5 Month Feeding Issues, Poop Issues

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5 Month Feeding Issues, Poop Issues

by Rose
(Washington)

My 5.5 month old is formula fed since birth. She is on medicine for reflux (since 6 wks).

In the last month she has started screaming and stretching during feedings, knocking the bottle out of her mouth. In the last two weeks we started solids once a day and she does well with them, but her poop is not the same. She poops at least 5 times a day (before it was one normal baby poo every other day)and they are never the same, it will be really runny and yellow, then hard and green, then normal, etc.

What are some reasons she is not taking the bottle well? I tried to burp her every time and she is hard to burp and it doesn't seem to help.

What about her poo? Is it normal for her to go non-stop with so many different variations? My first did not do any of this..thanks for the help!

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5 Month Feeding Issues, Poop Issues

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Sep 05, 2010

Feeding and poop issues
by: Paula (Baby Help Line)

Hi Rose,

This was a tough one and I am not sure I have any solutions for you. To start with her screaming while bottle-feeding, my reaction was just like yours; that it really should have to do with swallowing air. But you have tried burping her half way through the bottle, right? Cause that is what I've found useful; to burp a baby either right when he or she starts squirming or even before that, for example after half the bottle. Another possibility would be to keep her in a more upright position while feeding her. That should also prevent the swallowing of air. If you do both of these already and you haven't changed anything else regarding her formula, (i.e. the bottle, nipple, brand or anything else) then try discussing it with her health care provider. Catching her behavior on video might help the discussions.

Her poop then... It is quite common for babies to produce some strange bowel movements when starting with solids. But what you describe does seem a bit extreme. Can you try to cut back on the different kinds of foods you give her and see if her poop stabilizes? Then slowly introduce a new food for three days and see what the reaction is. It might be that she has some food intolerance or that her stomach simply isn't ready yet for some foods. When me youngest son was your daughter's age, I had to stop giving him solid foods three times, because he got so constipated. I waited two weeks and then started trying slowly again. It worked the third time. Then I guess his body was simply ready for solid foods.

I hope this helps a little bit. I think it wouldn't hurt to discuss both these issues with your baby's doctor, to get a second opinion.

All the best,
Paula

Sep 06, 2010

Thanks!
by: Rose

HI again, Thanks for the advice, I do burp her half way through (or when she gets squirmy) and hold her almost straight up because of the reflux. I'm starting think teeth maybe involved due to the chewing and drooling changes. As for the solids, I have only been trying one new food a week and we are week 3, so I am not really sure if she just isn't ready or I'm moving to quick for her body. Her dr appointment is next week, so I am definitely going to talk to him. Thanks so much for the advice and the idea of video taping...it will make it much easier than explaining, and of course when you try to show them, the baby does not always act the same or they don't have time to wait around and see!

Sep 14, 2010

rejecting bottle
by: Anonymous

My baby boy has been doing the exact same thing with rejecting the bottle. He did it for a week straight. Scared me to bits. His doctor thought maybe he was having some issues with his stomach. However, the other day when I was brushing his teeth I discovered a new tooth.
My son is also on meds for reflux.
Is your baby able to keep any solids down?
What did your doctor suggest?

Sep 23, 2010

fixed!!
by: Rose

WEll, we quit solids for a week and it continued. We switched back to the normal bottles and the doc said it sounded more like the formula because it continued. We started a new formula (switched from smiliac to enfamil) and she is doing great even starting solids again and no issues!

Sep 26, 2010

Great!
by: Paula

That's great news, Rose :-)

I guess sometimes they just need a little more time, our little darlings.

Thanks for letting us know!

Paula

Sep 29, 2010

Similac
by: Dee

Rose - I saw your post about your baby not wanting to drink Similac - do you know that's one of the symptoms for the Similac recall? You may want to check into it...

Sep 30, 2010

Similac
by: Rose

Thank-you, I just recently found out about the recall and the can we had left from starting her on the other formula was on the recall. It is very possible that it could have had something to do with it, especially since I purchase my formula for the month at once. However, she is doing better and though I am very disappointed in the quality control of the Similac factory, I will just stick to Enfamil.

Oct 01, 2010

link to recall info
by: Paula (Baby Help Line)

Hi everyone,

Here is the link to the page informing about the recall. The recall was announced on September 26 2010. Apparently a beetle might be involved, giving symptoms like gastrointestinal discomfort and refusal to eat. If you think your baby may be affected and the symptoms last for more than a couple of days, consult a pediatrician. And throw away any formula that might be at risk or return it to Abbott at no cost. If you click on the link above, you can find out if you have formula at home that may be affected and what to do in such case.

Hope this helps,

Paula

Dec 02, 2010

bellypain
by: sabrina

It sounds like it was the formula. But if you ever have the problem with wind:boiled water helped with my little boy. And if the baby cant pass poo add a little bit brown sugar with the water.

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