[faithy]

Hi everyone,

As the topic suggests, what are possible reasons for windy tummies in an 8 week old? I've been reading into things and over-active let-down has come up - how do I know if I have this? My LO gulps initially really quickly before things ease-up.. i thought this was normal? She does cough occasionally too, but this isnt always at the beginning of the feed ie. can just as easily happen in the middle of a feed too.

From a previous recent thread the food I eat *isnt* related to baby being windy??

My LO has always needed a good burp, but only in the last few days has she been in a LOT of pain ++ the poor thing and I'm at a loss as to what to do. We've tried Infacol, massaging tummy, 'bicycle-legs' etc and they seems to help a little, but only temporarily til things start up again. Actually thinking about it.. it's gradually gotten worse since we've commenced topping her up with formula 1-2wks ago (hoping I wont need to by the end of this week).

How long did wind pains last with your LO and what did you find the most helpful thing to do?

[Sunny003]

I know a lot of people say its pointless, but I burped my boys half way through a feed. Especially DS1, he was bad.

We also used Brauers colic relief. Helped brin up that last bit of wind.

You could try feeding laying down/semi reclined to slow the milk flow? Maybe look on the ABA website for more ideas?

[Guest_Nyz31_*]

We've just been through the exact same thing.
I had an over-active let down and bub just couldn't keep up and just gulped a lot of air, to the point I would have to burp her after a couple of minutes because her tummy blew up like a balloon. Sometimes it would take up to an hour to get a burp out of her.
The thing I found had the biggest effect, was when bub latches on, let them feed until you feel your letdown, take bub off your breast and squirt that initial fast flow into a towel. When the flow slows a bit, re-attach bub. As much as they don't like being taken off, it does help a lot. This also has an affect because fore-milk causes more wind than the fatty hind-milk.
BTW, my overactive let down was really quite painful, just feels like your boob is being stretched twice it's size in a matter of a split second...
Things really settled down around the 10 week mark when bub was a bit bigger and able to handle the flow better. I am now an expert at different positions to get a burp up! With the favourite being holding bub under her arms, facing me and gently rising her up and down on her legs, (like a slow spring action) and making sure she's not huddled over. Hard to explain but this is the position/action we've found most effective.
Apart from that, the other thing that can cause them to gulp wind is tongue-tie, but if you've not had any trouble attaching, then I doubt this is your problem.
Hope this helps and I hope things settle for you very soon.

[CharliMarley]

Or phone the ABA helpline on 1800 686 2 686.

The posture feeding will help (laying down with bubs on your tummy and sucking uphill) and it sounds like you have a really good supply, so there really is no need for the formula and the bottle. The lovely gut flora that breastmilk gives your baby is being eroded by the formula.

[lucky 2]

Hi, I'm wondering about the use of formula. Did your baby have some growth issues?
It does sound a bit confusing as the ? overactive letdown and gulping/spluttering are making me think that supply/milk production is ? ok (but of course if you were having growth issues/loss of weight and were advised to top up with formula that is different).
Could you see a LC? The LC could assess your current feeding plan and history and assess your supply and how baby feeds, and offer advice re this.
Ideally if you do not have any need for formula (ie if you have enough breast milk) then removing it from the diet would make sense, it will take a few weeks for the gut flora to return to that of an exclusive breast fed baby.
The other thing to consider is that unsettledness tends to peak at around 6-8 weeks so it may be behavioural/usual newborn behaviour for the age.
I hope things are better soon for baby.
All the best.

[faithy]

Thanks for your replies!

My LO was sick and didnt gain weight for 2-3 weeks. Before being put on the top-up, my little one gained 240gms on breastmilk alone in one week which is apparently a lot for just breastmilk (growth spurt too though). With her weight, they felt she had some 'catching up to do' so the recommendation was for some formula at the end of a b/f (30mLs initially 3x a day, then x2 a day)

I saw the paediatrician and we've dropped to 30mL x1 a day (which isnt really anything) and hope this stops on Wednesday when she's weighed in at the clinic. Hoping this means less wind too!

I'm wondering about the symptoms of an overactive let-down.. how do I know if I have this, or would I just know?

[lucky 2]

Well I don't know really what an overactive let down is!
Theoretically if a baby has mums nipple deep in their mouth, the milk will squirt to the back of the mouth and baby will swallow. Sometimes baby will gulp and that is ok so long as baby can keep up with the flow.
So perhaps review how baby is attaching, if baby is taking a lot of areola into the mouth especially over the tongue, so an uneven latch, nipple plus areola below the nipple.
Sometimes babies with the nipple more in the front of the mouth can be overwhelmed by the flow and cant coordinate their suck, swallow, breathe, so they can come off spluttering.
If baby can be a little upright and have the chin and cheeks tucked into the breast the baby has the potential to keep up with flow even if it is very fast and volumous.
240g for a week is just fine, not a lot for a bfed baby but not a little either (150-400g is a common range but it can be more!).
I suspect the 30 mls of formula a day would be having an insignificant impact on growth, bub could probably drink more than that by putting baby back on the breast for a top up rather than the formula!
Perhaps see a LC if you have any further growth issues to see if they can be managed without using other milks.
Calling the ABA will probably be good as you can talk through issues.
Good luck with the weigh in on Wednesday, let us know how you go.
All the best.

[faithy]

I suspect the 30 mls of formula a day would be having an insignificant impact on growth, bub could probably drink more than that by putting baby back on the breast for a top up rather than the formula!

I agree! and I was actually going to mention this to them but felt like they would think I was being silly and "what would I know"?!

Will see how I go on Wednesday. I'll try calling the ABA again if I need to, but I havent been able to get through to them (have called 3 times since bub was born and I get a message along the lines saying no one is available?).. so I come here on EB instead... haha, but it is probably better to speak to someone and explain the specifics/ my history.

Thanks again!