Excess grunting and straining???

[meagss]

I have a 5wk old who has both reflx and extremely bad wind. The reflux is under control since starting on meds. My main concern is his wind, which he finds so hard to let go of. I alternate between giving him Infacol, Brauer's Colic Reflief and Infant's Friend. They all work to some degree, but not fully.

It's his constant grunting, groaning, crying and straining that is really doing my head in. It looks like he is permanently constipated, but he has plenty of loose, watery, pooey nappies, so it can't be constipation. This happens day and night, even when he's asleep. How much of this grunting, straining and squirming is 'normal' baby behaviour? I'm wondering if it might be something more serious.

Thanks to any advice!

[UmmInayah]

My little one used to be the same. I don't know exactly when she stopped doing it, but it was almost like she outgrew it.

She farts a lot and strains a bit to fart, but once its out she goes back to sleep. She has also recently started burping while lying down too.

I think grunting is normal for little babies. I wouldn't worry about it too much. You could try massaging bubs tummy, I find that helps heaps.

Also in another post, chocolate can increase the amount of wind in bubs. So if you're breastfeeding you could try to eliminate that and see what happens?

Sorry that's all I can think of..

[meagss]

Thanks for your thoughts Marna! I'm glad to hear it is somewhat normal and my bub will hopefully outgrow it soon. Congrats on your little one now burping lying down - what a dream!!

Yeah, I do massage his tummy when I can, and find it helps bring out heaps of farts. A lot of the time he is too wound up for that though, and won't relax. I too was wondering if it might be chocolate or dairy that's causing the problem (I am breastfeeding). Up till now I have been too selfish to elimate these from my diet, but it's getting to the stage where something's gotta give, so I'm gonna try it!!

[UmmInayah]

Haha I have been the same about being selfish about eliminating dairy or chocolate. I am a chocoholic and I can't bear not to have any!

But we are in the same boat, we both have to think of our bubs and keep reminding ourselves its only temporary!

[Chicco25]

Another thing to consider is your foremilk. My Paed advised me that foremilk is full of sugar and can sit in the tummy and ferment which can cause wind, explosive poos etc and told me to express off my foremilk before a feed. If you can be bothered its a worth a try - me personally found it too much of a hassle especially at all hrs of the morning Bubs wasn't too patient on this one.

Dairy is also a big one for causing gas and explosive poos etc. It might be worth cutting dairy out your diet for a few days and see if this helps. If it stops maybe bubs had a milk protein intolerance. Worse case if nothing is working get bubs checked by your paed/gp

I'm still trying to figure mine out

Anita

[meagss]

Hi Anita

Many thanks for posting. Wow, I had not heard that ever about the foremilk containing all the sugar and fermenting in their tummies over a long period. It's certainly worth considering expressing it off. I'm up for trying anything! You're quite right though, is a major hassle, especially when bub is screaming his or her head off waiting for a feed. I might leave well alone tonight and maybe try it in the light of day tomorrow.

I've reached the end of my first day with no dairy. It was hard! That said, I'm not being fanatical about it - when you look at the food labels, milk is in just about everything! But I am sacrificing chocolate, flavoured milk, yoghurt, cheese and ice cream for a few days.... in the name of a more peaceful baby. Time will tell! If no difference then I see the paed next week for bub's 6-wk check up anyway.

[lizzymcfizzy]

you sound just like I did!

I used to worry about the amount of grunting and groaning my baby did but she's outgrown it alot. She still does it - even wakes up just to do a poo - but doctor tells me their little stomachs and digestive tracts are still working out how they work and all that moaning and excessing grunting is quite normal.

A relaxing warm bath and massage can help as well as cycling the legs.

I've tried the wind products like you and they only helped a little. It must be related to the reflux. We started zantac today so hopefully it will help.

goodluck! please let us know if cutting out milk helps. I'd really like to know if its worth me doing. It took me alot to give up my chocolate which has helped.

xxx

[lizzymcfizzy]

with the foremilk thing - thats good advice! I might try that.

I was told told to alternate which boob you start on at each feed to avoid it but I dont think by the time the next feed comes round it makes any difference. If anything, starting from the same boob makes more sense! ??

[meagss]

Haha... love the "typing with one hand" bit!
Sooo relate! But it's frustratingly slow!

It's wonderful knowing I'm not the only one going thru this whole reflux/wind thing! Good luck with the Zantac... we are on Losec and I'm quite positive it has helped. But then it's hard to know which symptoms are wind, and which are reflux related... so who knows.

Dare I say it, but I THINK the no-dairy might just be starting to work. Don't be mistaken, there is not yet a perfect angel in our midst, but bub seems to be a bit better. Still of a hell of a lot of grunting, groaning and straining going on, but it appears as if it's less painful for him. There is definitely less crying and screaming. And there was 1 x 3 hour sleep last night!

I was told told to alternate which boob you start on at each feed to avoid it but I dont think by the time the next feed comes round it makes any difference. If anything, starting from the same boob makes more sense! ??

Hear, hear! I agree with you, especially if there are only short time periods between feeds.

Well, I just expressed and fed, so will let you know how it is going with hindmilk only in 24 hours time....

[meagss]

Forget the idea of trying to express of foremilk... you have to be too organised! Well, that counts me out, anyhow.

Good luck to anyone else who tries it!