To think there's something not quite right with my baby

[ButteryJam]

HV, GP and DH all make me feel like I'm an over worrying hypochondriac mother

My LO has been very very fussy right from the very start, very alert and a little bit colicky (but definitely not colic). Now she is 13 weeks and has the following:

• episodes of screaming in pain for up to two hours, and won't settle unless I give her calpol. This occurs in the morning too. But it's all very unpredictable
• excessive (sometimes up to 50) hiccups at least twice a day
• refuses feeding (even if feed time) when in the state of crying
• tends to only feed when either asleep or very sleepy
• naps are so short, sometimes just 10-20 min, and a very very sensitive sleeper (I have to keep the house phone off and literally tiptoe around her)
• has had a sniffly nose, watery eyes almost constantly
• coughing during feeds or after
• and just generally not very happy, though does have some very happy smiley moments too

I'm a first time mum, so please tell me, is this all completely normal? HV told me earlier on in the week to stop looking for what may be wrong but just accept I am very unlucky to have this type of a baby.

(Tongue and lip tie were removed around 10 weeks so its not that).

[IneedAsockamnesty]

It does sound a little bit odd but are you giving her calpol every single day? And how many doses?

You could be contributing to the problem by regular frequent paracetamol doses

[Cuddlydragon]

Have you considered that it might be silent reflux? There are some helpful threads on here in parenting by others with similar experiences.

[OHforDUCKScake]

Sounds like every symptom of silent reflux.

Very uncomfortable. Poor baby.

Is she bf or ff?

[JustPondering]

Sounds like reflux to me, my DS2 and 3 were the same. They also always wanted to be held upright. DS2 was sick a lot but DS3 wasn't sick very much at all, just in pain.

[OHforDUCKScake]

Also, it could well be tongue and/or lip tie. They are notorious for reconnecting and often need doing more than once.

[buss]

Is she breast or bottle fed?
my ds2 was very windy. I used to use disposable bottles as they didn't give him wind. I also carried him about in a sling a lot as that helped him to bring his wind up.

[Cuddlydragon]

Sorry cut off before finishing. Some health professionals are not well educated about it. We had weeks of misery til a new Hv mentioned it to us and its now under control with no symptoms but we had to battle to get to the right consultant. Good luck.

[ButteryJam]

She is BF. I have also cut dairy since two weeks but can't see a difference.

I only give calpol when I have completely exhausted every other avenue, and this usually ends up after at least an hour of crying/consoling

[ButteryJam]

Coconutty, I am fine, thanks. Though it is getting harder as I really thought she would settle by 3 months.

[mrslyman]

I'm no expert but DS2 used to cough loads after feeds and he was diagnosed with silent reflux. www.silentinfantreflux.com/silent-infant-reflux/

This link outlines the symptoms, does this sound like your baby?

[JacqueslePeacock]

Silent reflux? Could be allergy related... Have you thought about possible cows' milk protein intolerance? Is she breast or bottle fed?

[JacqueslePeacock]

Oh cross posts, sorry! My baby was allergic to both dairy and soy (the proteins are similar and it's quite common). Could be worth a try. It transformed my unhappy DS in 48 hours.

[dreamingofsun]

if both the HV and GP are agreeing that baby is OK then i would think they are correct. if it was only one of them i would suggest getting a second opinion to put your mind at rest.

has she got wind? are you winding her properly after feeding? Do babies have a proper feed time now - i used to just feed mine when they cried - and with the 3rd one when i had five mins free.

do you think the feeding is making the baby sleepy? this is pretty usual - i used to feed mine to get them to sleep.

i thought that babies didn't smile properly for a while.

is there somewhere you can meet other new mums? chat over whats happening, make friends, find you are not alone. you sound a bit isolated? ask your health visitor about coffee mornings?

[JacqueslePeacock]

Also, are you sure you're cutting out all hidden dairy? It's in bloody everything.

[LynetteScavo]

just accept I am very unlucky to have this type of a baby.

WTF?

Your baby deserves better than that. You sound like a great mum, you really wants to get to the bottom of what is bothering your DD.

Sorry, I personally don't know what to suggest, but it does sound like something's not right. Keep plugging away until you get an answer.

[MagicHouse]

You are describing my dd when she was little, almost exactly. I had hv's etc telling me it was "normal". She had "silent reflux", which is basically acid reflux. (The silent bit means they are not sick with it - so it's often not diagnosed, or else described as "normal" colic) Symptoms include hiccups, coughing, refusing feeds (because they learn feeding is associated with pain), short naps (as the reflux pain wakes them).

My doctor diagnosed reflux when my dd was about 3 months. (By which time I was a complete wreck - I had loads of people by that point telling me it was normal/ leave her to cry.... as well as lots saying it didn't seem right. I was getting virtually no sleep.

She had infant gaviscon (needs to be prescribed). You can add to a bottle if bottle fed, or feed with a syringe after a breastfeed. The first night she had it, she slept for FIVE HOURS!!!!!!! Unheard of - by that stage she was sleeping in less than hour chunks at night, and about 30 mins max during the day! She also needed ranitidine in the end - you have to work hard to get the dosage right of all the reflux meds. She was never a great sleeper to be honest. She's 7 now though, and no problems.

I would go back to your doctor armed with some info about silent reflux and ask to try infant gaviscon.

[meddie]

Gp's will just look at the overall picture. Is she gaining weight?

Do the episodes of screaming in pain come in waves. so during those two hours she settles briefly then screams then it seems to ease for short periods? then screams again?

That could be either colic or reflux. but with the coughing I would think more likely reflux.

[Bonsoir]

You must insist on a referral to a consultant pediatrician. You can pay for this if you want to speed things up.

[Forgossake]

I have 4 Dc's and this all sounds fairly common for a baby of this age. Some babies are easier than others but lots go through a stage like this and it really does pass.

Have you tried much for colic and reflux problems? There are some really good products available and some great tips online to help you through this stage. It can be relentless though. I do feel for you but you are really not alone. Have some and go easy on yourself.

[ButteryJam]

mrslyman, thanks for the link! She has some of those symptoms but not all. I feel embarrassed to take her to the GP again ...

Oh why oh why do they make you feel like you are paranoid or have PND!

[stargirl1701]

DD was exactly the same. It was silent reflux. Until we got the meds sorted, the paediatrician said we could have 2 full nights of Calpol - correct dose given every 4 hours for 12 hours. This did enable us to get some sleep.

You need to video an episode on your phone and show it to the GP. It may take perseverance though. I saw 6 different GPs in 8 days in order to get a paediatric referral.

Hang in there. Reflux is hell for everyone. Get the meds sorted. Try Gaviscon (it won't work) for a week, go back and ask for Ranitidine (it may work but bear in mind there are 3 dosing levels), then you can discuss omperazole.

Do you have a sling? A sleeping wedge? Have you tried co-sleeping?

[muchadoaboutsomething]

I also think it sounds like silent reflux. It sounds just like my ds. Good luck with getting more answers and help.

[ButteryJam]

She is gaining weight, and yes I have completely cut dairy.

She will only go quiet momentarily in the crying episodes if she is distracted (some times ill play a short video clip with a song etc)

[Delayingtactic]

Request a different GP. I must I too read your OP and immediately thought silent reflux.