Wind or 'cluster feeding'?

Question

My 7 week old breastfed baby cries in either pain or hunger every night between 7 & 9 after waking from a nap and having a feed. She's fine during the day. People have suggested that it's cluster feeding, others think it's wind. I wind her thoroughly, sometimes she burps, sometimes she doesn't. She's fine all day and sleeps well at night. If I offer her the boob she'll take it, making it hard to tell if she's hungry or not, she'll happily fill her belly, be sick, and start again. I'm hoping for some help, thanks.

Answer 1

It almost meets the criteria for colic, but not quite.  The criteria for colic is crying for 3 or more hours, 3 or more days per week, and being inconsolable.

However first I must say gripe water does NOT CONTAIN ALCOHOL.  It, like almost all children's medicines, did contain alcohol a decade or more ago.  But like all children's medications it does not contain alcoholic anymore.

There is NO evidence that "demand" feeding makes colic worse, or causes colic.  Suckling for comfort is healthy.

Colic in the Breastfed Baby

http://www.kellymom.com/newman/02colic_i...

COPING WITH COLIC

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/5/t051300...

My baby is fussy! Is something wrong?

http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/fus...

Cluster Feeding and Fussy Evenings

... My baby nurses and fusses all evening! What's wrong?

http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/fus...

http://www.kellymom.com/newman/14more_mo...

7. Babies who are breastfed on demand are likely to be "colicky".

Not true! "Colicky" breastfed babies often gain weight very quickly and sometimes are feeding frequently. However, many are colicky not because they are feeding frequently, but because they do not take the high fat milk as well as they should. Typically, the baby drinks very well for the first few minutes, then nibbles or sleeps. When the baby is offered the other side, he will drink well again for a short while and then nibble or sleep. The baby will fill up with relatively low fat milk and thus feed frequently. The taking in of mostly low fat milk may also result in gas, crying and explosive watery bowel movements. The mother can urge the baby to breastfeed longer on the first side, and thus get more high fat milk, by compressing the breast once the baby sucks but does not drink. (Handouts #3 Colic in the breastfed baby and #15 Breast Compression). See videos at www.thebirthden.com/Newman.html

Infantile Colic

http://www.aafp.org/afp/20040815/735.htm...

Infantile colic can be distressing to parents whose infant is inconsolable during crying episodes. Colic is often defined by the "rule of three": crying for more than three hours per day, for more than three days per week, and for longer than three weeks in an infant who is well-fed and otherwise healthy. The physician's role is to ensure that there is no organic cause for the crying, offer balanced advice on treatments, and provide support to the family. Colic is a diagnosis of exclusion that is made after performing a careful history and physical examination to rule out less common organic causes. Treatment is limited. Feeding changes usually are not advised. Medications available in the United States have not been proved effective in the treatment of colic, and most behavior interventions have not been proved to be more effective than placebo.

Answer 2

7 week old baby ,cries for a few hours every evening at relatively the same time...

sounds like colic.  (BTW, *The guidelines regarding colic have been revised- a baby no longer needs to cry inconsolably for THREE HOURS to be considered 'colicky'. It's a pattern, along with possibly episodes that last only moments throughout ther times of the day. That information is quite easy to obtain from up-to-date sources.  And you kn owwat? Even if she was 'just fussy'- forgetting that the 'pained' cry is the hallmark of colic, NOT the length of time-the following will work just as well. However, "fussy" babies don't scream in pain, They 'fuss'. Big difference, at least for those who are tuned in to their babies instead of to "Dr".  Sears or anyone else who tries to categorize the needs and behaviors of all babies into one tidy summary.)

Cycle her legs.

Put her in a carrier- colicky babies often prefer an upright position so try either a mei-tai style or a 'buddha' position in a sling (but you'll need to keep one hand nearby for that one).

Swaddle her *very* snuggly. Try swaddling her AND THEN putting her in the carrier, swaddled. (If you have the energy, now is the time to go for a walk :)  It's a charm for my own and worked for my second who had colic as well.

Chamomile tea- possibly with fennel added. Up to 1/2 cup per 'episode' of colic. Make it earlier in the day (in sterile water)- let it brew while covered in order to retain the therapeutic properties. It works. :)

Massage- massage her head to toes lightly, followed by focusing on her tummy in clockwise circles.

Do *not* use "gripe water". It's mass-produced and has alcohol in it as an additive.

>>>If I offer her the boob she'll take it, making it hard to tell if she's hungry

May be comfort sucking, which is fine-there is nothing wrong with comfort sucking- for MOST babies;  but there is some experience and research to show it may make matters worse for babies with colic.

Feed her, then offer her either a clean finger or, if you're not opposed, a pacifier. (You can always toss it at 4 months when colic usually ends). If she's fine with that, you'll know it's comfort sucking.

Answer 3

Sounds like the "baby witching hour" lol!  Most babies are cranky around this time.  My daughter goes through cycles where she is cranky at night for weeks but then happy at night for weeks - tends to follow along with her growth spurts - she's 4.5 months old.  All you can do is keep her fed, changed, winded and keep her from getting  overtired.