New Mom--New Worries--LONG

So DD is almost 4 weeks old in 2 days. So far, she has been a GREAT baby!!! Last week I noticed that she was having a little more difficulty burping and she was being a little more fussy SO i switched from Similac Advance to Similac Sensitive.

After a few days, I noticed that she was still having trouble burping, and if anything, she was having MORE trouble burping and was crying more while eating. I also BF and noticed the same when she was BF'ing as well (although not as much).

Well, for the last two days after she eats, she spits up. She also is a lot more gassy and cries alot more when I burp her.

In addition to this, I also noticed that she has a rash on the back of her neck and on her chest with a few spots on her chin. Nowhere else though. I was thinking MAYBE she was allergic to the milk...

Well I took her to the DR today and he said that he doesn't think she's allergic to the milk because the rash is isolated and he told me to try Similac Spit Up. He thought the rash could be because our apartment is so hot and like a newborn rash. He told us to use aquaphor and then he also prescribed a prescription cream to use.

Ladies, I feel SO HORRIBLE thinking that my milk is making her sick or the fact that I switch formulas is making her sick. I just tried feeding her and I was IN TEARS the whole time because she was eating and then crying. Everytime i had to stop to burp her, she would start crying and then if I put the bottle back in her mouth, she would take it and then start crying WHILE the bottle was in her mouth. I just feel so helpless like I don't know what I'm doing and I can't help her...

I'm sorry to go on for so long...but I just needed to talk to someone who might understand what I'm going through or might have any words of advice.

Thanks Gals...

Re: New Mom--New Worries--LONG

Its normal to feel how you're feeling. I'm a first time mommy too and when DS was a newborn I would cry at just about anything and everything because I felt like I had no idea what I was doing. But its all trial and error and we learn as we go. Dont feel bad that you switched formulas, you were following your instincts to try to help your baby. Eventually you'll find what works to help her eat and have feeding her not be so stressful for you. Just follow your peds advice and keep asking questions till you find what works.

Dont feel bad. If motherhood was easy, they'd have men do it!

Message edited 2/14/2011 9:18:04 PM.

Re: New Mom--New Worries--LONG

Posted by waiting4ablessing

Its normal to feel how you're feeling. I'm a first time mommy too and when DS was a newborn I would cry at just about anything and everything because I felt like I had no idea what I was doing. But its all trial and error and we learn as we go. Dont feel bad that you switched formulas, you were following your instincts to try to help your baby. Eventually you'll find what works to help her eat and have feeding her not be so stressful for you. Just follow your peds advice and keep asking questions till you find what works.

Dont feel bad. If motherhood was easy, they'd have men do it!

Re: New Mom--New Worries--LONG

My baby had the same problem about the same time. Here's what I read to isolate the problem. For me, it's because milk was coming too fast for DS so it didn't let him drink at his pace. I had to switch positions to keep his head more elevated during the feeding. Your situation may be different. Read below to see what the problem could be.

crying during feeding

Re: New Mom--New Worries--LONG

I am sending you lots and lots of hugs because i know how you are feeling.

First, the rash on her chest sounds like it is prickly heat. My DS used to get it a lot when he was first born. Aquaphor clears it right up.

Second, i exclusively breastfed and I completely understand how it feels to feed your child and have him/her be hungry and then in an instant cry in agony. I don't know how switching formula affects her since I dont have experience with that, but with DS, he had escessive gas probably due to my overactive let down. Everytime he would start crying while nursing, i put him on my shoulder to burp him. It would take forever to burp him, but we had to do it multiple times as we were feeding him. I am convinced he also had mild reflux. Our ped refused to address any gas/reflux issues becuase DS was growing very well (gaining way over 2lbs per month) - but that is a whole other issue!

I know how desperate it feels, but it will pass. I hope switching formulas helps with the reflux. In the meantime, try to burp her multiple times when you feed her.

Re: New Mom--New Worfries--LONG

My son broke out in a rash and had gas / reflux issues. The doc had me change formulas and I always had to wait two weeks for see if there was a change with my son's rash, gas / reflux. My poor son went through so much pain and I finally went to a gastroenterologist. The gastro checked my son's stool and it tested positive for blood. He went on Elecare and the rash went away and the gas went away, such a different baby. I just wished I went to the gastro sooner. If you can go to the gastro, I would go just to rule out a milk allergy. Good luck!!

Re: New Mom--New Worries--LONG

Hey Penny! How are you?? I have had the same thing with my little girl for the past few days too. Crying all the time. I would fead her and she would stop after a minute and cry. I knew it was gas but I didn't know what to do so I finally got little tummys gas relief drops and they finally seemed to work today (or she got rid of it herself) but I felt soo bad I didn't know what to do to make her feel better (and I only bf) she also has a sore hiney so that made me upset too. I know how hard it is but hang in there! I know she will get better, Evelyn is finally back to herself and I feel so much better. Your a good mommy and are doing everything you can!!

Re: New Mom--New Worries--LONG

Thank you so much ladies!!! You don't know how much your replies have helped me!

I am definitely going to look into seeing a gastro JUST to be safe. DD just had green diarrhea and I called the DR but he said he is not too concerned. He thinks it's because we have changed the formula and her body just needs to get used to it. For now, I am just going to try and BF as much as I can and see what happens.

Jeannette!!! A big for you!!!!!!!!! I'm so glad that Evelyn is feeling better!!! I hope you found your solution with the Gas Relief liquid! I also heard gripe water works well too!!!

Message edited 2/15/2011 12:41:53 PM.

Re: New Mom--New Worries--LONG

hang in there.
dd has been on similac spit up since 4 months too. it helped her a lot.
Also our apt is hot too.
do you have a cool mist vaporizer? that helps
vent anytime

Re: New Mom--New Worries--LONG

Re: New Mom--New Worries--LONG

Just some info on green poop. DS had this. It means they are getting too much of the milk at the begining of nursing (low fat) and not enough of the milk at the end of the session (higher fat) Try nursing longer. What if you increased the BFing and decreased the formula. See how that works.

Hang in there. It is so tough in the begining!

Re: New Mom--New Worries--LONG

Hi Penny! Try not to stress....i think we have all been there at one point or another!!!

Regarding the rash...Lexi had a rash on the back of her neck and in other isolated areas of her body when she was a few weeks old. My Dr. also told us to put Acquafor on it. It was gone in a few days.

Have you been eating anything that may upsetting her stomach? I have no advice regarding formula since DD was EBF....but like a PP said....have you tried breast feeding more and giving her less formula? How often are you giving her formula? I don't think babies can be allergic to the milk their mother's produce....i believe I read that somewhere...so I don't think she's allergic.

Ugh! I hope you figure it out soon!