My baby is extremely cranky with terrible gas and constipation...what can I do?

Question

I have tried mylcon and tummy drops they don't seem to help. I breastfeed during the day but do not eat anything that I think would cause gas (i.e dairy, tomatoes, garlic, onions, spicy foods etc). and at night I give her formula. I have tried a thousand different formulas and we just started her on Nutrimegin by Enfamil last night. However, that doesn't seem to be working. She just seems to cry...she will be sleeping and wakes up screaming. I am at a loss at what to do. HELP!!

have tried mylcon and tummy drops they don't seem to help. I breastfeed during the day but do not eat anything that I think would cause gas (i.e dairy, tomatoes, garlic, onions, spicy foods etc). and at night I give her formula. I have tried a thousand different formulas and we just started her on Nutrimegin by Enfamil last night. However, that doesn't seem to be working. She just seems to cry...she will be sleeping and wakes up screaming. I am at a loss at what to do. HELP!!
I have also tried using KARO syrup and Prune Juice

I use Doctor Brown's bottles and she was diagnosed with acid reflux and is on AXID for that

Answer 1

my baby had gas a couple of weeks ago. I gave him 1 teaspoon of gripe water. It clear his bowels and made him feel a whole lot better. I must add that I am not breasfeeding.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

A few things to try...
1) Lie her on her back and gently hold her behind her thighs and push her knees up to her chest. Your kinda folding her up. Do this several times. The goal is to help her pass gas.
2) Hold her kinda like a football. Face down with your hand supporting her head. Her legs should be up near your elbow. Slowly rock her back and forth head to foot. Being on her belly might add comfort and the rocking is soothing. This can require some strength, so if you have a hubby around it might be a good "bonding" activity for him.
3) Try infant massage. You can get videos/dvds on how to do this or take a class. Some hospitals offer the classes. Check with the hospital where you delivered or with your OBGYN.
4) Of course, make sure you double check with your dr. Theoretically, BF babies aren't supposed to be constipated so it would be good to keep the dr. in the loop and rule out anything else that it could be.
5) On that note, how old is your baby? Could she be teething? Teething is very painful and could also cause her to wake up screaming. Try some Tylanol when you put her to bed (or Motrin if she's old enough. It works better and longer). Consider giving her a pacifier if you don't already.
Good luck. I know you're exhausted. I've been there.

Answer 4

That happened to my baby as well. I switched to Similac Isomil Advance. It is supposed to work in three days. In the mean time...lay your baby on her belly, or lay her on her back and move her legs in a pedaling motion. Either of these may work. Have her sleep at an incline, make sure she has non restraining waistbands on her clothing. For constipation, try using an ounce of prune juice or apple juice diluted with water. Ratio 1:1. Do this twice a day until things get moving. If this doesn't help, go to walmart pharmacy or walgreens and buy Fleet brand children's glycerin suppositories. Use only 1/4 or 1/3 depending how old your baby is. Also, lube your baby's anus with petrolem jelly(just the outside). The suppository should work in about an hour. The jelly just helps it slide out better and not hurt your baby's bum. I hope this helps. Good luck!

Answer 5

what type of bottles do you use? i use the bottles with the drop in liners that expel the air as they drink the liquid. im going through the same thing with my 5 month old. i thought it was just a stage but i think now it may be acid reflux, or lactose intolerant or an allergy. I would definately look into these three things and bring it up to your dr. asap! give the new formula about 3 days and then bring her in to see the ped. if you are not satisfied then go to a GI specialist and pusht the issue there. hang in there and know that other people are going through the same thing...also, maybe try the similac alimentum. that is supposed to work wonders. !! also try water with a little bit of sugar for the constipation...or half apple juice half water...the sugar helps the system. put the baby on her back and scrunch her legs up to her chest. push her legs and then give her a break and the n do it again...sometimes this helps to get things going!

Answer 6

I breastfed both of my kids and never did the formula. You child will get used to the breast and when you switch to formula your child is going to notice the huge difference and not prefer it. Formula will make a child more gasey and cranky. Your child gets all the good nutrients and the nutrients they need from the breast. I wouldn't be switching back and forth. That is what is most likely upsetting your baby and therefore probably the stomach. Babies don't digest formula as well as breastmilk. That is probably why your child is upset. Also, there are actual little white dissolvable pills for infants for gas that you can give to your child that will or should help calm him/her down. Ask your doctor or a pharmacy about it. I would also see if your baby is colicky. My first child was. I do think though the formula is causing your child's stomach to be upset.

I went directly from breastmilk with my first child when she was 11 months old directly to regular milk. My second child was 15 months when he was weaned and then went directly to regular milk. Ask your doctor. They give the best advice, sometimes.

Answer 7

Stop with the formula.

If you breastfeed during the day there is no reason you can not breastfeed at night or at least give expressed breastmilk. It is totally the formula. I have a friend who exclusively pumps but due to low supply she had to give formula now and again. Whenever she gave formula he got very sick, so she started giving him formula everyday so now he is just chronically sick (but less sick then he would get when he got formula once in awhile).

Try exclusively given breastmilk and I guarantee the constipation with go away, probably the gas and screaming to.

I can look up references to how formula can damage the intestines if you want.

Answer 8

I had the same problem with my oldest and my youngest child (they are now 11 and 5). The pediatrcian told me to deal with it. Nobody understands the frustration. I tried everything. What finally helped was changing to a soy formula. The soy decreases the gas caused by milk based products. I also would put them across my lap after feeding and would rub their back until they passed the gas. The pressure on their bellies seemed to help. Walmart has their name brand in soy with the same ingredients as the more expensive brands. I would also bath them at night with the Johnson and Johnson bedtime bath (has camomille and lavender). It relaxed them. The extra crying can give more gas because they gulp air. If you are using a powder formula try buying spring water to mix it with. Sometimes city treated water can cause stomach cramps in little ones. Good luck. It does pass.

Answer 9

You don't say how old the baby is, could she be colicky?
Colic doesn't just come from food, some babies get colics, some don't. How about Gripe Water? Have you tried putting a warm clothes on her tummy? If that doesn't help, all you can do is carry the little one and hum soothing music. I did for two months, day and partly night. And then it stopped all of a sudden.

Answer 10

Mom of 4 months old baby here. He was really very gassy, I just stopped eating any diary products for the first three months (this is the period where babies are gassy), also gripe water helped a lot. Really, there is not much you can do but just be patient with your baby, this is just a phase he/she must go through and it will not be longer than three months! Just hold him/her, reassure her that everything is fine and that you love her a lot.

Don't worry your baby will be fine in no time. ;)

Answer 11

i assumed my newborn exchange into the gassiest newborn alive! attempt those issues that have worked for us: -gently deliver his knees to his chest and do a bicycle action - lay him on his tummy and positioned his backside greater-you're able to try this because of utilising laying him for the time of your lap and pat his backside gently. -carry him promptly up and down over your shoulder- he ought to be fantastically extreme up and gently pat his backside. -attempt a distinctive bottle. Dr. Brown's have been getting large comments. - take a heat (not warm) towel and wrap around his abdomen like a cumber bun and lay on his abdomen. -verify the nipple hollow on the bottle. Is it too super? Is the milk rushing out and he's gulping. -you grants up him in the direction of a feed and burp to keep away from the construction up of gas. -maximum formulation are made with cows milk although they comprise digestive aids for toddlers. Your son could have a milk hypersensitive reaction. if your pediatrician isn't being effective call yet another one and spot what they could propose. i'm hoping this facilitates. My son is breast fed yet we dealt with extreme gas matters too. stable success.