Rachel is now 4 months old and is still being bottle fed. She has 2 aptamil feeds and 2 high calorie infatrini feeds per day. She only has a dirty nappy once a day but this is all she ever has done.

For the past 2 weeks we have had real problems feeding her. She takes half of her feed then stops and screams until you lay her on her back. If you leave her laid on her back she will take more feed, if you sit her up she screams. We have tried to get her to bring up any wind she may have, used gripe water (this tends to be the end of the feed because she will not take any more after this).

It is almost like she has got tummy ache or constipation or something. This screaming also happens between feeds and again tends to stop when she is laid down. We do not know what to do...... we are going to speak to the health visitor tomorrow but I am not expecting her to have a magic cure, she saw Rachel at mum and baby group today and had no suggestions.

Any advice would be very much appreciated.

Does she lift her knees up and go bright red in the face??
My baby had the same problem around 4 months and it turned out to be colic, the health visitor gave me some infacol and he was loads better within a few days.
Hope she gets better very soon xx

really do try infacol. sounds exactly how my little boy was and i thought he was constipated as he only goes every other day. but its worked. and you have to do it before every feed as it get s better the longer you use it. i only tried it as a last resort as nothing else had worked, i didnt think it was wind as he did used to do pretty big burps, but obvioiusly there was still some trapped somewhwere.

I was thinking about this last night, is it possible due to her heart condition that when her stomach gets full it puts pressure on her heart or it just makes her uncomfortable hence why changing position to laying flat seems to help.

I have no basis for this guess just thinking out load. Good luck at the HV today.

Thank you for all of the replies, I have a feeling Annie that you may be right. Last night we tried having her on her back for the whole feed, she took it all. No screaming, nothing. She brought her wind up and did not scream afterwards. I am worried that her heart is not coping with the murmur as well as we thought, she lost half an ounce this week even though she is on extra hungry aptamil milk and a high calorie milk.

I have called the consultant cardiologist for some help, just waiting for them to get back to me but I have a feeling that the operation may have to be done sooner rather than later.

Wish us luck, I think we might need it !!

I feel so bad for her, must be a lot for her to go through. In regards to her losing weight, have they not suggested she move to the high cal stuff full time for the moment? until shes putting it on regularly?

She's such a sweetie pie as well, she seems so good natured it's a shame she's having to go through this when she's so little.

Just keep on at the Dr's they'll get so sick of you they'll sort it out sooner rather than later!

Keep us updated xxx

I have called the consultant and told him what is happening, he has said that he is not worried about her weight loss (?) and he does not think that the screaming is anything to do with her heart.

I have an appointment to see the GP tomorrow. Health visitor has spoken to the dietician who has advised us to up her infatrini feeds to either 3 or 4 a day and only weigh her every fortnight instead of every week.

I am still a little unsure but will trust what these professionals say for now. I am going to keep a close eye on everything though and will be phoning them again if I am not happy.

Thanks to all for the replies, I really do appreciate the support.

Trust them but never lose trust in yourself either!
Babies tend to do miraculous things in terms of overcoming obstacles, they have no comprehension of negativity so they just get on with it, have faith in your daughter too :)
Looking forward to seeing you soon:)