Baby Crying While Feeding

Updated on March 21, 2009
N.L. asks from Cape May, NJ
17 answers

My baby is almost 6 weeks old and all of a sudden when I am feeding her she cries, stretches her back out, is so out of breath, snorts, and just has such a hard time eating. You can see she wants to eat but it bothers her. It's not all feedings.....about 2-3 feedings a day this is what she goes through. She starts burping like crazy, even when Im not patting her back. I usually can't get more than 2 ounces in her and she usually drinks 4. I did a couple of weeks ago switch her to Soy formula. Any suggestions???

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So What Happened?

Thank you to all you wonderful mothers for all your help. It turns out she has reflux.....not the constant spitting up kind, she has the kind that doesn't make it back up so it burns her esophagus. I tried the Mylanta for 3 days but that didn't work so they switched me to Zantac. Say a prayer this helps. It's so heartbreaking.

More Answers

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W.F.

answers from York on

It sounds like she has reflux. My daughter had reflux and she acted exactly how you described. Give your pedi a call and they can put her on medication. Usually babies outgrow reflux. My daughter outgrew it before she was 1.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.P.

answers from Philadelphia on

Almost sounds like reflux? Why did you switch to soy? Sounds like you should talk to the pediatrician to be on the safe side.

D.S.

answers from Allentown on

Hi Nicole,

What made you put the baby on soy milk?

Call your peditrician and can you breast feed?

Get your baby on formula. Good luck. D.

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L.B.

answers from Philadelphia on

I would call the pediatrician and see if you can talk to one personally about this. You will likely have to leave a message for a return call but this is the way I would go.

Could be simple as gas or something like reflux. Is she getting too much air when she eats at times? Perhaps a different nipple/bottle could help.

I wish you luck!

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S.B.

answers from Philadelphia on

My son had tons of difficulty with eating and formula issues at that stage. A combination of Ranitadine for acid reflux, gas drops(I agree giant brand is cheaper and works just as well as Mylicon), and eventually switching to hypoallergenic formula. Soy formula gave my son alot of gas. He did so much better on Nutramagen. From experience I can tell you hypoallegenic formula is much more expensive which is a drawback.

I agree that the best route is to talk to your pediatrician and they can guide you through the steps to take. We also did alot of switching of bottles and ended up doing well with the Ventair, but I had other friends who liked the Dr. Browns.

Good luck!

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D.L.

answers from Philadelphia on

To me, it sounds like a classic description of a baby with reflux. I had 2 of my 3 kids with this. Want to eat...but can't, arching their back while they tried, obviously uncomfortable. I'd talk to the pediatrican. Chance are that the food is coming back up into their esophagus. The acid from the stomach that goes backward up into the esophagus will cause damage to the tissue there. So as she is eating and the food is going into and out of her stomach it is causing her irritation and hurting.

The doctor can prescibed medicine to help the problem. It will not stop the reflux (she will outgrow that), but it will stop the burning she feels.

I'm not a doctor, but that is my experience.

D.

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H.H.

answers from Philadelphia on

I say milocan/ baby gas-x. My baby found instant relief! Good luck, it's so sad when you want to comfort! :)

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S.M.

answers from Philadelphia on

I did many things to cut down the gas my baby was experiencing.
1) Switched to Dr. Brown Bottles.
2) Use gripe water. (do an online search. I like the all natual ones.)
3) Switched to Similac Sensitive.
4) Streched my baby legs up to his face to relieve gas.

If none of this works, don't hesitate to call your baby's doctor! Best of luck N..

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A.C.

answers from Pittsburgh on

she needs to be put on zantac twice a day. my little boy has been on it since he has been 3 weeks old and he is almost 7 months. hope this helps.

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W.I.

answers from Philadelphia on

Hi N. - I see you got the reflux diagnosis. Isn't it a huge relief? I remember my oldest cried and cried when I tried to feed him - all from reflux poor little guy...

I just wanted to add that with my son, zantac wasn't strong enough and the Dr. eventually switched him to Prevacid. So if you think that she is still suffering from the reflux, be sure to go back to the Dr. for a med check.

Zantac worked just fine for my second child with reflux and the second time around I knew what to look for and got him on the medicine sooner.

I also assume the Dr. talked to you about thickening your baby's formula with rice cereal? Mine were started on the rice cereal early on to help their reflux. Milk shake consistency worked best for my boys, it helps keep things weighted down in their belly so it is less likely to come back up in a spit up. Of course elevating their upper body after feeding also helps keep the reflux from coming up. Good luck with this. I hope your sweet baby girl is feeling better already!

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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Is she stuffy? I know that my son used to get very frustrated when he was stuffy and trying to take a bottle. If she is stuffy--saline drops/spray?

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A.C.

answers from York on

Try the gas drops they sell at giant. This really helps my little girl. The Care One brand is just as good as the other brands and alot cheaper.

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R.W.

answers from Philadelphia on

Hi N.,

I am a neonatal/pediatric nurse. It sounds like your baby is having gastroesoph. reflux. This occurs when acid & food come backup in to the esophagus. It is painful. There isn't always vomiting. Please take your baby to the doctor, there is medication for this. Also some babies can have breathing difficulties with this.

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J.B.

answers from Philadelphia on

Sounds like it may be reflux. My son had the same thing when he was an infant. Take her to the doctor and describe her symptoms. They may want to put her on zantac. It helped my son and my niece. There are also things you can do to help with it besides medication. tons of resources on the internet. Hope this helps. Good luck!

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L.P.

answers from Harrisburg on

Hi N.,

It does sound your little girl has reflux. You will want to make a doctor appt for her just to make sure though. My son had it and was on medicine for it. The medicine worked wonders.

Good luck,
L.

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M.M.

answers from Pittsburgh on

there's lots of ideas that you might not hear from your pediatrician...
often if a child doesn't respond to a lactose based formula, they won't to soy based...many children develop allergies to this also and will aggravate reflux...it sounds like her body may be rejecting the formula...i would consider switching to a hypoallergenic...alimentum is one that often works, but there's some more out there....

consider chiropractic care...it's gentle for babies and can take away so many symptoms

try belly time to settle her stomach before feeding

sucking on a pacifier to keep the burps more minimal and decrease symptoms also helps before feedings

the mylicon works, but chamomille tea is a natural method for gas that works...talk to you doctor about putting some in a bottle for your little one...

many out there will shy away from some natural ideas, but try them...they really may work...

keep us posted on what does...so many babies deal with these symptoms now and all advice helps:)

Good luck!!

hope this helps

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K.B.

answers from Philadelphia on

It sounds like her formula is causing terrible gas. Try Milicon drops for gas. It's a 50/50 thing on who it'll work for. Some kids it will work wonders on. Some kids, not a thing. Is is on soy for milk intolerance? I would ask the doc about switching to a gentle formula like Good Start, or the Parents Choice (gentle) equivilent. The doc may offer an prescription med to help with gas as well.

K. B
mom to 5 including triplets

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