please help

since last night both boys won't stop crying during and for about 30 minutes after each meal. we are feeding them enfamil lipil with iron in 3.5-4 ounce servings every 3.25 hours. we have tried feeding them more but it doesn't solve the problem. we have also tried feeding them "on demand" but again, not working. they start to cry during the last .5 ounces of formula and stop if we are able to get them to burp but then cry again as soon as we put them down in their crib...which is slightly angled so their heads are above their feet to help with their digestion.

could it be that they are just really really gassy babies? would mylicon do the trick??? and if so does that make them constipated?

i see the pediatrician this morning at 11 but i thought i could get some pointers first so i knew better what to ask about.

thanks!

 

there are a number of things that could be causing them discomfort. gas bubbles, for one. i would definitely give them some mylicon and see if that helps. also, their guts are still trying to figure out how to work properly so they might be having cramping. you can lay them on their backs and gently pedal their legs like they're riding a bike. you can also give very VERY gentle tummy massages by running your finger across their lower abdomen in an arc. here's a description i found:

"To massage your baby's tummy, place warmed hands on tummy at or below the belly button. I know it's a small space, but important to target the bowels. Using flat palms gently stroke downward, using hand over hand, a paddling type motion. Next moving hands in a clockwise motion, (very important to move clockwise – if you go the wrong way, you'll create more issues), stroke baby's tummy in a circle."

i was told to close your eyes and press your fingers against your eyeballs to get an idea of how much pressure to use. your eyes won't be able to take much without discomfort, so you'll kind of get an idea of how light you need to be.

they could also be experiencing acid reflux. we certainly noticed the signs that early. do they sleep with their heads arched back? do they spit up a lot? you might want to talk to your pedi about reflux just to get his/her feel for it.

edit: oh, one last thought. are you fluffing the formula before mixing the bottles? we ran into a problem where our boys were having a hard time digesting their food because no one told me you're supposed to fluff and unpack the formula with a fork before measuring it out. we were making more concentrated bottles than their little guts could take and it made them crampy.

 

We started out thinking it might be gas also, but our turned out to be reflux. Pedi put both twins on Pevacid, which helped a lot. Pedi also recommended we give 1/4 tsp of Mylanta as needed. This was a HUGE help. It gave the babies immediate relief from the burning of the reflux. I gave this mid-bottle when they start crying yet still hungry. Once given, I usually wait a minute or two for it to take full effect, then offer the rest of the bottle. Almost every time, baby would finish the bottle

Hope you can get some answers for your little ones today :hug:

 

one of the boys sleeps with his head arched back, we always look at him and say how uncomfortable that must be but he seems to enjoy it. the other sleeps normally in a straight position. we always lay them on their sides for about 30 minutes after a meal so if they do spit up it just falls out of their mouths rather than them choking on it.

they do spit up but it's not an incredible amount. sometimes it's more than others but for the most part it's just a little here and there.

and we tickle the sides of their bellies and it seems to sometimes help them pass gas, or poop - either way it's releasing some pressure. i'll try the massage technique.

 

It sounds like what we went through with DS. We tried gripe water and myylicon to no avail. He was in so much pain and was diagnosed with reflux because of the glaring symptoms you describe. Pedi prescribed prevacid 2x/day and we saw relief within 24 hours. The difference was night and day. Poor babies...see what your pedi thinks. Hope your little ones get some relief soon.

 

This is what happened with us!

Rather than putting them on their sides after feedings, try keeping them upright in a swing or bouncy chair for 30 minutes. The arching of the back would not be when they are sleeping, it would be when they are eating. Are they making any grunting noises during their feeds? Also remember, BACK to sleep....babies, especially preemies should definitely be put to sleep on their backs at this age. I hope you get some answers at your pedi appt this morning!

 

they make grunty noises all the time, during feeds and throughout the day. the pediatrician asked if we wanted to try a medicine and i said yes so he gave us zantac, we are going to try it out tonight. i hope like heck it works!

as for the side sleeping, that's what the PICU pediatricians told us to do. they said side sleeping and back sleeping were both ok, it was belly sleeping that was bad.

 

Hope the Zantac does the trick for your guys. If it is effective, just keep in mind that the dosage will have to be adjusted as they grow because it is prescribed by weight. Good luck!

 

unfortunately belly sleeping may be the most comfortable sleep position for reflux babies. our pedi gave us the go ahead to let them sleep on their bellies during the day when we were awake and nearby. you might talk to your pedi to get an opinion.

 

add us to the list of people who needed to get on Zantac. we also had to switch to supplementing BM with Alimentum RTF.

 

i hope the Zantac makes them more comfortable. It works for some and doesnt for others. If you dont notice a difference in about 3-5 days, I would call the Ped and request a different med. We gave Zantac 5 days and saw no improvement. But we switched to Prevacid and saw a dramatic difference in about 24 hours. GL! Reflux is very hard. We also added Mylicon drops to every bottle to help with the gas. You can also try Gripe Water. You can get it at Health Food stores. Some Moms swear by it.

Definitely keep them upright for about 30-45 minutes after each feeding. Let them sleep in a bouncy or swing if that helps. :hug: