Painful gas / tummy problems?

Merinmac

My LO is 2 months old and has been exclusively formula fed for the last 3-4 weeks. Over the last week, she's started getting really painful gas. She farts constantly and cries about it. I thought maybe it was just a passing phase, but it's only gotten worse. As of last night and into today, she can barely sleep for 10-20 minutes without waking up to scream and writhe around until she can fart a few times.

This can't be normal, right? She already sleeps way less than most babies her age. It can't be good for her to be losing all her longer sleeps. She's been such a happy baby till now, it's killing me to see her acting like she's in agony!

Does this sound like a milk allergy or sensitivity? I hate to change her formula drastically with no need, but I just don't know what else it could be. I had to be on soy myself as a baby so it wouldn't surprise me if LO has the same issue. But my symptoms weren't the same as hers. Any ideas or suggestions? Is there any risk to trying soy for a while to see if it helps?

saladflambe

No risk to trying 

Bltbear82

Have you tried gripe water or gas drops to see
if they at least temporarily relieve the problem and can rule out a milk allergy? I read somewhere that a true allergy isn't common but sensitivity may be the cause. My LO was acting similarly weeks ago so we switched to Gentlease and then settled on Similac Sensitive. That solved the issue for us and everyone is happier. There's really no harm in trying as long as you don't switch every few days repeatedly. 

Merinmac

Gripe water, gas drops and probiotics haven't made a noticeable difference, unfortunately. I don't think it is a serious allergy, hopefully just a sensitivity like you say. It's just gotten so bad in the past week! She's such a happy smiley baby normally, it's obvious when something really isn't right with her.

TXmamatobe

Call your doctor. We had this happening and we switched to Gerber Soothe and it has been a total turnaround. I wish I would have asked the doctor sooner! 

kwrightnb

My little one has a milk protein allergy and always had bad gas but also extreme vomitted. I second the gripe or gas drops and also do the bicycle exercises to help pass all that gas ! Is your lo going number two fine ?? When my little guy hasn't gone he's very gassy too. The soy made him really backed up so he's taking 3 ounces of prune juice daily as per the dr. There is plenty of formula that is still milk based that is meant for gassy babies ! And Walmart takes any formula back that has been used but didn't work for you lo. 

dshannah

@merinmac Any improvement? my LO has had a similar regression: always happy, but now miserable because of gas all of a sudden at 9 weeks. It only really seems to bother him at night; every 2 hours gas wakes him up!

Merinmac

We did switch to soy a week ago to see if it helped. At first it did, the gas seemed to go away almost completely. Her poops did get a lot more solid, not exactly constipated, it just started taking a lot of red-faced grunting to get them out. Now, though, some of the gas has come back. It's not anywhere near as bad as before, thankfully! I'm going to wait at least another week or so before I decide whether to keep her on soy or try some other gentle formula. The heavier poops do concern me a little.

I sympathize with the night wakings!! That's the worst part, when they're awake when they don't want to be and there's nothing you can do. I would say it wouldn't hurt to try a different formula, as long as you don't start changing every few days. My main reason for going straight to soy was that I had the same allergy as a baby and I already know she has my strawberry allergy, so it was a safe bet she has the milk one too.

okcountrygirl

LO is Breastmilk and formula fed and he was having tummy issues too so I've been doing every other feeding with the Walmart brand parents choice sensitive formula and he's doing much better!