Infant probiotics « Back to Group Discussions

[Yeeska]

Some people on here (I'm sorry, but I don't remember who) talked about giving probiotics to a fussy baby and it working wonders. Well, since she was born 5 days ago, Alex has been pretty fussy. It's not hours of screaming colic, but she has reflux and gas and it's rare that she is awake and happy, though she does sleep a good bit -mostly during the day, of course. I also now think I have thrush.

I thought I'd try it so I picked up a bottle of Baby Dophilus (http://www.mannaharvest.net/baby-dophilus-by-jarrow-formulas-2-5-oz.html) at Whole Foods today. On it, it says to give newborns 1/16 of a Tbsp once a day. It's a powder that it say to mix into formula or water. It says it can also be applied to a wet nipple, but doesn't say if that counts as a dose. And how do you even measure that small an amount?!

How have you all administered the probiotics?

[MIrandaM]

I havn't done it but my Mw mentioned it to us when DS was fussy transitioning from colostrum to milk. She said it would be mixed with water and given by syringe alongside pinky in his mouth, w few minutes before each nursing session. HTH l'd be interested to hear what you come up with.

[Yeeska]

I pumped a little milk because I was engorged and I was thinking of putting it in that, but I'm afraid the milk will kill the cultures. I'm also afraid of filling her up on water.

[activealli]

I just started some probiotcs since I did get antibiotics during labor due to GBS +. I have just been using a damp finger, dip it into the probiotics, then swab her cheek before a feeding. Seems to work pretty well. I am using Udo's Infant Probiotic powder. I use it for my son and had a lot of success with him. Baby annabelle seems less fussy already.

[help007]

I wish I could remember what it is called, but I was researching probiotics for my older son, and came across a liquid probiotic for infants on the pharmaca website. That said, you won't fill the baby up on half a teaspoon of water, though swabbing the cheeks sounds like a great idea.

[Carlin]

We did exactly what alli describled. Dipped a damp pinky in the little scoop (so as to not introduce moisture into the bottle) and put it into baby's mouth right before latching on. She never seemed to mind.

Another thought for a fussy newborn is to try a newborn chiropractor. I've heard of people having really good results from a few minor adjustments.

[Faliciagayle]

The only thing I've read with infant probiotics is to a) stay away from any containing dairy (common allergen) and b) that bifidum is the most common bacteria in an infant gut - so that's what to look for in terms of colonies. 

Off to the HFS .....

[Yeeska]

So, ever since I started probiotics, she hasn't pooped. She in no way seems to not be getting enough. She has alert times, wakes to eat, has wet diapers... SO said that he ate probiotic yogurt once and it stopped him up horribly. Could they actually be keeping her from pooping? We're going on 2 days here with one small dirty diaper. That's not ok for a 1 week old. :-( We have an appointment Thurs afternoon...

[dmpkmom]

I would stop the probiotic..you can start it up later. Get to your LC and in the mean time watch when baby is on the breast that you see that suck-pause pattern (jack newman has good clips on this). If baby is sleepy, un-swaddle/undress, keep skin to skin as much as possible and fiddle w/ her feet as she's nursing. Laidback nursing/laid back style, baby automatically moves their feet as they nurse. you could also start pumping a little after a feed and cup/dropper/spoon feed.

[Yeeska]

But I am my LC! lol I'm an IBCLC so of course my baby has to do weird things. She shows every other sign of getting enough. I stopped the probiotic, guess we'll see... 

[dmpkmom]

ah!!! then baby is just making you take a very long final exam. No?

do you have some friend IBCLC's to bounce the situation off of? Like child psychologists probably have to do to their own kids...just too close to see the situation for what it is?

you all have some good baby chiros there?  wonder if just a little work would calm babe?