Newborn gas and pumping breast milk

[HeatherLF16]

Hi Everyone,
My little boy is 1 week old today and I am having a terrible time at night because he gets gas, and what looks like painful hiccups.  It takes a long time to sooth him and I am not getting much sleep.  Any one know of any tricks that are not in the text books?  I am also breastfeeding so it is impossible to sleep when he sleeps on the 2 hour schedule because it takes so long to calm him.  He has no problems during the day.
Also, I cannot find any help on how/when to start pumping my milk and if I do start now (I have an electric occasional use pump because I am staying home at least 6 months from work) when do I pump and for how long?  Nurses at the hospital were against pumping for the first month so they were not much help.  But, it's my baby and I want to start storing for nights out for a little later down the line.  Any tips?

[trying43]

You may need to modify your diet.  If you eat too much dairy, spicy foods, or foods that cause gas for you, in 6-12 hours your baby will feel it.  Also increase water intake and cut the caffine.  I would try that because too much mylecon can constipate a newborn.  I breastfed both my kids(one for 10 1/2 months one for 14 months) and had to do all of the above and it made a huge difference and I rarely had to use gas meds at all.  I tried pumping but my kids refused to take a bottle so I cant help you on that issue, sorry.Hope this helps, good luck to you.

[Limonada]

I didn't know you'd had your baby either - congratulations!!!

I'd suggest some gripe water for the gas.  If all else fails, speak to your son's pediatrician.'

As for the pumping....I started at 2.5 weeks postpartum with my first son and 1 week postpatrum the second time around - the second time, I found that I was engorged that much sooner.....and my little guy was such a good sleeper that he was already going 5.6 hours at night right out of the gate.  One thing to keep in mind, though, is that you might want to see how your little guy takes to a bottle.  My now 6 month old was doing just fine taking a bedtime bottle from Daddy until he was about 9 weeks at which time he started rejecting them - and he still refuses to take one!  We're training him using a sippy cup and formula now (he doesn't like my expressed milk in the cup, go figure!).  So, if I'd pumped a large stockpile of my milk, it would have gone to waste.  My oldest son never had any problem taking a bottle and weaning him was a breeze, too.  You just never know!!

Good luck!!

[AHP84]

I'm not sure what Little Tummies is, but I'd guess that sounds similar to Mylecon. Mylecon is specifically labelled "infant gas relief." You can find it in the children's pharmaceutical section of a store, or sometimes in the baby section of a store.

[HeatherLF16]

Thanks for the advice :)  
I bought little tummies is that the same thing you are talking about?  I am going to try to start pumping tonight like you said just a little.

Ammanda thank you I did a journal on it... I haven't had anytime to talk or post one on one this little guy has me soo busy.  Hope you and your cute little Cole are doing great! =)

[ammanda]

I dont know much about pumping.. but OMG I didnt know u had ur baby!!!!  Congrats! tell me all about it, or is there a post I can read. Im so excited for u

[AHP84]

Have you tried the Mylecon drops? Those helped a little for my son's gas issues in his first month of life, and his gas was always worst at night when he'd try to sleep. The Mylecon didn't solve the issue, but it did soothe the problem so that he could sleep better.

I started pumping after five or six weeks post partum, I think. But I don't think it would be too big of a deal to begin pumping right now. I just would not recommend pumping to empty yourself out yet, because then you'll build up an excess milk supply and find yourself engorged more often than you'd like. If you want to begin pumping anytime soon, I'd recommend pumping only 1-3 ounces at a time from each breast. Start low, and begin building up. That way, you're not immediately pushing your body into thinking that it needs to produce much more than what your baby needs right now while you're home to feed him on demand. Otherwise, like I said, you'll be engorged and in pain until your supply goes back down after a few days, or you'll become a slave to the pump.

Good luck. :-)