Worst day so far... - QUESTION RE: NURSING/TEETHING?

ashtonsmama wrote: Long story short:
Ashton slept just fine until 3:30 AM this morning, when he woke up screaming and crying (mind you, he's a very easy baby, never is like that at all)...I tried nursing, I tried walking, I tried the swing, I tried TV/music, Ryan even put him in the stroller and tried walking him outside this morning in his PJs at 6 AM. Nothing is working. He dozed on and off for a little bit, but was really fussy and obviously not happy at all...I finally got up and kept trying to nurse him, he keeps turning away like he doesn't want to, but I know he must be starving, he hasn't eaten since about 1 AM this morning...I know something is wrong, but I can't figure out what. Could this be teething? He's about 3 months almost, and he hasn't shown any signs of teething yet, but I know that sometimes babies refuse to eat because their gums are so tender and painful...could that be it? I'm just at a loss here, I've tried literally EVERYTHING I can think of, but the only thing that I can think of that might be bothering him is his mouth...could it maybe be thrush?!?

I checked everything, from changing his PJs, making sure there weren't any tags poking him that could be hurting him, putting him in different positions, I even tried doing some baby massage, which made him cry more...I started crying myself this morning, because he's always so easy to calm down, and he always wants to eat at least, and nursing is always soothing to him it seems, now he won't even do that...what should I do???

I've had to pump a little this morning already because I'm getting so sore and engorged from him not eating...I feel like I'm going to pop. He went back to sleep at about 10:15, my guess is he'll be so exhausted he'll sleep until 1 or so at least...he only slept about 5 1/2 hours last night, and that is WAY too little sleep for him, I know that much.
What am I doing wrong here? Should I be calling the doctor yet or no? Any ideas on what might be upsetting him so much? I really have tried it all, and nothing is helping him or comforting him, he's been acting like a totally different baby...I'm at my wits end here...

I guess I'll just let him sleep until he wakes up, I've been in to check on him a few times, he looks fine, so hopefully he'll be ok when he wakes up? I'm thinking that if he starts flipping out again and won't eat, I'll probably call his doctor and see what he thinks...does that sound reasonable or is there something else I should be doing in the meantime?

Sorry to vent, I'm definitely exhausted and stressed today.

jem0622 replied: Sounds more like thrush. Even with nursing they will eat when teething.

Get some Gentian Violet. Paint your nipples with it and dip a swab in it and have him suck the stuff off. You'll both be very purple, but this stuff works! Use it for 4-7 days straight and then take a break to see if you get the all clear.

Huggies wipes w/aloe can take a lot of the staining off of skin, or vaseline. Do not wear any clothes you care about. Or him either!

ashtonsmama replied: Thank you so much, Julie! I'll go get some of that immediately and start trying it...would you say it might be at Whole Foods or some place like that? Is it a natural remedy or something? Thank you SO much for the help...I'll keep you all posted and see what happens, I'm hoping he'll be up soon and will nurse this time...I know he needs to eat.
Thanks again.

amynicole21 replied: He may also have an ear infection. I would actually try to get him in to the ped if you can just to check. Nora won't eat when her ears are bothering her. Poor baby

C&K*s Mommie replied: I have zero advice. BUT I want to offer hugs, and vibes that he will feel better soon.

The Genetian Violet that Julie mentioned sounds like a great idea. I have never heard of it, but I will be sure to reccommend it anyone I know that may suspect thrush in their child as well. Good advice Julie!

CAMSMOM1 replied: Does he have a fever? Is he pulling at his ears? Is he more fussy when he is laying down, then sitting up? How are his bowel movements? Is his stomach hard, is he passing gas, or gassy? Are you to engorged that he can't latch on?

Trying to figure this out for ya.

ashtonsmama replied: Thanks Amy and Nicole...I'm probably going to call his ped anyways, and I'd rather be safe than sorry if he does have an ear infection or something...thanks...
I'll see if they can get him in today or tomorrow, I hope it's sooner rather than later...for his sake and mine.
Hopefully they can help.

KingMom replied:
I have to agree, could be an ear infection. Colin did this around 5 months and I took him and had no idea what was wrong. Clearly that doctor said it was an ear infection, we had to give him antibiotics but within a day or so, he was fine. They also had us give him Tylenol for the pain which helped.

Good luck!

ashtonsmama replied:
Ann-
He doesn't feel hot, no more warm than normal, not pulling at his ears, but he does seem a little more fussy laying down then sitting up, but that could just be because he doesn't like to be layed down...

And he hasn't had a poop since yesterday afternoon, he usually poops after every feeding, and it's just the normal BF poop, kind of seedy and mustard colored...sorry, TMI there...he's not passing gas, not that I've noticed at all, he isn't normally too gassy either, and I actually pumped before I tried to get him to latch on this morning a couple times, so that I wouldn't be too engorged for him to latch on...so I'm pretty sure he could if he wanted to, KWIM?

ashtonsmama replied:
OK-thank you, I'm definitely open to anything right now, I just want to figure out what's up with him...he's definitely not comfortable like usual...

CAMSMOM1 replied: Here's what I found for you on Thrush: (from the Mayoclinic)

Oral thrush
Oral thrush usually produces creamy white lesions on your tongue and inner cheeks and sometimes on the roof of your mouth, gums and tonsils. The lesions, which resemble cottage cheese, can be painful and may bleed slightly when rubbed or scraped. Although signs and symptoms often develop suddenly, they may persist for a long period of time.

In severe cases, the lesions may spread downward into your esophagus — the long, muscular tube stretching from the back of your mouth to your stomach (Candida esophagitis). Signs and symptoms of Candida esophagitis may include:

Pain or difficulty swallowing
A sensation of food sticking in your throat or the middle of your chest
Possible fever if the infection spreads beyond your esophagus

Symptoms in infants and breast-feeding mothers
Healthy newborns with oral thrush usually develop symptoms during the first few weeks of life. In addition to the distinctive white mouth lesions, infants may have trouble feeding or be fussy and irritable. They can also pass the infection to their mothers during breast-feeding. Women whose breasts are infected with Candida may experience the following signs and symptoms:

Unusually red or sensitive nipples
Taut, shiny skin on the areola
Unusual pain during nursing or painful nipples between feedings
Stabbing pains deep within the breast



Treating oral thrush in infants and nursing mothers
If you're breast-feeding an infant who has oral thrush, you and your baby will do best if you're both treated. Otherwise, you're likely to pass the infection back and forth. Your doctor may prescribe a mild antifungal medication for your baby and an antifungal cream for your breasts. If your baby uses a pacifier or feeds from a bottle, wash and rinse nipples and pacifiers every day until the thrush clears up.

ashtonsmama replied: Thank you so much Ann! I just read all of that, I don't really have any of the symptoms yet, but I do know what to look for now, thank you, I'll keep an eye out...and I'm about to call his ped and see when they can get us in...
Thank you so much for looking that up for me.

CAMSMOM1 replied: With that said, I don't think he has thrush, unless he has any of those symptoms I listed above. I just wanted to post that to give you some peace of mind.

ITA that it's probaby an ear infection. Cam has had a few, and when he gets them, he doesn't want to eat, sleep, play, or do anything....but be held. And when you lay them down, the pressure from the infection in the ears, is more painful. I also agree that you should give him some Tylenol, and call your doctor. Sometimes, but not all the time, they have a fever with an ear infection. But it's worth going to the doctors' to check out. Cam's first sign of an ear infection is irritablity and not eating. HTH.

CAMSMOM1 replied:

No problem. I just feel for ya sweetie. I've been there, and I know how difficult it is, seeing your baby so unhappy & not eating. Cam was always a good baby too, never really cried. but when he didn't want to eat or play, I knew something was up...usually an ear infection. I hope he gets better soon, I'm glad he's resting. Let me know what happens at the doctor's.

jem0622 replied: ITA with the others. He would refuse to nurse b/c of the ears too. Just be careful b/c thrush can be a side affect from the antibiotics!

ashtonsmama replied:
Thank you ladies...I did call the ped and he said to give him a small dose of Tylenol when he wakes up, and see how he is then...and come in tomorrow or he'll try to fit us in today if Ashton's still really fussy when he gets up...I'm betting on ear infection also, sounds like (from his symptoms) that that's what's going on...
I'll keep you all posted.

And Julie-
I've always tried to take...ack, my brain just went blank...OH! Got it-acidophilus, whenever I'm on antibiotics for anything, and I try to take it all the time, even when I'm not on anything, it's really good for you, but I have no idea if they make it for babies, I doubt it, but that might be worth checking out if he needs to go on anything...thanks so much. I'm going to see how he does after waking up, he should be up soon, and try to feed him, then head off to the store to pick up that Gentian Violet you were suggesting, I think I may get it just in case...