2 1/2 Month Old - Breastmilk Making Him Sick???

I would supplement with formula for a few days to see. Pump for 3 days and only give him formula and see if there are any changes.
Or if you don't want to do that start cutting out foods that you are eating that can cause gas. Maybe he lactose so try soy formula and stop drinking milk or eating cheese for a few days.
Remember not to do everything at the same time, try something new for a week because then if you do it all at the same time you won't know what the problem is.
He will get threw this it gets easier.
C.

This is COMPLETELY NORMAL for breast fed babies.

My daughter pooped daily for several months, then started going every 3 or 4 days. She is now pooping "normally" and is quite healthy.

So try not to worry about it :)

WOW! First off... you are RIGHT! Breast milk is ALWAYS best. I breast fed all three of my kids and it IS a chore at times... made even harder by people who do not support it... but it is SO worth it. So hang in there.

Second, ADDING Cereal etc to a young babies system would make things SO MUCH WORSE!!! :( I fought this SO much when I was a Director for an Infant an Toddler Center. People panic and want to HELP, but end up making things so much harder on their baby. I think the best thing to say is " I asked the doctor about your suggestion of adding cereal, and he feels its still a little early" Its harder to "fight" with a doctor than it is to fight with you. It might help.

third, My Son was the SAME way... it was torture to see... I remember one time he was crying and screaming and I was in tears and I gave him a warm bath and rubbed his tummy (clockwise because its the way the bowels move) and did little bicycles with his legs. it had been a few days since he had gone and so I had him naked on my lap as I did all of this. Of COURSE this is when he decided it was time! HAHAHAH I was so happy he pooped i didn’t even care it was ion ME! HAHAHAH My husband and i cheered and cried and Zac just smiled a smile of relief. we later laughed about how much life had changed and how we would have never thought seeing someone poop would EER make us SOOOO HAPPY! :D) Anyway, to the best I could figure, with little help from doctors who do not seem to take moms for their word too often, I came up with this:
The sphincter is a muscle, just as some babies have an immature esophagus or anything else, i think some have a weak sphincter. I know of babies who have been given suppositories so often that the sphincter muscle weakens and the child ends up needing MORE suppositories just to have a "normal" bowel movement! NOT THE WAY TO GO! I really believe that soon your little guys muscle will strengthen and he will have an easier time at it. I would try warm water, always a nice natural stimulate. Try warm baths and tummy rubs. Bicycle his lil legs and try to sooth him as much as you can. I know, not the instant fix we want when our little "gifts' are in pain, but I think it will pass. Of course watch for blood in his stools and hard bowel movements etc. and do speak to the doctor, just so he knows. But I hope that this too shall pass and soon!

I hope this helps! I have been there and I understand the pain you feel when you see him like this. i did have my oldest get diarrhea from too much garlic in my diet. But that was fixed easy by dropping my diet to rice and plain potatoes for a few and then adding in new things slowly.

ALSO, one last thing... I think that MYLICON drops are LIFE SAVERS for gas! i used it with all three of mine and it DID seem to sooth them!

Ok... hope this all helps!

God Bless,
H.
____@____.com

I would keep in mind several things- whatever you eat gets to your baby indirectly through your breastmilk and if you keep a mental log of what you eat and how it seems to impact your baby you might be able to clarify what is causing the problems with gas/discomfort in your little one. For example- when I was nursing my son- he really didn't react well to my eating garlic. Also- Mylicon can be helpful in relieving infant discomfort for gas and can be bought at any pharmacy. A blanket statement like 'your breastmilk is making your baby sick' is totally invalid. Breastfeeding has been shown in many studies to have multiple long term benefits for both you and your baby. Breastmilk is much easier for your baby to digest than formula and far more nutritious. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends nursing for at least the first year of life (and even up to two years if it is working for both of you) and not introducing solid food before 3-6 months. DO NOT LET YOUR MOTHER IN LAW INFLUENCE YOU- the science was perhaps not as well researched when she was a mom. It is your baby- you shouldn't HAVE to defend your choices- but I know the politics behind this can be tricky! Good luck!

Hi A.. Around your son's age, their digestive system has developed more and so the change in frequency of pooping. The blowouts are normal and will happen for a few months longer. The crying could be related to something in your diet that is effecting your son. Have you eaten something unusual or out of the ordinary lately? Try eliminating certain foods like dairy.
Dairy is a big culprit for gas problems in babies.
Please don't stop breastfeeding your baby. It is the best thing you can do for him, and you are doing so well not to do what your mother-in-law tells you about feeding him cereal and applesauce. Their digestive systems are not fully developed to digest cereal and he is way toooo young for any kind of foods. Breastmilk is enough for a baby till they are 1 year old.
Good luck, and if you'd like to chat more, send me a message.
Take care.

I had similar problems with my daughter. Days without poops, then blowouts.
As far as the crying before bed, that could be over tired, or maybe you are eating something that gave your baby gas pains.
I eliminated dairy, spicy stuff, especially broccolli and cauliflower, chocolate....etc.

It made a difference and eventually as they get older you can add everything back to your diet. It really makes a difference the first few months.

I would maybe write down what you eat and see when your baby acts like they are in pain.

DON'T GIVE UP....Breast milk is best!

PS. Mylican drops works wonders for gas!

H.

Your baby may be showing early sign of gastro problems. I have a 4 year old who also had same problems but he suffered until he was 2 years old- we give him probiotics and removed allergic foods - watch what you eat and take him to a Doctor of Osteopathic medicine - nip this problem in the bud before it creates havoc in his body.

Hi there,
Just a quick response to your question. My mother-in-law tried to say the same thing to me...she also didn't breastfeed any of her kids. It is probably not the breastmilk that is making him so gassy but maybe what you eat. My kids were gassy too. I had to change my diet to very bland foods. No garlic, brocolli, ice cream, ect. I also gave my kids Little Tummies when they were gassy. I found it to work tremendously!!! Give that a try if he's gassy and even when he is crying hesterically. He may have a tummy ache. You are right breast milk is the best. And I have heard that giving your baby food like cereal or applesauce too early may cause choking hazards if he spits up. Hope I helped.
H.

Dear A.:

It is NOT your breast milk that is making your child sick. I truly believe in Breast Feeding your child and don't let anyone take that away from you. My son had a similar problem and the Doctors at Children's Hospital could not find a reason. He screamed and strained to have a BM from the time he was just months old until he was potty trained on the toilet. We tried natural laxatives and prune juice to no avail. The Doctor's had me use a thermometer to stimulate his BM and they also had me stretch the muscle in his rectum. I breast fed him for two months, got a breast infection and had to stop. I remember hours of crying with my son, walking, rubbing his tummy, calling the doctor at all hours of the night, doing everything humanly possible to help him. When he started walking (at 9 months) he would stand behind a chair and strain to the point that I thought his eyes would pop out. It was very heartbreaking to watch and not be able to assist. I tried to hold him and put him in a sitting position against the front of my body but his little body was so tense that I could not bend his legs. He ate all fruits and vegetables which should have been a help to his problem but it was not. Regular Formula's did not agree with his stomach and we saw a Gastrointernologist because the only thing he could keep in his tummy was Gatorade for 5 days. The Doctor's biopsied him for Hershbrungs Disease for the problem of pooping and tested for ulsers for the problem of digestion/throwing up. They finally put him on a Formula that was pre-digested called Nutramogen, very expensive. The pre-digested formula helped but did not completely solve the problem. Things got easier as time went on. When he was potty trained at the age of three he no longer had problems with his digestion or bowl movements. It was a miserable time but we got through it somehow. Hang in there and make sure the Doctor's test your child to be sure all is okay and then just wait it out. My son never had another problem after three years old. There was no explination to any of his problems. I hope this helps you to be at ease. I hope all turns out okay for your child and for you.

not allergic to your breast milk, but to what you are eating!

cut the wheat, dairy, corn and soy (even oats because they often have wheat blended in) and see how he responds. Also, watch consuming lots of spicy and/oily foods as well as cruciferous veggies.

corn is hard to avoid because lots of things are sweetened with corn syrup, but it is well worth the effort to get this out of your diet anyway.

keep at the breastfeeding! and just smile and thank them for their concern when they make a crack about it. ;->

My youngest son is almost 21 yr old so I'm a little out of touch w/ babies.
I've never heard of a baby being sensitive to his mother's breast milk. Could it be stuff you've eaten that's passing thru to the milk?
My mother-in-law tells me her youngest son who was about 10lbs at birth was a voracious "eater." Her Dr's nurse told her to give him rice ceral w/ his bedtime bottle/meal, just thick enough to go thru the nipple. This was at about 2wk of age because he wasn't getting enough w/ just the breast milk and would be crying "endlessly" during the night. If you do decide to do the cereal thing, use RICE cereal 1st.
Best of luck!!! Kids are blessing tho sometimes we wonder...

it might be what you are eating. I had that problem with my son. I had to cut out dairy for a few months.... he is fine now and I have been able to introduce dairy back into my diet. Dont listen to anyone who tells you to give up breastfeeding. You are right. You are what is best for your child! my midwife also suggested me taking beno. it didnt work for me but it might for you. also camomille tea. you can drink it and you can give some to her. there is also natural gripe water. you can get that from cvs. Good luck and remember you know what is best for your child.

I have 2 daughters and I nursed both of them for 14 months. I had similar poop patterns with both of them, and I worried too, but never quit breastfeeding. If the poop is soft when it comes out, even if only every 5 days, then your baby is not in pain. If the poop is extremely firm, then he may be in pain. Breast milk poop is usually like runny scrambled eggs...Breast is best! No matter what anyone else says, hang in there and keep nursing. I think you are doing the right thing. Look for the "breastfeeding friendly" icon displayed in store windows for places that support public breastfeeding. We have them in our coffee shop windows here in West Maui. Good luck!

You may want to check what you're eating as that has a lot to do with what's happening w/ your baby...stay away from stuff that can make you gassy(beans)...you may want to call an advice nurse for a list of foods to avoid...babies usually start solids during the 5th/6th month so do not start yet... lastly, don't let your m-i-l intimidate you about your choice, breastfeeding is the most incredible gift a mother can give her infant...I know it's hard and a great sacrifice but well worth it as far as your child's health and well being...I pressured myself to give exclusively breastmilk which was probably not the wisest thing to do, so you may want to think about occasionally supplementing with formula (once a day?) to give yourself a break (breastfeeding shouldn't be a burden or a chore)...you should pump your milk if you do supplement as you want to keep your milk supply up...definitely discuss your concerns with your pediatrician...best wishes A. and I admire your perseverance! : )

you should seek the advice of your pediatrician who will undoubtly confirm your position. You are doing the right thing if your mother in law thinks your son is fussy now wait until you give cereal, formula or applesauce to his immature digestive tract then she will see fussy!! Your breast milk is formulated perfectly to your childs digestive tract. It is however possible that you may be eating something that may not agree with you baby and is being passed on through your breast milk such as caffine, some green veggies can cause gas as well as some dairy products that is why it is best to consult the experts (your pediatrician). I succesfully breast fed all four of my children to one year old! I hope this helps you. T. C. R.N.

Hi A.,
I had that happen a few times too when I was breastfeeding my son. He wouldn't poop for 2 days and then scream and scream until he finally had a blow out. First, I would monitor what you are eating. If I ate anything 'gassy' like brocolli or cabbage, then that is when I would notice that my son would have problems. Also make sure you drinking LOTS of water - I believe this helps your son too. The other thing I used to do is when I would change his diaper I would rug his belly gently, to 'get things moving' and then I would notice that his poops would be a little easier for him and wouldn't build up for a blow out. Some babies are allergic to certain foods and when you eat them, they are affected, so just watch what you are eating and see how that goes. Otherwise, call the pedi. But I certainly would not give him applesauce or cereal right now, his digestive system isn't ready for it. Good luck!

A., first and foremost - congratulations on making the decision to breastfeed your son. You are absolutely right, it is the VERY BEST thing for him. In answer to your question - your milk ABSOLUTELY CANNOT make him sick. DO NOT let your inlaws (who are probably incredibly misinformed, since they never did it) sway you. All that being said - there could be something YOU are eating, that is passing through your breast milk that is making your son uncomfortable. I had experiences JUST like yours early on with my daughter, and I cut out ALL dairy products from my diet. It was like a miracle - she stopped being gassy almost the same day. (And guess what, I've also lost 80 pounds because of that choice - bonus!). Please, talk to your doctor (not your inlaws, who clearly have something against it) and discuss this situation. S/he can give you great advice about what to do next. And DO NOT give your infant food yet - his little digestive system isn't designed to handle it yet. Your mother-in-law is WRONG - giving him food won't satisfy him longer, it will just make his tummy more uncomfortable. Oh, and as another aside - my strictly breastfed daughter, who has been in daycare since she was 4 months old has NEVER been sick (yet). I know she will be eventually, but breastmilk has natural antibodies in it that help keep her immunity up far longer than if she had been on formula. You stick to your guns and if you need more support, please don't hesitate to email me. Good Luck. Val.

If you can try to continue breast feeding! I have two beautiful children age 4 and 18 months that are extremely healthy. I breastfeed both of them for 1 year (not execting to by any means, but it just worked) and I think it has a lot to do with how healthy they are. Here are some suggestions:
Call a lactation consultant and review everything you are eating, drinking with them and see if they have any suggestions. I know when I ate tomates or tomate sauce that would happen to my kids.
Check with your pediatrician.
Call LALACHE (sp) or go on to their web site they might have suggestions.
Ask your mother in law to honor and respect your wishes regarding her support of your breast feeding and I would not recommend feeding your baby anything solid until 5 or 6 months. Breast milk is beast! Good Luck@

Oh A., my heart really goes out to you. It sounds like you're not getting the support you need concerning breastfeeding. It may be that your son is lactose intolerant and your diet may contribute to the gasiness. Or, it could be that he is just a gassy baby. Mine was/is and is almost a year.

I think those in laws or parents who haven't breastfed (not all) there is a bit of suspicion, jealousy, and ignorance. I really encourage you to find a breast feeding support group in your area.

I would also ask, what is your gut telling you? So hard to shake off (unwanted) advice but YOU know best what is right for your child!

All the best to you!

Jen

100% breastmilk fed babies do NOT get constipated! (I hope everyone reading this hears me.) Do NOT get constipated.

It is absolutely normal for a breastfed baby to go DAYS without pooping. As someone else explained, they are utilizing the nourishment very efficiently and just don't need to poop as often. Sure, when they go, they GO... it's usually very pasty and sticky when they do go because they really are using so much of the great breastmilk mom is giving them.

My own daughter, now 23 years old, went NINE DAYS between every poop for about 4 months. It was so much a part of our routine, we just planned outings for the 8 days inbetween because, you know what's coming... that 9th day was a doozy of a pooping day! Blow-outs a couple of times that day. But that was her normal! Once she went through that phase, she pooped just like we would think of as "normal" and today she has zero problems with constipation.

As soon as you start "assisting" these babies with their BM's, you are setting them up for a LIFETIME of bowel issues. I *highly* encourage you to NOT stick anything in the baby's rectum (you can perforate the bowel that way), do not drink prune juice and do NOT give the baby medication. All of these are artificial ways that ADULTS might need - or bottle fed babies - but NOT 100% breastfed babies. How many kids I know that cannot poop without mom sticking a thermometer into their butts or who live on supplements or medications to get normal bowel movements when they probably would have been fine if left alone.

La Leche League meetings are a great idea. That way you can talk to - and get support from - SUCCESSFUL breastfeeding moms. It takes a lot sometimes to stand up against folks who don't know a thing about nursing, so if you have a cadre of women to turn to when it all seems hopeless, you, too, will be one of those successfully nursing moms! When someone gives you breastfeeding "advice" - and I mean that even from the pediatrician - ask if they have SUCCESSFULLY breastfeed their child for at least a year. If they have not, then find another support person. As well-meaning as pediatricians are, they are trained for MEDICAL care, not support and this type of information.

I believe once you are able to identify if your diet is "causing" the crying, whether you find it *is* the problem or not, you will feel much better about this being a medical issue (my guess is no) or just a social blip your baby is needing to do. Kids will shock you just as soon as you get used to them. Every time. As soon as you figure out what it is - or accept that you will never know, but the baby is safe and healthy - he will move on to a whole new baffling issue. Once you rule out anything seriously dangerous, then shrug and hold your screaming child close, maybe massage his belly (in a clockwise fashion) and sing to him telling him how safe he is.

Feeding solids will do nothing but complicate things and possibly REALLY make him scream with pain and constipation! There's nothing worse than trying formula after formula when your baby is telling you how gross the one he's drinking is.

I hope this helps!

Barbara E. Herrera, LM, CPM
San Diego Midwife
former La Leche League leader
mom to 4 grown kids - 3 of whom nursed for 2.5 years each - my first I only nursed for 4 months and then struggled with intense allergies to formula and food... today, at 25, he still is so allergic to foods his diet is the most limited of all adults I know. None of the other three are allergic to anything!

I live in Santa Ynez also. My family and others I know have been having either major diahrea or throwing up. Your baby may just have the flu.

Congratulations on feeding your baby breast milk. Breast milk is best for your baby. It is not making him sick. Any rare allergies to milk would have been found in his newborn screening done at the hospital. The American Pediadrict Association advices to feed your baby exclusively breastmilk until he is 6 months old. And why would anyone want to waste $60 a month on formula that is not talilor made for their baby? Don't listen to your mother-in -law. She has outdated information. Find out the facts. Print them out and hand them to her!

good luck!
H.

HI A.- Don't give up on the breastfeeding! It is the most easily digestible food there is for baby. If he is constipated on breast milk, it will likely get worse on formula. Some things to think about: have you been eating a lot of gassy foods ? Or a lot of one thing recently? I found that what I eat very directly affects my son's bowel movements. Some things that I found to be a problem were dairy, black pepper, onions, spices, gassy veggies. You might have to experiment. I would try to eat very bland, plain food for a few days and drink some prune juice yourself. In addition, an acupunturist told me to take enzymes (available at a health food store) with meals. this seemed to help break down any food that I was not digesting well before it got into my milk. All these things helped us and now I just make adjustments as I go. Also, if you think you've eaten something offensive, drink lots of water to help dilute it in the milk. Sorry about the lack of support you are getting with the breastfeeding. Be strong! You are doing the right thing! Look at the research and you will see breastfed babies get sick less, they have average of 7 points higher IQ as adults, they have better visual acuity, etc. Just stick to it and brush them off if you can. I told my inlaws what our pediatrician said- try to breastfeed for at least a year. At some point, they stopped asking when I was going to wean him.

I don't think your breastmilk itself is making your son sick. It could be something you are eating is giving him gas via your breastmilk. I know whenever my friend ate spicy food while breastfeeding, her daughter would get gas and become fussy. Common foods that could be irritating are dairy, wheat, caffine and spicy foods such as chili. Have you or your son changed your diet recently or eaten something new? Don't listen to your in-laws, breast milk is the healthiest most perfect food and the best way to bond with your baby/toddler!

I hear you. I came up against this kind of thing myself, from my own mother. I am adopted, so of course she never breastfed, and people who did not breastfeed will rarely be supportive of you. Fact of life. My first baby was a 10 pounder, and from day one all I got was negativity from my family about breastfeeding. He is too big, he needs formula, he needs baby food, blah, blah, blah. My son started having tummy trouble at about 3 months of age, but it was my fault. I got sloppy with my diet and some of the things I was eating were coming through in my breastmilk and giving him digestive trouble.Easy to fix. A few months later, his tummy started bothering him again. I couldn't figure it out! Well, guess what? Turns out Grandma, who watched him a few hours a week, had been giving him cereal and applesauce without letting me know. Ugh. He was my first, and as I "grew up' and gained mommy confidence, i breast fed each of my babies progressively longer. The last one was born in Switzerland and I had my husband's older sister to deal with. She was convinced no baby could be healthy without a bottle of fennel tea each day, right from day one. She was sure my baby sling would damage the baby's spine. She thought we were irresponsible for checking out of the hospital 2 days after birth instead of the standard 5 in Switzerland. She even had a nurse come to our house to make sure I was taking care of him correctly. I was a mother of four by then! Thankfully, i was 38 by that time and rock solid in my own mothering abilities.

Consider your own diet. Make sure no one is giving your baby anything you don't know about. Try consulting La Leche League or a similar group or website. Talk to your pediatrician - if he/she is supportive of breastfeeding. The problem may have nothing to do with breastmilk at all! Don't discount teething. My third went through blowouts whenever he was teething and he started teething VERY early. His first tooth popped out at 3 months.

My best advice - disregard all negative comments regarding breastfeeding from family and friends. Don't defend yourself. Simply say, "Thank you for sharing your opinion, I really appreciate it." I CANNOT TELL YOU how many times I said that to my Swiss sister-in-law. it is tricky, because of course your M-I-L loves your baby, her grandchild, but you are Mommy. Bottom line. Don't buckle. It gets easier, I promise. :0)

Hang in there! I know, my family thinks I'm nuts, too. Talk to your doctor about going on an elimination diet. That just means you cut out certain things from your diet to see if it affects the baby. I ended up cutting out milk and eggs which seemed to help, and added them back around 6 months later (you have to supplement for calcium, etc. though).

Also, try gripe water - you can get at Whole Foods or Henry's markets. It's a natural gas reliever and it really helped my son (but not my daughter - go figure). Good luck!

First and foremost, keep up with the breastfeeding. It's the best thing you could ever give your baby! As for your son's blowouts, my 2nd son went through pretty much the same thing. He would get all constipated and then be very uncomfortable and unhappy. I bought some infant suppositories and if he hadn't gone by the 3rd day, I would use the suppositories. I also gave him some Gerber prune juice (with water) to help. Eventually, though, they just grow out of it.

It could be something in your diet that is making him gassy. I would do some food elimation and see. Maybe try dairy first and then wheat or egg. I would not switch to formula at this point. Why are family members so opinionated when it comes to BF. Just stick to your guns and let MIL deal with it. Also you could try Milacon drops. Not sure of spelling.

I have never heard of that. Sounds like he's just having constipation issues. And I think switching to formula wouldn't help, and might even make it worse, since breastmilk is the easier to digest. I would ask your pediatrician for advice. Stay strong against your MIL. I also agree that breastmilk is best.

I wouldn't stop breastfeeding until a doctor said your breastmilk was upsetting him. I breastfed for a year and my daughter and I went through times where I thought I should stop breastfeeding too. If your mother in law thinks breastmilk is making him gassy just wait until the formula! Don't allow your mom in law to make you feel like what you are doing is wrong, mothers know best.

Totally normal. My son went through a period that was similar and my peditrician said it was normal. Their bodies are growing and changing and if anything, formula will stop them up more. The swich is normally very gassy anyway. It probably is some gas pain which is normal. I used a combination of the baby bliss gripe water (Which I found very helpful after eating) and sometimes, Mylicon gas for infants if necessary. It is so easy to listen to people making you feel bad for your choices whether it is breast feeding or not or any choice not your own. Giving your baby food at this stage will not help at all. Just hang on till you see your doctor.
C. B.

Hi A.. I also have a 10 week old and what you described sounds almost identical to our situation. Last week my doctor told me that the problem could be a dairy sensitivity in my baby from the dairy products I was consuming. I was told to stop having all dairy and to give it 2-3 weeks to see if the symptoms improve. I would give it a try before deciding to stop breastfeeding. Good luck. I hope it helps. I have only stopped for a week so far, so I'm sure if this is our solution yet either.

p.s. Shame on your mother in law for making you defend your choice to breastfeed. You shouldn't have to do that. There is enough stress to deal with in the early months with a new baby as is it. Nobody likes to see the baby in pain most of all their mother. Just remind yourself that breastfeeding is good for your baby and don't listen to what she says!

Hi A.,

My baby boy would also go about 4 to 5 days without a pooping and then have a big blowout. The longest he went was about 8 days. I was worried about it so I called his doctor and they told me to give him 1 suppository (I know it sounds gross, but it works) before I feed him and he went -another blowout in the hour. He is also breastfed.

I go to a support group for breastfeeding and it is really helpful. The nurses told me that some breastfed babies don't poop that often and it is ok, but I would ask your pediatrician about the painful gas because that is hard to deal with. They may suggest gas medicine for babies. Also because you are breastfeeding be sure and watch your diet. When I ate green & red peppers, onions or other gassy foods he would have gas as well. Sometimes me drinking milk effects his stomach.

Breastfeeding is hard work, but it is really good for your baby so, I am proud of you for sticking with it. I don't think it can make your baby sick. That is just silly.

If you want of can attend, the breastfeeding support group is free and is at Grossmont Hospital in the Women's Center. They meet on Mondays from 1:00pm to 3:30pm and Thursdays from 9:30am to 11:00am. They have nurses to answer questions and they also weigh your baby in pounds and grams (after he feeds) to make sure they are eating enough. Plus, there are lots of moms there to encourage you. I hope you can check it out. And that this helps. We go on Mondays and would love to see you there.

Hang in there!

E. B. ~ First time mom who had so much trouble breastfeeding she was lucky to make it 2 months. Now my baby is 8 months old and weighs 19 pounds!

Hi A.,
My name is G. and I am a first time mom to my four month old son Henry. I too am only breast feeding Henry. I just wanted to support you w/ your decision to breast feed & don't be pressured into formula by someone else (even family). Also, solids are best introduced around 6 months. It's best to speak w/ your ped. about when to start solids. I joined a local lactation support group & that has been a huge help w/ support, info & tips. Your breast milk is not making your son sick, but speak to your ped about his bowel movements & gas. You may want to look at your diet as well. For Henry, I cut out all dairy for the first three months & that seemed to help...something to do w/ the protein in cow's milk & how it effects some newborns the first three months. Good luck & hang in there...it does get better as you start to better understand your son &his needs.

Don't stop breastfeeding your baby. My daughter had a similar problem. The doctor ended up prescribing Zantac and it really gave her some relief. (She had a lot of gas and was in pain.)

Perhaps you've added something to your diet that your baby isn't responding well to. When I use to eat chocolate my son would get constipated.

Hang in there!!

ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! Do not stop breastfeeding!! He's still tiny and his sphincter muscles are still weak, so he might be having a hard time pushing out the poop, thats all it is. What you should do is eliminate all foods from your diet that might be making him have gas pains, i.e. raw onions, beans, caffeine, milk (lactaid tastes just the same and isn't as gassy) eggs, and anything else that could give you/baby gas. Breastfeeding is best, and if you stop you'll just substitute gas pains for more problems when you switch over. Baby needs your milk, its working as baby's immune system right now!

Hi A.,
I can very confidently say that it is nearly impossible for your son to be allergic to your breastmilk. It's possible he is allergic to something you are eating. My friend's daughter had trouble when my friend ate dairy products so she cut those out of her diet to determine if any changes occur.
But please please do not stop breastfeeding! I am the mom of a very happily exclusively breastfed 15 month old. She ate her first solids at 6 months (mostly breastmilk with a little rice cereal mixed in) and continued to nurse. She still nurses once a day and has had only 2 colds in 15 months, which i attribute to the immunity benefits of breastfeeding.
I have heard about those of older generations looking down upon breastfeeding and suggesting solids prematurely. Your baby's digestive system is still developing (and isn't fully developed until as early as 13 weeks!) and breastmilk is the BEST thing for him.
You should also know that applesauce is not where to start with foods. There is a lot of literature out there regarding what foods to start with in order to ease digestion and encourage healthy eating habits. I'd be happy to give you more information if you'd like to contact me personally (____@____.com)
Also, it is VERY common for babies to have digestive issues. My daughter went through every phase imaginable with her eating and pooping.
Just keep doing what you are doing and know you are doing the absolute best thing!
M.

I had a similar experience and it turned out that the "let down" when my milk came in was really strong and in order to swallow it my son had to swallow a lot of air as well. This can be seen sometimes in "frothy" consistency of his poop. To solve this problem I just expressed the initial milk that came out and then nursed him. It worked. Also at about this age my doctor told me that babies will hold their poop in... it has been documented. My son would grunt and cry like he was having a hard time pooping and then there would be nothing in his diaper. It is just a reflex and they get over it. It doesn't happen with all children, just some. They don't know exactly why they do it but they think it might have something to do with becoming aware of that sensation and not wanting to let go... I don't know but hang in there and keep breast feeding. Too soon you will have an all new issue... welcome to parenthood!

I nursed my colicky son and he had horrible stomach aches. I cut out Dairy and Wheat and he turned into a happy baby! It's hard to cut out both, so try one at a time. It also takes 2-3 days to get out of your system. I hope something works for you!

I would NOT stop breastfeeding!!! You don't have to defend yourself of the most natural thing in the world... maybe take a look at what your eating, as it is passed through your milk, and if you are "regular". Your baby may have also caught a little virus, etc. but your breastmilk is definitely the best nutritonally speaking and he's far too young for cereal or applesauce. It is normal for him to feed every few hours and you are doing a wonderful thing!
I've breastfed 2 babies and know it is not as widely respected as it should be. Also, babies are babies and they will have upsetting times, we don't always figure out why, but comfort them as best we can! Good for you, keep on nourishing!

do NOT give him formula. you are doing the right thing by your son. unfortunately many women who have not breastfed i feel need to make the women who do breastfeed feel wrong bc it makes them feel better about the choices THEY made. but those were their choices. this is yours. and you are giving your son all of your antibodies, helping him not get sick, giving him food that adjusts to his growing needs -- all instead of a stock formula. how does enfamil know what your baby needs vs what my baby needs?? they don't. they have one catch all formula that basically works. but it is not the science and nuance of what your body can provide him. each mom has exactly what her baby needs on the day her baby needs it. did you know your milk changes daily based on his age and exactly what his needs are? enfamil doesn't i can assure you. if you need support hire a lactation consultant who can teach you more (and your family). it wil do wonders, trust me. as for the gassiness, often cutting out onions, broccoli, cauliflower, beans, cafeine will help. check out kellymom.com -- VERY helpful breastfeeding website. YOU ARE DOING GREAT. YOU ARE BEING A GREAT MOM. gassiness just comes with the territory. it's part of the learning curve, like all the rest of everything else for the next however many years. and there's no "formula" for everything that comes after in childhood, so don't let them push you into using a "formula" now.

I'm so sorry you're not getting the support you need while breast feeding. Everything your son is experiencing is normal and happened to my daughter (now just over 4 months). It has nothing to do with your breast milk which, according to every medical journal out there, as well as the American Pediactrics Association, is the very best thing for him for the first 6 months of life. You might consider doing a little research online to get the confidence you need (and show it to your in-laws!). If you have time, go to the pump station website (www.pumpstation.com) and check our their classes....bring him and get that support you need.

Good luck!

As everyone else has said . . . probably not your breastmilk persay, but rather something YOU'RE eating. My son was sensitive to eggs and dairy in my diet, for a few months. Also "gassy foods", i.e. broccoli, cabbage, that sort of thing. Don't give up, and don't let your MIL or anyone else get to you. Whether or not breastfeeding is the best (and it is), it is still a parenting decision on your part and no one has the right to question that.

Good luck!

A.:

Please don't give up on breastfeeding! Your breastmilk can take on the flavors of things that you eat. The biggest culprits usually have strong flavors, like garlic and onions, or are already known to be gas-inducing, like broccoli. In the meantime, help your son by giving him tummy massages, pumping his legs up and down (like he's riding a bicycle) and giving him baby gas drops ("Little Tummies" is one brand).

If he's still having gas issues then please speak with your pediatrician.

In regards to your MIL, does your husband support you in your breastfeeding decision and has he defended you to his mother? My husband and I have a rule that if there's a sensitive matter regarding any of the grandparents (a) we discuss among ourselves first to come to an agreement and have a united front then (b) whoever's parents it is does the talking. We've found that it creates less hard feelings if the son/daughter approaches the parents. Best of luck to you.

I am sorry to hear that you are not getting any support with your breastfeeding. You son is not allergic to your milk itself but maybe something that you have eaten that is in it. You might have to cut out dairy to start. It is really hard since even whey in other food items can cause the reaction. It also might take up to a few weeks to fully work. Kellymom.com has much more info on it. Breastfeeding is best but a happy mom is better. Do what is best for you and your son and take any advice with a grain of salt. At the end of the day you are the mom and you know your baby best. Good luck.

Hi A.,
Don't give up on breast feeding. Go to your pediatrician. I was told by everyone that it was my milk making my son sick, So I stopped breastfeeding and poured out 30oz of frozen breast milk to find out two days later that my son had acid reflux. Don't listen to your inlaws or anyone else. Go to the Dr and get their advice. Remember, when your mother in law was a mother of a small child, they did things very different.
Wait for a Dr to tell you that your milk is making your son sick.
I get so upset every time I think about how I gave in to everyone around me.
Good luck.

Hello,
If the milk is making him sick it might just be something you are eating, change your diet. Remember what you eat he will be eating. If what you want is to breatfeed you child then do so, you are right is the best thing for him. You will help him with his immune system. Stay firm with your mother in law, because once you start giving in they totally take over. I am telling you these because I had the same problem with my mother in law. Your baby is the most important things in the world and your insticts as a mother are right. You might not do everything like her but that does not mean it is wrong.

Good Luck,

C.

Absolutely not! Your breastmilk is not making him sick (unless you're eating bad food). Breastmilk is the best thing for your baby. I know it's hard to always have to defend to others who are not as informed, but keep at it. You are doing the right thing. Your baby is so young that irregular bowel movements are normal. My baby girl (who's now 10 months old - I also have a 2 1/2 yr old girl) didn't poop everyday in her first 3 months. Sometimes, she'd go 5 days without going. It just means she's absorbing everything that her body needs and there's not much waste yet. I work full time so my breastmilk is now gone. But, my sister-in-law who has a 7 1/2 month old boy, has plenty and she freezes some of her milk and gives them to me for my baby. I don't see that as weird because even if it's not my breastmilk, it's still breastmilk and still has all the antibodies and nutrients that formula just doesn't have. So I commend you for breastfeeding your baby, even if you don't get support from your husband's family. YOU know what's best for your baby. Trust your instincts and don't dwell too much on this pooping business. If you're concerned about him being in pain, you might want to consult his pediatrician. Still, it's probably not your breastmilk.

My little girls were very sensitive to what I ate. Milk was a major problem for both. I had a friend who couldn't eat tomatoes or eggs. Keep a journal about what you eat and when he has these spells. Maybe you just ate something like shrimp or something that didn't agree with him. Don't stop breastfeeding if it is working for you.

A.,

It is possible that you are producing a protein in your breastmilk that your baby is allergic to.... my girlfriend had this problem and since has found many other moms in the same boat. I don't know enough about it, but I'm sure you could find a ton of stuff on-line...

Good Luck and tell your mother-in-law that 2 1/2 months is really early for food. Experts say that 4 months is the absolute earliest yet many recommend no "real" food until 6 months... times have changed since she raised her babies!

A GREAT resource is the book Baby 411. It is SUCH an easy reference to look up EVERYTHING under the sun- the authors have a great sense of humor and the format is really user friendly. There is also a Todller 411....

K.

i breastfed all 3 of my boys and very similar issues to varying degrees. 1st son was extremely colicky but i had very little resources at that time to be able to help the problems. now we have the internet and ppl like those who've responded. yay. well, hopefully there's relief in sight. like the others who've responded, make sure you're avoiding the troublesome foods in your own diet (dairy, broccoli, chocolate, caffeine, other known gassy foods). also try lying your baby on his back holding his knees while bent and move his knees toward his belly, out and front, one at a time in a circular motion. this will help move the gas along. something that our pediatrician told us to do and seemed to help the baby a lot. massage his tummy in small clockwise circles starting from the right lower side (to the right of his belly button) w/ him on his back and facing him, and go up and around until youve massaged to the bottom left side of his belly. helps to move the gas. learned this in massage school. remember to not press too hard. also, there are the gas relieving drops you can get over the counter. those helped us too. also, if your baby seems really really constipated, you can use gelatin suppositories. read the instructions for child use. i think if you cut it in 1/3 or 1/2 and put it into his pooper he should poo within 30 minutes. sometimes this would take hours for our baby but it's an option. check w/ the dr. first if unsure. hope this helps. i know it's stressful but the time will pass and next thing you know he's 11 years old, like mine. LOL

Dear A.,

It looks like you need to see the pediatrician, and stop paying attention to your mother in law.

I know that is hard, but an umhuh as an answer to her is helpful to you not to her. Save your irritation and spend your attention on the baby. She is going to gripe about something for a long time. I don't believe that it is the breast milk. Keep on feeding him that way, it is a wonderful way to start a life.

I don't think that it is good to feed a 2 1/2 old food, the breast milk is enough for now.

Get professional advice and just let the family know what they say. I know that it must be hard to have a new baby, work, and be worried about all of this, so soothe your mind and just drop the conversations about gas.

Also, babies do not die nowadays as much as they did in the past. When my baby brother was born I remember how scared everyone was that he would die - lots of mothers and grandmothers have lost babies and that makes then fearful about every breath the new baby takes. She probably has those memories in the back of her mind and is being super sensitive about your baby. My grandmother lost 5 babies out of 8, so that is a good example of what went on in the past.

good luck, C. N.

Hi A.,

Just as the other moms said, don't stop breastfeeding, but do try & figure out if there is anything you're eating that could be effecting your baby. As far as the mother-in-law, I would print out articles on the benefits of breast feeding & starting solids later & whenever your mother-in-law starts in on how he should be on formula or eating food, just hand her an article to read. Just tell her, "Oh, I was just reading up on that. Here, why don't you look at what I've learned." Print out lots of different articles, so you can give her one whenever she brings it up. Hopefully, she might actually learn something & become more supportive, but if not, at least she will realize that her arguments are getting nowhere with you & she'll probably give up & let you make your own choices.

C. : )
(will soon be exclusively breastfeeding baby #3 in Jan.)

A., you need to look at what you are eating and drinking. Are you drinking milk, coffee, etc.? How about peanuts, spicy foods, etc.? What you eat, he eats. Try eliminating all foods except bland, non-allergenic type food. For instance, make sure you aren't taking in milk (cakes, pastries, cream, cereals, ice cream) which is a common irritant. Make sure that peanuts or any nuts and spicy foods are eliminated. Avoid fish and shellfish of any kind. By monitoring your foods (you can talk to the pediatrician or an allergist about a list of foods), you will probably notice a big difference in your son. As you can tell, I have food and pollen allergies. Unfortunately, I learned about it as an adult although I suffered from it since birth. Because I was seeing an allergist, I was always careful and kept an eye on my daughter who also had a problem with milk. In fact, she rejected the cow milk offered by the nurse at the hospital. She took it the first time but not the second. My husband asked the nurse if it might be related to the fact that mom was allergic to milk. they changed to a soy milk and my daughter took it without complaint. Who would think a one day old would know? Anyway, good luck on your food choices. Remember that strawberries are also a common problem so you should probably eliminate it from your diet until you can figure out what is bothering your son.

Hi A.,
It is very frustrating when you are not getting the support you need from your family. Keep up the good work though ok?
Your breast milk could be making your son sick, but it is easily fixable. Everything that you consume comes out in your breast milk. When your son is gassy and has an upset tummy, think back to what you have eaten. Spicy foods are a big culprit in babies upset tummy. Of course there are many other triggers.
Try eating simple, easy on tummy food for a few days and see if he improves.
Trust your instincts, you are doing great!
L.

Only if you're sick. You need to understand that what you eat or drink is what goes to your son. Clean up your diet, then maybe he'll do better. Breastmilk is the best, dont let anyone tell you different. I breastfed 4 of my 5 children, and they were the healthiest beings around.

I know you have already gotten some great advise but I just wanted to tell you I can completly relate on the MIL situation. My MIL thought I was crazy for breast feeding and she watched my kids also. I would bring her frozen milk and I found out later that she was giving my twins formula thinking it would help. Try cutting dairy out of your diet, I had too with all of my kids. Stay strong, it is YOUR baby and things have changed a lot since she had a new baby.

What you eat can affect your son. I have one friend that had a colicky son and when she stopped eating peanut butter he was better. I'm not sure how you would figure out what foods might be bothering him. Try locating your nearest La Leche League leader. They will have lots of advice and you can get much needed support for breastfeeding.

Congratulations on tuning into your baby and on paving the way for future breastfeeders in your husband's family, A.! Many babies are uncomfortable before having a "blow out." It makes sense that if he is uncomfortable, and breasmilk is best, nutritionally, immunologically, emotionally and all, then a foreign substance would not be helpful. Your MIL is more familiar with formula, so breastfeeding will be seem as the "culprit." Also, it's threatening to have you succeed at something she didn't. It's challenging to remember she wants what's best for your baby, as do you--you have that in common. You are correct that babies need nothing but mother's milk for about six months; anything else would only aggravate the problem. Sometimes babies have a sensitivity to something mother has eaten, especially dairy--milk products. It can help to eliminate these and see if anything changes after 2-3 weeks. Your milk only protects him if this is the case; formula is milk-based, and has no live immunities to help his digestive system.

~N.

I would recommend you go on the elimination diet for nursing mothers. Go to my pediatrician's website, www.askdrsears.com, and look up breast feeding and suspected food allergies. You might want to go on the elimination diet, and see if it helps your baby. My baby has major food/dairy allergies, and he started these symptoms by 4 weeks of age. Your baby may also have reflux. If so, your pediatrician can prescribe a little Zantac. Best wishes.

DO NOT give him any solids, especially cereal. This will only make the situation WORSE. Cereals aren't before the age of 1 because kids don't have not developed the digestive enzymes necessary to break down grains. Without the enzymes grains can make a child constipated or an upset stomach.

Regarding your question it sounds like food allergies. I'd recommend removing dairy from your diet. It could take up to two weeks to see a change. Breastmilk itself doesn't make a child sick, it is what the mother consumes that makes the child sick. My oldest child had the exact same symptoms as you described. My chiropractor tested her and found she was allergic to dairy. After a week of riding my diet of dairy the gas pains, uncontrolable crying and fussiness stopped. My youngest child is allergic to dairy,wheat and gluten. It is difficult at first to change your diet but remember it is what is best for your son. Don't listen to others, breastmilk is best for as long as possible. If he is allergic to dairy formula will only make the situation worse. You can also try Hyland's Colic tabs which can be found at local drug stores. It is a homeopathic remedy which means it is all natural and you can't overdose your child. Even though it's called Colic tabs it helps with stomach discomfort caused by food. It helped my daughter with gas pains.
This is more info on an elimination diet http://www.askdrsears.com/html/4/t041200.asp.
Good luck and DON'T stop breastfeeding!

Have you watched what your eating? I know that is a simple question but your son could be having a reaction to the food you are taking in - even certain drinks can cause discomfort in babies. PS...I have a 4 month old and he is gassy and has the crying fits and is on formula. Don't let your in-laws make you feel wrong for making the best choice for your child.

I am now a grandmother and my children are grown. I nursed all four sons until they were over two years of age. First of all, whatever you eat has the possibility to give your baby gas. Mylicon (I hope the spelling is correct) is your best friend, as it has no side effects. Use it! Watch your consumption of beans, cabbage, chocolate, broccoli, etc.
Secondly, hang in there! I firmly believe in the benefits of nursing and they can't duplicate that in the lab. But it is hard to stand in the face of family and friends who didn't nurse. You don't need to supplement the baby's diet at this point but there is a better than odds chance that your mother-in-law is feeding the baby something that is causing the diaper problem. She has good intentions I'm sure, but she wants to participate in feeding. Food allergies are often the result of the early introduction of food.
Best Wishes to you and your baby.

i agree that it is probably your diet. they get everything we eat and drink. Have you tried formula? Ask your doctor first about it. If you eat alot of green veggies that can cause alot of gas. if you eat alot of dairy that can cause constipation. check with your doctor about a good diet for you and your baby. also ask your doctor about giving some water in a bottle to the baby. it can also help with constipation. Don't worry about what other people say about you breastfeeding. if he can tolerate it keep doing it. it is so good for them!

The very first thing you should check out is your diet. Foods such as onions, broccoli and cabbage can cause a lot of gas in infants. Sometimes, moms have to have pretty bland diets for the first few months but it is worth it!

B. O. Mother of two sons.

A....It is hard to always hear negative things, but you are doing a great thing for your baby.

So a couple thoughts I had after reading your question. What color is his poop?? If it is yellow seedy, you are fine. But any green or other color may mean he is sensitive to foods that you are eating. You can do an elimation diet to see if that helps. But formula will probably make it worse since breastmilk is the easiest to digest.

For help with the gas...you can try giving him Mylicon. It does not go into their bloodstream. It just helps all the gas bubbles come together to get the gas out. You can also rub his belly in a circular clockwise massage. You can try giving him a warm bath. Or try pumping his legs up to his stomach.

Also...if you get him to burp more it should relieve some of the gas issues.

We had a child who was very gassy and usually one of those would work for him. Also...he may have had to burp more than we tried to burp him.

About the blowouts...that is just normal for breastfed babies=)

Good luck. I hope some of this helps!

I have a seven month old and have been where you are... you most likely are not burping enough. Any gas left then has to then work it's way through. That makes for the screaming and blowout issues. Burp, then burp and when in doubt burp some more. Worst case you got it all and your arm is tired. Most babies volume in movements slows down right around now. My boy went from every day multiple times to every three or four days just before he was three months. The doctor said there just isn't enough mass left after a baby absorbs all the nutrients from breastmilk. (There is no fiber to push things along). Keep her hydrated and as long as there is no hard stools it's ok. If you are worried 1oz. of pear juice will move things along. But don't worry so much. I am a first time Mom too. Stand your ground, ceral and applesauce will just upset her new digestive tract. We tried food too soon (four months) and gave him MORE gas. Wait until six months, babies can swallow better and their system is more ready to do the hard work of digesting food.
PS: You are a good Mom!!! Stay strong!
J.

Hi A.,

I am so sorry to hear your problems with your mother-in-law. I breast fed my son exclusively breast milk until he was 4 1/2 months old then the pediatrician said it was ok to give a little cereal. My mom tried to get me to give him cereal when he was only 8 days old! she said it would satisfy him and make him sleep through the night. No one breast fed their children in our family either, my mother in law did and was very supportive, but had little advice to give. When I told the pediatrician about the cereal he said NO NO NO, it was OLD FASHIONED ADVICE!! Babies this young are not capable of digesting solids until they are 4 to 6 months old. Our doctor said they can be exclusively breast fed until 6 months old. Hold to your guns and breast feed him until your pediatrician tells you it is OK to feed solids. Do not give formula, I'm sure you have read and know about all the benefits of your breast milk. I breast fed until my son was 13 months old. I have friends who did it even longer. Now to the other problems, My son would get what seemed to be terrible pain in his abdomen. He would Cry so hard and to the point that I was crying. My husband and I did not know what to do, One of our neighbors is a doctor and she said to rub and massage his lower abdomen very deeply to move gas and other materials along. Some times this helped. Our pediatrician said I was not burping him long enough and also some of the foods that I was eating could be upsetting him, such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, and other vegies as well as spicy food. Try a bland diet for a week such as chicken, rice, potatoes, and mild vegies and salad, see what happens. Drink a lot of water too. I used to call our Pediatrician all the time and talk to him or the nurse practitioner. Don't feel bad about calling a lot, when we are first time mothers with nobody go give us good sound advice we can begin to feel bullied by our parents and isolated. When my mother used to try to tell me something that went against our doctors advice or my maternal instincts I would just say "Well the pediatrician says..... and I'm going to follow his advice" This always seemed to shut my mom up.

Stay strong
J.

Hi A.,

It sounds like you are going through a difficult time right now. There seems to be two different challenges for you - your son's digestive system and your mother in law's lack of support of your choices.

My opinion on breastfeeding is if you can, do! It is proven to be the best source of nutrition for babies. But, it's not a cut and dry choice for a lot of people. My best friend nursed her son for 9 months even though he was highly sensitive to her breast milk. She basically had to eliminate wheat, dairy, most fruits and vegetables, soy, eggs and the by-products to these food groups. It meant a diet of broiled chicken breasts for 6 months! At first her son also had the symptoms you describe above, and they eventually got worse. I would definitely talk with your pediatrician about eliminating common foods associated with allergies before you give up on breastfeeding. Formula may be the right choice, but there are allergy issues associated with formula too.

Secondly, it is so hard to constantly be around someone who disagrees with your parenting choices. Feel confident that you are making the right choices for you and your family. You have the latest research on child development, and you are the one talking with the experts (your pediatrician). Maybe you can ask your husband to have a conversation with his mom. You shouldn't be the only one defending your choices to her. (This is probably not going to be the last time you receive criticism from someone about your parenting choices. As hard as confrontation might be, you need to set the boundaries early so you're not dealing with negative feedback throughout your son's life).

Sweetie,
I have read almost all of the responses & they ARE ALL RIGHT, cherish this time of bonding with your baby. Even thought I was extemely well-endowed, but no one showed me how to breastfeed I found that I had very little milk to feed her (that was fine with GrandMa beleive me, She was a bottlefed baby, but turned out great & amazing. But I know what I missed...try going to the La Leche Legeaue for talking with your Mother I-law, maybe you can make her aware & teach her by reaching out to her with the information they can give you there - there is vast amounts of it. Remember to go over these incidents with your Ped - just in case.

I will keep you & your family in my prayers....I.

first yay you and yay your baby for bfing!!!
your bm is NOT making you wee one sick, you may have eaten something that disaggred with him. so maybe think about that.
you are alos right about solids no solids for another 3 month if that...6 mo is the earliest recommend age.
my momster-inlaw (momster did i say that out loud?) constenly gives bad advice, i say lots of thanks and "the ped says..."
next i would like you to when you make your next well baby check ask the resptions for some more time cuz you have questions and ask about all the "concerns" your dh family has...that way you can shoot back with spcifices when they are on the attck..
are you working outside the home? in any case i would highy incourage you to find differnt chid care one that would support...
you know i just had a thought was yr baby at her house today and the last time this happend is it possible she gave him solids?
good luck...
E.

Keep breastfeeding! It is the best thing you can do for your baby. Your baby might be responding to something you are eating. You can eliminate one food at a time for a few days and see if the gassy symptoms subside. For me it was dairy. I gave up all dairy, including anything with whey in it, and it helped my son tremendously. I stuck with no dairy for about 3 months and by then his digestive system was more robust and able to handle the large proteins found in cow milk... Just think, if it is a reaction to dairy, then switching to formula would be even worse! And then you would have to switch to soy forumla! (the Dr. Sears book and maybe website - see link below- can explain how to figure out how to eliminate things in your diet to figure out if it's dietary...)

Anyway Having a baby is natural and breatfeeding is how nature intended us to feed our babies. It's a perfect system and it doesn't cost any money at all! Just make sure you are eating well, avoid foods that can cause upset in baby and enjoy the closeness!!

Your MIL does not understand the benefits of breastfeeding. Maybe you can give her a pamphlet about breastmilk and at what age it's appropriate to introduct solids (I think it's 6 months at the earliest and you can wait up to a year... I usually take the baby having teeth come in as a sign that he/she is ready for food). You can give her the info (see links below) and let her know that as the mother, these are your decisions. If watching your baby the two days a weeks makes you MIL think she can tell you what to do, I would look for other arrangements. She needs to step back and let you make the decisions... You know what is best for your baby!!!

Here are links...

Dr. Sears is my FAVORITE!!! http://www.askdrsears.com/ "The Baby Book" is full of good information...

another site that says it's No.1 site http://www.breastfeeding.com/

And a gov't site - Center for Disease Control - make it "official"....http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/

One last breastfeeding tip for all moms out there: when the baby starts to bite during breastfeeding ... most moms pull away which makes baby clench harder and can cause serious damage, some moms try lightly smacking the baby and saying "no!" and most end up quiting breastfeeding.... You don't have to quit! All you have to do is pull the baby toward you, kind of like you are going to smother baby in your breats, then baby releases the bite and pulls back to breathe.... it is a little alarming to baby but it saves your breast from getting a painful bite and it teaches baby NOT to bite...

Blow outs are normal but not pooping for a few days is not. Maybe it is something you are eating that is bothering him. Try and monitor your food intake and the way he reacts on a daily basis. Also is there any chance your Mother in law is sneaking him food or formula?
Try this before you stop Breast feeding.

Hi A., poor little guy! Sounds like to me he's in pain and does have gas. I'd take him to the doctor pronto. He may be allergic to your milk. Breastfeeding is the best thing for you child and don't let anyone ever tell you any different, unless ofcourse the doctor says he's allergic or something. PLEASE, PLEASE do not allow your MIL to give your child any sort of solid foods. I am so sure that my daughter developed constipation because she was fed solid foods before her body was physically developed to handle it. She still suffers from constipation at almost 3. Good luck.

have you eliminated things like dairy and wheat from your diet? try a few diet changes of your own, ask your ped, don't give in to your dh's family! bf is best and you are doing the right thing!!

You are not crazy to breastfeed! And yes,way too soon for cereal and applesauce! I doubt your breast milk is making him sick if he's been fine these two and a half months,but evaluate what you are eating, any dietary changes?? Increase in dairy or spicy foods? The whole crying episode could be totally unrealated to breastfeeding. My daughter had something similar going on when I was exercising quite a bit and a girlfriend told me my milk may be more acidic with all the exercise, so I stopped the workouts and the crying episodes stopped as well. I switch to three two mile walks a week instead of strenuous cardio daily.
Please don't let your in-laws affect your choice to breastfeed! Remind them that all babies are gassy and have the blowouts regardless of how they're fed! And let her know that introducing solids makes the pooping worse;)

It is normal for babies to have changes like that in their digestive systems as they grow and develop. With two kids and another on the way I have found that people, even well meaning people, always have opinions on what we as mothers should do differently. It drives me absolutely crazy and there have been times when my husband and I have had to tell them that while we appreciate their input, we as their parents will make the best decisions for our children. Formula will stop your baby up more than breast milk will and your baby is wayyyyyyy to young for solids. Trust me, if you don't establish boundaries now with extended family, you will regret it later. You can do it in a gentle way, but, it needs to be done.

I doubt your breastmilk is making him sick but something you are eating might be bothering him. And if that is the case, you could just try eliminating it from your diet and see what happens. But he may just be a gassy baby. Talk to your pediatrician but I would guess that your milk -- on its own -- is not the problem.

You are right, in my opinion, to keep breastfeeding. Stay strong. It seems that your mother-in-law, despite best intentions, doesn't quite understand the importance of breastfeeding.

Hi A. -

First of of all, one word of advice about your in-laws thinking you're crazy for breastfeeding, you can always refer them to all the medical articles regarding the benefits of breastfeeding. I find that it also helps to say "The pediatrician said..." and then fill it in with the facts.
In regards to your baby, perhaps it is something in your diet that is making your baby gassy? I recently discovered that dairy was causing major acid reflux and have since eliminated dairy. I have noticed with the change in diet that she is spitting up less and is a much happier baby. There are some good articles online you can research. I also know that it's normal for baby to go w/out a bowel movement for a couple of days every now and then.

good luck and hang in there!