Oversupply and Reflux/Colic symptoms

[@llli*mama2z]

I recently began block feeding under advisement of a lactation nurse to help ease reflux/colic symptoms that may be linked to oversupply. Things are so difficult to discern I thought I would post here to see if you have any advice or suggestions.

My DS (2nd babe) is 11 weeks old and has had colic/reflux symptoms since his 2nd week - painful spitting up, cough, wet gurgles, grunting, hiccups, lots of gas from both ends, painful stomach convulsions, bouts of painful crying (can last for hours but this week have been only 40 minutes or so in length), short sleeping periods (no more than 2 hrs at night but usually 1 hour, and a 3 hr stretch some days if car riding is involved). Our ped wants to start him on meds but I get the feeling that much of his issue is once milk is into his digestive tract, his abdomen is so tight and tender and he spasms around his torso much of the time.

His poops are normal in color, though they occur every 3 days and seem to cause him discomfort when he is waiting to pass.

I began probiotics for him 2 days ago. I have detected a sensitivity to chocolate, nuts and wheat bread and have eliminated those things. I am going to try eliminating dairy to see if there is a connection there but the lactation specialist said that at least much of his issue could be due to oversupply so I am adjusting that before eliminating dairy so that I can hope to track what works.

He nurses from one breast at a time and before I started spraying my OALD into a towel would gulp and sputter at feedings. He finishes a feeding in 5 minutes - sometimes 10. Now that we have adjusted for 3 days he is taking longer, nursing in a slower pattern. We have him sleeping in a bouncy seat at night and he stopped tolerating a swaddle at around 2.5 weeks so he battles his hands at night. Our dr said we should keep him upright most of the time and that does seem to help. I have him next to me and keep a hand on him much of the time to get the 2 hr stretches at night. This is all leaving me with too little sleep and so much internet research done that I am at my wit's end. As I write this I realize I don't have a specific question but am wondering if any of this sounds like we are on the right track, of you have any suggestions or wise words to share.

Thank you for your help - sorry this is so long!

[@llli*mommal]

bump

[@llli*mommal]

Mama, I am sorry that your post hasn't gotten more attention. I think the holiday season and the fact that there's no specific question you need to have answered is throwing everyone for a loop. But basically is does sound to me like you are on the right track. It's tough to know what exactly to do when you're facing a confusing issue, but I think you are unravelling this knot from all the right directions. Please let us know how things go!

[@llli*boog]

I wanted to kindly bump this too because I'm having the same problems with my LO!

[@llli*jah73]

My baby also has reflux/colic symptoms due to oversupply, she is 5 months old now. I have been giving her quarter of a dose of colic calm before each feed for the last few days and it seems to have helped. Don't need to give it at every feed now. It's expensive but worth a try as it is all natural!

[@llli*juliet1]

So sorry you had a difficult time mama.
I used Colic Calm on DD2 too and she's almost 5mths. She still spits ups and hasn't fully outgrown the spitting up like DD1. Blockfeeding helped a little bit for us too, not much. Our experience was similar to yours (mama2z) but DD2 didn't seem to be in pain by the my OALD and her poops were always green. I did have to elevate her bassinet though for the nightly spit up sessions. During the day, after she ate should would fall asleep on me on her boppy pillow which would allow the milk to stay down better. I know from experience with DD1 that my OALD/OS didn't decrease at all or was controlled at all by blockfeeding, sage tea, or cabbage leaves. My last resort that did seem to help was eating Altoids (because of the peppermint oil) as recommend by the LC at the hospital. That seemed to really have helped DD2 with the spit up and reflux.
It's rough and very exhausting! I hope you find something that works for you all

[@llli*jah73]

Did the Altoids help with the oversupply? I have tried cabbage leaves, sage, pseudo ephedrine and block feeding, nothing seems to help. Have just started block feeding again and flow is so fast that vmy baby is refusing to nurse! If I do one side feeding, it is very slightly better for a couple of days and then my boobs just fill up quicker and quicker! DD1 had same problems and it improved a bit at 7 months as she got big enough to cope with flow. Don't know if i can last that long this time. I am constantly on the verge of mastitis and it is taking ALL of my time and I really mean. All of my time ( had about an hour today not nursing or at least trying to. It is just not fair on my 2yr old. Any ideas how to cope? I'm just going round in circles, trying to p,ay catch up with my boobs. Has anyone tried full mechanical drainage and block feeding? Does it work? Need ideas on what else I can do?

[@llli*juliet1]

Yes!! The Altoids have REALLY helped. I too am always on the verge of clogged ducts/mastitis. Having to deal with that, a 2.5YO and infant=not easy!! Even with the slightest activities my boobs are sooooo touchy and sensitive. I had tried the sage tea (6 cups/day) and the cabbage leaves with DD1 when she started weaning because my boobs were not wanting to ease up on the milk production and NOTHING! So when I had DD2, I had the same wonderful LC at the hospital and commented to her about my supply, she recommended the Altoids and last resort, birthcontrol. Sure enough, when my supply came in full force I took some Altoids as needed and they helped! Of course, I don't take them to drastically reduce my supply, but just enough to where I'm not engorged/borderline clogged ducts 24/7. If I pump just for relief (which I what I'm donating now) I'll get 5oz and I'll still be pretty full
My letdown is still strong but not as strong as when I'm engorged. Just this morning I was REALLY engorged no matter how much/often DD2 fed or how much I had been blockfeeding since yesterday to try to control it, so I ate 2 Altoids before we went out and by the evening they are very manageable
I recommend taking 1 and see how you feel. If you're still engorged eat another, then see if you notice a difference, etc.
Good luck mama. HTH