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Grunting and Red Faced

by Jennifer
(Knoxville TN)

Rylan my son, 4 weeks old, grunts, and strains what feels like 24/7. The only time he seems ok is on his stomach, and during feedings, and sometimes he does it during feedings. He is breastfeed, and he has no problem with using the rest room.

The doctor told me to try formula, to see if he might have an allergy to what I maybe eating, caffeine, chocolate, etc. However, I don't feel that is the problem, we have done the formula for a week, and his face looks bad, like broken out, he now only has two movements, bad, like up the back, in his diapers twice a day. Verses the breastfed moments of many a day. I made the decision to go back to breast milk.

Guess my question is, why is he grunting, pushing, just uncomfortable, and still having good bowel movements? He was born 5 weeks early, and I am a diabetic mother of 15 years, the only problem he had was keeping his bloodsugar up, and the NICU had him for a week, and he came home.

He was 6lbs 14oz at 34 1/2 weeks, so he wasn't a tiny baby. Ha Ha, please just some advice on how to get through this. Thanks for your time.. Jennifer

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Grunting and Red Faced

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Jul 20, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		Perhaps Normal?
by: Heather ;-)

Jennifer,

I'm assuming that the skin beak outs have ceased since you've gone back to breastmilk?

Have his bowel movements adjusted as well to a more normal rhythm and appearance?

So this would mean that you're back to the grunting and red-faced straining as your primary symptom? Does your doctor seem concerned about this?

It could be that he's experimenting with his body by making sounds, etc. If you're really concerned, you could seek a second doctor's opinion.

Since this seems a little out of my league, I've sent your question on to my "medical panel". I'll let you know with another post when I hear back from them.

Heather
Jul 30, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		Update
by: Jennifer

His bowel movements are back to normal, and his face I can't really tell at the moment. I read that sometimes infants have a hard time figuring out where to "push" like he doesn't know where to put pressure in his bottom to pass gas, etc.

I am planning on taking him to the doctor again. Different doctor, part of me feels like he is ok because he doesn't cry like he is in pain. He does this pushing and grunting way too much. He pushes so hard he turns red in the face. ALL the time. Thanks for you comments, and look forward to hearing more. I think I will get a second look from another doctor.
Jul 30, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		Doctors Weigh in
by: Heather ;-)

Jennifer,

The first doctor I spoke with confirmed my suspicions, that your baby is most likely just "integrating his central nervous, pulmonary (breathing) and gastrointestinal (defecation) systems, and this should resolve when all switches are in sync."

A second doctor confirmed that suspicion, that "the child is in process of developing healthy system integration." The two gave their advice separately of one another.

I'd watch for a few more weeks. If you feel it hasn't improved by around 8 weeks, another appointment may be a good idea.

much care,
Heather
May 05, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		Me too
by: Anonymous

Hello,

My baby girl is almost a year old and she strains and grunts whenever she is seated - either during feeds/highchair or in her car seat. Her arms are totally flexed and she sometimes sweats!

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