Teething?

Ok ladies, I need your advice. DD1 all of a sudden is throwing a fit every time we try to give her a bottle (she is exclusively bottle fed). If we're lucky she'll take in about three ounces before she quits and then it's time for the hysterics. She screams bloody murder for the next half hour minimum. I don't think it's gas as she gets burped almost to the point of excess. The only way to get her to eat more of the bottle is too console her until she begins to nod off and then she'll eat another couple ounces before falling completely asleep. The only thing I can think it might be is she's trying to get a tooth. Any other time of the day she's perfectly content. This only happens at feedings. Her gums look somewhat swollen to me but DH thinks they're not. I can't feel anything when I rub them with my finger but that usually sets her off on another tangent. This has been going on for a few days now and my nerves are beginning to wear thin. She has always been our big eater, taking about seven ounces in a half hour or less. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance.

Laura

 

Not sure what this is... but teething is certainly one possibility.

BTW they can still have gas even if you burp them a lot. It's about how they digest the formula. My toddler started to have digestion problems pretty late (I can't remember exactly when, but at least after 2 months of age). We switched to a formula with easy to digest proteins and she got better. But she was both breasfed and bottle-fed and was starting to get more formula due to a decreased supply of breastmilk (I was pumping at work).

Apart from crying, are there any other signs, like pushing, extending her legs, etc.

Maybe you could ask their pediatrician what (s)he thinks.

 

QUOTE(marylane @ Apr 19 2008, 11:43 PM) [snapback]729874[/snapback]
Not sure what this is... but teething is certainly one possibility.

Apart from crying, are there any other signs, like pushing, extending her legs, etc.

Maybe you could ask their pediatrician what (s)he thinks.

Nope, no other signs. Just screaming until I think my ears will bleed. And even then, as soon as the bottle is out of sight she calms down and even laughs when you talk to her but when she sees the bottle coming she starts crying again. We have our four month appointment with the pedi on Wednesday so I will ask about it then but I figured I would get just as good advice on here.

 

This could very well be an ear infection. Sucking causes ear pain. I would wonder about that first. It's early for teeth. Mine did get them at 5 mos (4 adjusted- they were 35 and 2 ) .. They did not scream when eating tho.. that doesn't really go along w/ teething from what I know.

They wanted to eat less for sure, and were fussier BUT not crying WHILE eating.. and certainly NEVER screaming.

They have four teeth each now at 6 mos.


Your situation is worth a trip to the Ped.. ear infection is my first thought- pressure while sucking causes extreme pain. Are you giving motrin? or Tylenol? Does that help w/ feedings? IF it does-- I'd think pain in ears. Or 2nd guess- reflux.

 

I think it would be early for teething. I would wonder about an ear infection too. Have you tried giving her tylenol? I would probably call the pedi.

 

Can you try holding a cold teether/orajel before feeding to numb her gums? Teething CAN start early, so who knows!

Maybe the ped. can squeeze you in before Monday. If it is her ears, that would be two days of less torture!

Just a tip- if you decide to call, call tonight (Sunmday) or first thing Monday, just before their office hours. Our ped.s office is a zoo on Mondays, and you'll have a better chance of getting in before everyone else starts calling. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

Hmm...I'm really not sure what is going on with the munchkin. I never considered an ear infection as she's had no fever or other symptoms and she's literally only unhappy when eating. Things seem to be a bit better today. She's been eating like a champ with only one episode of the hysterics which was very short lived. Thank you all for all your help. Hopefully, things will continue to improve.

 

What flow nipple are you using? I always knew it was time for a faster flow nipple because the girls started pitching fits at bottle time. I can't say anything about the possibility of an ear infection because we've only dealt with one (Meara) and she had NO symptoms and we were actually at the pedi for Ana when she was diagnosed.