SUPER long - Normal or Real Issue(s)?

Carebella

I know Jackson is in a growth spurt but he has been having some ongoing issues that I'm hoping you guys might be able to help with or can just point me to a Peds visit before his next scheduled one on 1/21. He is now 6 weeks, 3 days old, has been gaining well from birth, and is EBF. He gets the Calson Vitamin D drop daily and I'm taking my USANA prenatal vitamins. I'm not sure if we are dealing with an oversupply issue, possible reflux, being over tired, a combination of issues or something I haven't even thought of that are causing him to cry more. I think he presents with some but not all of the symptoms for each so I'm having trouble pinning anything down. I apologize in advance for the novel and the overlap but I've been racking my brain and reading what feels like anything and everything trying to figure this out. TIA

Stuffy nose- clears up during the day but definitely gets bad at night, some nights worse than others. I start the humidifier a couple hours before bedtime, bed share with him propped up, and use the nose frida before bed. I still end up having to use it in the middle of the night before nursing sometimes. I tried breast milk up the nose before bed a few times and holy cow did he hate that. And then wouldn't settle down to go to sleep for awhile. I've also tried running the shower on hot and hanging out in a steamy bathroom with him. Nothing has fixed it. I'm wondering if it's still the newborn clearing things out, an environmental allergy (dust mites or the pets), or maybe issues with me consuming dairy.

Crying/Fussing- I can't figure much out other than I can clearly tell when it's become clearly distressed or painful. If a diaper change, nursing or burping doesn't solve it, walking around typically does. And I don't know that he has ever cried/fussed for more than 30 minutes straight. He will fuss and cry during some feedings, but mostly after. But the past few nights it has clearly become distressed/pained. Not sure if it's being over tired, reflux or the growth spurt.

Nursing- nurses from either side w/o issue. Latch seems to be fine, no cracked nipples or anything, just a little sore or tender at times but that could be from when he jerks back at a dog bark or from the startle reflex. A typical feed is from 7-10 minutes on one side and every hour, on the hour, during the day. I can make him nurse longer with some work but it just seems to cause him to spit up and he doesn't seem to go much longer between feeds. He will do some 15-20 minute sessions a few times a day. Longer than that seems to be comfort nursing. Again, sometimes he is fussy or cries during or after a feeding. Sometimes burping helps, sometimes switching sides helps, sometimes gas drops help, sometimes only walking with him seems to help. And occasionally at times he will, what seems like, pound my chest in frustration.

Over supply- definitely worse on the right. It doesn't happen every time but I have seen where he will pull off and a steady stream of milk will spray out for awhile. He's done the pulling off on both sides, the coughing, gulping,and etcetera associated with milk coming out too fast. Rarely he'll click. But he will comfort nurse. I try to nurse in a reclined position and make sure he has the freedom to back off as well as having his head elevated above his stomach.

Spitting up- just started in the past week, week and a half, and at times is mucousy, other times just seems chunky. Does seem worse in the evenings. He doesn't seem distressed when he spits up. Sometimes his breath does seem to smell a little sour.

Hiccups- he has frequently had them, once or twice a day, since birth. He does seem to get them after nursing but nursing also seems to be the one thing to cure them.

Burping- like a sailor since birth. If he is fussy after feeding, I think 1/2 to 2/3 of the time a good burp solves it.

Gas- he does have some flatulence but it's hard to tell how much because a lot of times what sounds like gas is him pooping.

Diapers- normal. Yellow poop, typically with some seeds.

crizz13

If these are real issues, then my LO has real issues too. Everything you said fits us to a T. To me it's pretty typical newborn behavior. Following though.

Eta: stupid autocorrect

MmmPopcorn

One thing our ped said is that children don't experience allergic reactions to pets until around 18 months. Just throwing that out there.

Also, have you considered feeding on one side only at each feeding? It may help with the oversupply issue.

lizgrace03

I think you're fine, but if going to the pedi will make you feel better then go! I took Alistair once because he was fussy and not pooping... It helped my peace of mind.

Loopyseven

It all sounds normal to me too.  

RE: the stuffy nose - we have that too.  For that matter, I have that this time of year due to it being cold and really dry this time of year (in CO, humidity in the air is often below 10% this time of year).  it irritates stuff in your nose/sinus and causes extra mucous/boogers.  Not sure where you're at, but there's not much you can do beside humidifier and suck his nose out when he needs it since he can't blow his nose.  If it's not a constant congestion all day long and isn't causing a runny nose at all or any chest congestion, it's probably not a virus that will run its course.