newborn grunts

Hello, first time parent with a 4 week old infant at home (preemie
born at 34 weeks, was 5lbs 11oz. at birth now about 8 lbs.). He is
breastfed every three hours and about 1/3 of the time he will grunt
and grimmace for 30-60 minutes before finally settling down (sometimes
its an hour or more). It really looks like he's EXTREMELY
uncomfortable during this (face all red, flailing legs/arms and
obviously making noises). We burp him after feeding and he usually
gets a few good ones out. Relief seems to come only after passing gas
or a BM, though this doesn't totally stop the grunting, just a bit.
He also does this as he's waking up after sleeping (leading up to a
feeding). He almost never cries and does not do it during a feeding,
just about 5-10 minutes after. He will occasionally spit up a tiny
bit right after feeding, but not during these fits. He has a good
size BM every time we change him (every 3 hours) so constipation
doesn't seem it. Ay suggestions??

Greg R wrote:
Hello, first time parent with a 4 week old infant at home (preemie
born at 34 weeks, was 5lbs 11oz. at birth now about 8 lbs.). He is
breastfed every three hours and about 1/3 of the time he will grunt
and grimmace for 30-60 minutes before finally settling down (sometimes
its an hour or more). It really looks like he's EXTREMELY
uncomfortable during this (face all red, flailing legs/arms and
obviously making noises). We burp him after feeding and he usually
gets a few good ones out. Relief seems to come only after passing gas
or a BM, though this doesn't totally stop the grunting, just a bit.
He also does this as he's waking up after sleeping (leading up to a
feeding). He almost never cries and does not do it during a feeding,
just about 5-10 minutes after. He will occasionally spit up a tiny
bit right after feeding, but not during these fits. He has a good
size BM every time we change him (every 3 hours) so constipation
doesn't seem it. Ay suggestions??

Find someone with experience whom you trust to ask as well, not some
people on the internet.

By someone you trust, I mean your lactation nurse (ok, probably the
mother's - most people named George don't breastfeed) or ask the doctor.

My guess is he is having a bit a reflux.

Jeff

Greg R schrieb:
Hello, first time parent with a 4 week old infant at home (preemie
born at 34 weeks, was 5lbs 11oz. at birth now about 8 lbs.). He is
breastfed every three hours and about 1/3 of the time he will grunt
and grimmace for 30-60 minutes before finally settling down (sometimes
its an hour or more). It really looks like he's EXTREMELY
uncomfortable during this (face all red, flailing legs/arms and
obviously making noises). We burp him after feeding and he usually
gets a few good ones out. Relief seems to come only after passing gas
or a BM, though this doesn't totally stop the grunting, just a bit.
He also does this as he's waking up after sleeping (leading up to a
feeding). He almost never cries and does not do it during a feeding,
just about 5-10 minutes after. He will occasionally spit up a tiny
bit right after feeding, but not during these fits. He has a good
size BM every time we change him (every 3 hours) so constipation
doesn't seem it. Ay suggestions??

Well, to be honest, some babies just grunt when they poop, or before
they poop or when they're getting ready to poop or whenever they feel
like grunting pretty much.
If you think it's a real problem you might want to ask a lactation
consultant or your pediatrician, but if they tell you to switch to
formula you might want to switch health care professionals instead ;-)
It's most likely not caused by breastmilk.

But really, babies make the strangest sounds for the oddest reasons.
They just do... My daughter's just found out a high pitched wahwah sound
is the coolest thing ever and she's practicing it _a lot_ right now ;-)

cu
nicole

On Feb 21, 12:41 pm, Banty wrote:
In article ,
Greg R says...





Hello, first time parent with a 4 week old infant at home (preemie
born at 34 weeks, was 5lbs 11oz. at birth now about 8 lbs.). He is
breastfed every three hours and about 1/3 of the time he will grunt
and grimmace for 30-60 minutes before finally settling down (sometimes
its an hour or more). It really looks like he's EXTREMELY
uncomfortable during this (face all red, flailing legs/arms and
obviously making noises). We burp him after feeding and he usually
gets a few good ones out. Relief seems to come only after passing gas
or a BM, though this doesn't totally stop the grunting, just a bit.
He also does this as he's waking up after sleeping (leading up to a
feeding). He almost never cries and does not do it during a feeding,
just about 5-10 minutes after. He will occasionally spit up a tiny
bit right after feeding, but not during these fits. He has a good
size BM every time we change him (every 3 hours) so constipation
doesn't seem it. Ay suggestions??

Mine was breastfed, and also didn't have any constipation, but his face would
turn red, he'd grunt, and clench his fists, and stiffen up. The more he did,
the bigger the pile. Not quite as long as yours, though, and he was born full
term. When he was done, he'd be supremely happy. And I'd have a big nasty job
ahead of me... Pretty funny, actually.

My suggestion? Catch it on video

Seriously, while it doesn't ring any warning bells in my head, but I would check
with my pediatrician. They are quite used to these calls from newborn parents.
And they would know of any special concerns for your preemie.

Banty

We have brought this up to our pediatrician and they don't seem
concerned as they gave him a clean bill of health about a week or so
ago (of course he doesn't do it there). Funny you mention catching it
on video, we did that just last night with our digital camera and plan
to bring it to his appointment next week. While I'm fairly confident
this isn't anything to worry too much about (and will continue to
check with the doc), I was just wondering how common this was, and
what if anything people out here found that worked to lessen it. Sure
medically there might not be a concern, but seeing him that
uncomfortable is really tough.

In article ,
Greg R says...

On Feb 21, 12:41 pm, Banty wrote:
In article ,
Greg R says...





Hello, first time parent with a 4 week old infant at home (preemie
born at 34 weeks, was 5lbs 11oz. at birth now about 8 lbs.). He is
breastfed every three hours and about 1/3 of the time he will grunt
and grimmace for 30-60 minutes before finally settling down (sometimes
its an hour or more). It really looks like he's EXTREMELY
uncomfortable during this (face all red, flailing legs/arms and
obviously making noises). We burp him after feeding and he usually
gets a few good ones out. Relief seems to come only after passing gas
or a BM, though this doesn't totally stop the grunting, just a bit.
He also does this as he's waking up after sleeping (leading up to a
feeding). He almost never cries and does not do it during a feeding,
just about 5-10 minutes after. He will occasionally spit up a tiny
bit right after feeding, but not during these fits. He has a good
size BM every time we change him (every 3 hours) so constipation
doesn't seem it. Ay suggestions??

Mine was breastfed, and also didn't have any constipation, but his face would
turn red, he'd grunt, and clench his fists, and stiffen up. The more he did,
the bigger the pile. Not quite as long as yours, though, and he was born full
term. When he was done, he'd be supremely happy. And I'd have a big nasty job
ahead of me... Pretty funny, actually.

My suggestion? Catch it on video

Seriously, while it doesn't ring any warning bells in my head, but I would check
with my pediatrician. They are quite used to these calls from newborn parents.
And they would know of any special concerns for your preemie.

Banty

We have brought this up to our pediatrician and they don't seem
concerned as they gave him a clean bill of health about a week or so
ago (of course he doesn't do it there). Funny you mention catching it
on video, we did that just last night with our digital camera and plan
to bring it to his appointment next week. While I'm fairly confident
this isn't anything to worry too much about (and will continue to
check with the doc), I was just wondering how common this was, and
what if anything people out here found that worked to lessen it. Sure
medically there might not be a concern, but seeing him that
uncomfortable is really tough.

Great idea showing the video to the pediatrician next week.. I actually wasn't
thinking of that.

I'd just monitor it to make sure it wasn't getting worse. With my son as a
newborn, and even older, it would go on about 15 minutes tops. Of course I
don't know if it's the same thing you're having or not. But its quite striking
a behavior from such a little guy.

Banty

Greg R wrote:

We have brought this up to our pediatrician and they don't seem
concerned as they gave him a clean bill of health about a week or so
ago (of course he doesn't do it there). Funny you mention catching it
on video, we did that just last night with our digital camera and plan
to bring it to his appointment next week. While I'm fairly confident
this isn't anything to worry too much about (and will continue to
check with the doc), I was just wondering how common this was, and
what if anything people out here found that worked to lessen it. Sure
medically there might not be a concern, but seeing him that
uncomfortable is really tough.

I think it's fairly common and there's not anything
you need to do about it. I think some newborns just make
a big production of pooping for a while, presumably until
their digestive tracts mature or something. You may just
be noticing it more because he's a preemie and is exhibiting
newborn-ish behavior for longer as a result.
It's never a bad thing to bring it up with your
caregiver, but I will be surprised if it turns out to be
anything that needs fixing.

Best wishes,
Ericka

On Feb 21, 11:40*am, Greg R wrote:
Hello, first time parent with a 4 week old infant at home (preemie
born at 34 weeks, was 5lbs 11oz. at birth now about 8 lbs.). *He is
breastfed every three hours and about 1/3 of the time he will grunt
and grimmace for 30-60 minutes before finally settling down (sometimes
its an hour or more). *It really looks like he's EXTREMELY
uncomfortable during this (face all red, flailing legs/arms and
obviously making noises). *We burp him after feeding and he usually
gets a few good ones out. *Relief seems to come only after passing gas
or a BM, though this doesn't totally stop the grunting, just a bit.
He also does this as he's waking up after sleeping (leading up to a
feeding). *He almost never cries and does not do it during a feeding,
just about 5-10 minutes after. *He will occasionally spit up a tiny
bit right after feeding, but not during these fits. *He has a good
size BM every time we change him (every 3 hours) so constipation
doesn't seem it. *Ay suggestions??

So I have a 10 week old who started out just this way. She would poop
at every feeding. Seemed really unhappy about it. Also had bad
diaper rash. She'd grunt in her sleep and start crying midway
through feedings. Long story short ...she has a cow's milk protein
allergy and reflux. She is on a special formula now, we give her
zantac, and i had to stop breastfeeding her. But she is a happy baby
now. Definitely talk to your pediatrician and mention your son's
symptoms.

Jenn

"Greg R" wrote in message
...
Hello, first time parent with a 4 week old infant at home (preemie
born at 34 weeks, was 5lbs 11oz. at birth now about 8 lbs.). He is
breastfed every three hours and about 1/3 of the time he will grunt
and grimmace for 30-60 minutes before finally settling down (sometimes
its an hour or more). It really looks like he's EXTREMELY
uncomfortable during this (face all red, flailing legs/arms and
obviously making noises). We burp him after feeding and he usually
gets a few good ones out. Relief seems to come only after passing gas
or a BM, though this doesn't totally stop the grunting, just a bit.
He also does this as he's waking up after sleeping (leading up to a
feeding). He almost never cries and does not do it during a feeding,
just about 5-10 minutes after. He will occasionally spit up a tiny
bit right after feeding, but not during these fits. He has a good
size BM every time we change him (every 3 hours) so constipation
doesn't seem it. Ay suggestions??


Babies just sometimes make weird noises, that's all.

wrote:

Long story short ...she has a cow's milk protein
allergy and reflux. She is on a special formula now, we give her
zantac, and i had to stop breastfeeding her.

Did you try to omit cow's milk and dairy products from your diet before
giving up on breastfeeding?

Karen

On Feb 22, 11:52*am, Karen wrote:
wrote:

Long story short ...she has a cow's milk protein
allergy and reflux. *She is on a special formula now, we give her
zantac, and i had to stop breastfeeding her. *

Did you try to omit cow's milk and dairy products from your diet before
giving up on breastfeeding?

Karen

Yeah - i eliminated dairy and then soy, too. She didn't really
improve after several weeks on the diets. While we were trialing the
Nutramigen formula, i also tried the elimination diet from the dr.
sears website - but i found that really was way too hard to maintain
with another young child at home and having to return to work. it was
a difficult decision. but she's exclusively on formula now. sad
because i so wanted to nurse her - but it just didn't work out.