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My Baby Was Born 7 Weeks Early, Spent One Week
Question: My baby was born 7 weeks early, spent one week on oxygen and air flow in NICU. originally breast fed and topped uo with expressed milk ir formula. When he was 3 weeks old he went onto formula only and the problems started about five days later.
He started of screaming about 15 mins after a feed, for around an hour.
Then he gor rapid breathing of around 70-90 beats per min after a feed.
This week (hes now 6 weeks old) he is straining all day, grunting and in pain on and off all day. He can go hours screaming then suddenly stops and is very relaxed and happy. Originally I thought constipation but he passes stools and they are yellow and soft.
He winds and burps very very well and easily.
He is my thrid baby so I have experience with babies and my second child was lactose intollerant. However the symptoms seem different.
He is rarely sick after feeds but about once a week he throws up the entire bottle!
He eats loads and has gone from birth weight 4.8lb to 9 lb jn just six weeks.
He has no health issues except an umbilical hernia but its soft and doctors see no concern.
Any idea what could be wrong and causing him pain?
He started of screaming about 15 mins after a feed, for around an hour.
Then he gor rapid breathing of around 70-90 beats per min after a feed.
This week (hes now 6 weeks old) he is straining all day, grunting and in pain on and off all day. He can go hours screaming then suddenly stops and is very relaxed and happy. Originally I thought constipation but he passes stools and they are yellow and soft.
He winds and burps very very well and easily.
He is my thrid baby so I have experience with babies and my second child was lactose intollerant. However the symptoms seem different.
He is rarely sick after feeds but about once a week he throws up the entire bottle!
He eats loads and has gone from birth weight 4.8lb to 9 lb jn just six weeks.
He has no health issues except an umbilical hernia but its soft and doctors see no concern.
Any idea what could be wrong and causing him pain?
Brief Answer:
Acid reflux and colic are possible causes.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for the query.
The possible causes will be colic and acid reflux.
While feeding baby swallows a lot of air which will trigger acid reflux and cause discomfort and baby cries.
You can try burping the baby after feeds and burping show good results.
Sometimes intolerance to certain brands of formula feeds can cause these symptoms. You can switch to a different brand preferably to one which is more similar to breast milk. Similac is a good brand and preferred by most of the pediatricians.
Next time when the baby is having the episode, try to record a short video clip which will be very helpful to make a clinical assessment.
Hope I have answered your query.
Thanks
Acid reflux and colic are possible causes.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for the query.
The possible causes will be colic and acid reflux.
While feeding baby swallows a lot of air which will trigger acid reflux and cause discomfort and baby cries.
You can try burping the baby after feeds and burping show good results.
Sometimes intolerance to certain brands of formula feeds can cause these symptoms. You can switch to a different brand preferably to one which is more similar to breast milk. Similac is a good brand and preferred by most of the pediatricians.
Next time when the baby is having the episode, try to record a short video clip which will be very helpful to make a clinical assessment.
Hope I have answered your query.
Thanks
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Brief Answer:
Given.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
If the hernia is expanding and he is constipated, possibility of bowel obstruction must be considered.
An ultrasound sound abdomen is required to look whether the bowel loops are obstructed or not.
You can give him laxative drops according to the body weight.
Make sure that his thyroid function test has been done, as hypothyroidism can be a major cause for constipation for infants.
Thanks
Given.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
If the hernia is expanding and he is constipated, possibility of bowel obstruction must be considered.
An ultrasound sound abdomen is required to look whether the bowel loops are obstructed or not.
You can give him laxative drops according to the body weight.
Make sure that his thyroid function test has been done, as hypothyroidism can be a major cause for constipation for infants.
Thanks
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
So it’s definitely not colic. He winds/burps very very well.
The problem I am mainly concerned about is this constant straining. It’s all day like he’s trying to poop but nothing happens. But when he does go it’s a good amount and soft and he goes about 2-3 times a day.
Could this be tied to his umbilical hernia which is growing every week and sticking out more and more?
He is being treated for silent reflux and the medicine helps.
But the straining worries me as it’s every few seconds all day.
The problem I am mainly concerned about is this constant straining. It’s all day like he’s trying to poop but nothing happens. But when he does go it’s a good amount and soft and he goes about 2-3 times a day.
Could this be tied to his umbilical hernia which is growing every week and sticking out more and more?
He is being treated for silent reflux and the medicine helps.
But the straining worries me as it’s every few seconds all day.
Ok thank you so much I will go to my GP with the info this week.
It feels like something else is happening as well as maybe reflux.
Thanks
It feels like something else is happening as well as maybe reflux.
Thanks
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