the time.  I think some kids really are just spitters.

I was immensely weary of it by the time it stopped, around maybe 8 or 9 months.  (Not sure when it changed exactly, but I think it was by the time I started regularly carrying him on my back.)  So, I feel your pain!

[GildaPersian]

Hi there,

My now 16 year old was a puker when he was a baby and later I learned he had a weak digestive system and that was why it was easy for him to throw up at the slightest thing, he would gag if a Dr. would stick the wooden stick in his mouth just at the tip.  We all gag, but his was very sensitive.  To this day, he has a weak system and throws up easily, he throws up when we are driving a winding road. 

[GildaPersian]

We figured out casein and soy are not compatible with our son, and now he drinks almond milk.  Coconut milk is a good alternative too, but I would check with your pediatrician, for the age you can substitute almond or coconut milk.

[RebeccaR]

Both of mine were spitter uppers. Like you I had a lOt of milk, fast let down. They outgrew finally. Cutting out wheat helped a lot and bell pepper and onion. Only til like 4/5 months. Good luck - it is an intense laundry time. :-) focus on hOw well they grow- all from you!

[Tear78]

Originally Posted by Baby_Cakes 

So things got worse.  It was getting clear to me that he WAS in pain and feeling burning when spitting up.  Some arching of the back when puking, and a sharp, intense scream.  He would spit up and then frantically root for more milk, to ease the pain.  We started him on the lowest dose of Zantac on Wednesday, and so far it's like night and day.  He's still puking, but now there is no real scream associated with it, and he's sleeping AWESOME.  No more waking up choking and screaming!!

But now I'm thinking that it's something I'm eating that's causing him to puke.  I slacked a few times and got cream in my coffee while out and about so I'm going to completely COMPLETELY eliminate all dairy and cut back on my caffeine more.  I'm hoping it helps.  I just can't imagine what my diet will be like if I have to eliminate soy.

Carrie, I'm glad that the Zantac is helping. That's how it was for DD too: night and day. Since it seems to be reflux related, have you thought about cutting out onions and chocolate? If I have something that's even cooked with onions, or in the same pan, she's up all night spitting up and crying. Apparently, as I stupidly tested yesterday (for the umpteenth time - I don't want to let this one go!), certain kinds of chocolate do the same thing.