Fussing and Crying

Recently, I attended a professional conference addressing gastro-esophageal reflux in infants. I must say that the discussion brought back the passion (and empathy) I feel for the issue of excessive fussing and crying in infants. During the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, I was privileged to work with Dr Anthony Kulczycki of The Washington University School of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Immunology. Together, we explored the role of a certain cow milk protein in the incidence of infantile colic. We studied breast-fed and formula-fed infants alike. I became fairly skilled at assessing and managing excessive fussing and crying in the breast-fed infant.

I bring this topic to the table, because when a breastfeeding baby is ‘colicky,’ the practice of continued breastfeeding is placed at great risk. Most mothers jump to the conclusion that their baby is either hungry or ‘allergic’ to something they are eating. Some mothers discontinue their efforts to breastfeed in favor of formula feeding, which usually doesn’t help. In fact, formula feeding may worsen the symptoms. Other mothers starve themselves in an effort to avoid every food that has ever been implicated in producing gas or fussiness in babies. This usually doesn’t work either.

A baby’s excessive and sustained fussing and crying cannot be taken lightly. This can cause serious upheaval in any household. Breastfeeding may not seem to work. Parents are exhausted. Babies are at risk of being shaken (yes, even the best of parents can snap under these conditions). And, a mother’s gift for nurturing and protecting her baby is crushed by feelings of worthlessness and frustration.

If you have a baby that is fussing and crying to the point of concern, please don’t try to treat this yourself. Get help. Pick up the phone and call us. Here at MoBap, our team of lactation specialists is fully equipped to assist you in a systematic evaluation of the situation. We are genuinely happy to help, and you can always call me on the phone for another opinion! Whatever you do…don’t stop breastfeeding without first seeking help!!!

Baby Slings

In the news, throughout the last few days, there has been a lot of discussion about the safety of infant carrier slings. Since many breastfeeding mothers choose to wear their babies, I thought this might be a good topic of discussion.

Baby wearing is customary in many cultures around the world. Wraps, ties, slings and front packs are just a few examples of baby-wearing attire. These allow for comfortable, hands-free infant or baby carrying. Carriers are often worn therapeutically as well. I wore my colicky (refluxing) baby upright for the first three months of her life. It was the only way I could keep her comfortable and get anything done around the house! 

So, wraps and slings may be helpful, but are they safe? The key to safety is proper positioning. Very young infants and those born days or weeks earlier than their due date, are at a significantly greater risk of suffocation when their bodies are slumped over excessively, with their chins pressed against their chests. The issue here is airway constriction. This can occur in car seats as well as infant carriers. That’s why our pre-term babies receive car seat checks before they are discharged. 

Regardless of carrier type, an infant should have freedom to extend his neck and head. Bag-like slings do not allow for easy head extension. Upright carriers can be both easy and safe, but often need to be removed for breastfeeding. Oblong fabric wraps are designed for multiple positions, allowing most babies to ride safely (when positioned properly) and are great for discrete breastfeeding in public. Babies have been worn for thousands of years. It would be unfortunate if parents altogether stopped wearing their babies. So let’s learn to do it safely! I am thankful that the government and media have called attention to this problem. In fact, KMOV-TV did an interview with one of our pediatricians, Dr. Kelly Ross, who happens to be a good friend. In the interview, she explains more about the issue. Here’s the link if you are interested.