Desperate for help with 6 week old :(

[yellowrose2728]

I have had two DS that were no problems in regards to sleep (although it was over 10 years ago eek!!) DD was born 6 weeks ago and I think the poor mite is suffering with colic . I may be wrong, and if anyone has experienced anything similar I am open to other possibilities.

so a typical 24 hours goes like this....

6:30am - wakes and has 3-4oz

8:00am - screams until she is fed but will only take an oz or two.

11:00am - wakes normally but wants feeding (hungry cry) will take 2-3oz.

will then sleep until approx 3pm (deep sleep)

6-7pm - wakes normally for a feed 3-4oz

this is.where it then goes bad

9pm - wakes screaming for a feed - 3-4oz.

10:30 - no sleep but will scream again for more food (I have even tried offering water to no avail) 2-3oz

I then sit with her while she screams for food, but wont take more than an ounce until 3am

Finally, out of exhaustion she falls asleep until 6:30 when the day starts again.

I have 2 DS and a DSD that still need to be taken to.school and have attention etc so as you can imagine I am starting to struggle (not that I would admit in RL)

Anyway, today I noticed that if I led her on her tummy to sleep (purely by chance) that she sleeps soundly for 3 hours at a time and seems less fractious. I've heard horror stories about doing this, but dont know what else to do. If anyone could offer experience/support etc I would be very grateful.

One very exhausted Mummy

[HauntedNoddyCar]

Could be reflux if she's happier on her front. Ds had it and couldn't sleep flat on his back. Try raising her cot so her head is higher than her feet.

Is she being sick a lot?
Presume because you mention oz that she's formula fed. Does her poo look ok?

Also try keeping her upright after feeds to let the milk go down for half an hour.

Ds did need to sleep on his front so we got a breathing monitor for him which meant we could relax about it!

[noblegiraffe]

Have you tried a dummy?

Do you think she has wind? Is she pulling her legs up when she screams? If so, have you tried Infacol or colief?

Does she not like being laid on her back? Is reflux a possibility?

I'd speak to a health professional about other options before tummy sleeping, because of it being a major risk factor for SIDS.

[Pitapotamus]

I had similar problems to this with my ds1 - he routinely screamed the hardest between 6pm and 4am, but he was difficult the rest of the time too! Ds2 has been perfect. It sounds to me like overtiredness. I found my ds1 would get over tired very easily and if overtired would be impossible to settle on his back. He'd only sleep in the sling or on his tummy but I didn't allow tummy sleeping for obvious reason. Could you settle her on her tummy and then turn her over after she's dropped off? I hope you sort it out and get some sleep soon.

[evelynj]

People think its woo but try a good cranial osteopath - worked wonders for my dd-good luck and 'it will pass!'

[yellowrose2728]

Will try to answer all questions but am on phone so apologies if I miss any

Yes, she does have a dummy.

She sporadically pulls her legs up, and for this reason I think it may be colic.

I've tried raising the mattress head end and still no results.

I have a breathing/sensor monitor already (thank you anxiety!) so IF I did put her to sleep I wouldnt have to watch constantly iyswim.

I am currently pacing with her, having, unsuccessfully trying to put her on her back I am so exhausted

[mymiraclebubba]

She may just not like sleeping on her back if you don't have the same issues when she slept on her front. My dd now 7 months refused to sleep on her back from about the same age as your dd. She slept on her side a bit but mostly on her tummy.

If you suspect colic then try giving her infacol before every feed and see if it eases - worked wonders when dd had a bit of colic at 4 weeks

[throwinshapes]

Yy to Evelyn and craniopathy. It works!

[HarderToKidnap]

Breathing monitors don't prevent SIDS. The risk of putting her on her front to sleep remains the same whether you have a monitor or not.

It sounds awful and I really hope things get better soon. Have you had her checked for tongue tie? This can cause discomfort and fractiousness even if it doesn't affect feeding. Maybe a session with a cranial osteopath could help?

[yellowrose2728]

She was checked for tongue tie at a week old because she 'clicked' when feeding...all ok though.

She has been having infacol for the past two weeks which hasn't really done anything noticeable.

I've put her to sleep on her side as a compromise. Maybe in the day (when I can fully check on her) I will allow her main nap on her tummy so at least one of us gets some sleep

I am also aware that the breathing monitor (nor any other machinery)) is able to prevent SIDS, however, the mattress is firm so she wouldn't 'sink' into it, coupled with the fact that she has control of her head/neck already, surely the risk is minimum?

[yellowrose2728]

Is craineopathy for colic only, or would it work also for a stubborn little girl who doesn't want to sleep between 9pm and 3am?

[nannynome]

We had a similar problem and although it won't be a popular choice on here, we chose to sleep our DS on his tummy. It made him happier and having weighed up all the risks, realised that we don't have any other risk factors and that much as SIDS is a horrific thing for a family to endure, when you look at the actual percentages it affects less than 1% of babies in the UK.

We made a choice based on what was right for us. You can get breathing monitors to add to the safety levels too. Nothing else was working for us, we had tried colic remedies, baby gaviscon, comfort formula (he is mix fed), spoke to the doctor and HV and eventually caved, spent days and nights watching him sleep in paranoia and now it is much better. Hope you find your answer.

[Whatfun]

I was going to say cranial osteopath. My DS2 wouldn't stop screaming from about 4.30 to midnight. At 5 weeks old I had had enough. Cranial osteopath looked to be stroking the back of his head for a few minutes. Son stopped screaming straightaway and didn't do the evening scream again. It was a miracle.

[GiraffesAndButterflies]

We had a similar problem and although it won't be a popular choice on here, we chose to sleep our DS on his tummy. It made him happier and having weighed up all the risks, realised that we don't have any other risk factors and that much as SIDS is a horrific thing for a family to endure, when you look at the actual percentages it affects less than 1% of babies in the UK.

This. I started putting DD on her tummy at (I think) about 6 or 7 months old, I wish I'd started sooner as it made so much difference.

I'd also suggest winding her really really really thoroughly. Burp her and burp her and when you think she's done, burp her some more!

Good luck

[Stubbed]

Sounds like reflux (silent reflux). I would take the baby to the GP. We did and the meds made a massive difference. Very much worth it.

[yellowrose2728]

Ok, so have tried gp, who has prescribed infant gaviscon, to no avail

I have been sat rocking a screaming baby for two and a half hours and am at the end of my tether

Why am I struggling so much with this??

[Dinnerdinnerdinnerbatman]

Have you tried Colief? It really worked for us (infacol did nothing). Good luck.

[ArtFine]

Look into silent reflux. Also stop infacol and maybe try gripe water instead. The boots one worked well for my LO. Apparently the orange flavour in infacol makes the reflux worse.

[GoshAnneGorilla]

It is just a matter of trying different things and it will pass.

So here are some suggestions and I apologise if you've tried them already.

Have you tried using one of the anti-colic, or anti-reflux formulas.

Does she sleep well in the pram/pushchair? If so, taking her out for a big long walk so she can get a chunk of good sleep may help.

I will be honest and say if I had a child that was so unsettled, but settled well on her tummy, I would let her sleep on her tummy.

Definitely go and see your GP if Gaviscon isn't working.

It will pass and every day this passes brings you closer to this.

[givemeaclue]

Sounds like reflux

[GoshAnneGorilla]

Most importantly, have you got someone to talk to, or better still to give you a break? Anything that can help you get through the day helps as IMO, there's nothing lonelier then being up with a baby you can't comfort.

[BaileysOnRocks]

My DD was like this but she also had terrible wind (bottom end) and constant had tummy ache, she was clearly in pain.
Doctor put her on lactose free formula and it changed her overnight. She isn't lactose intolerant anymore, grew out of it around 9 months and is just about to go on cows milk. I wet to the Doctor about 8 times before I was taken seriously!

[Nosleeptillbedtime]

You could always try putting her on her side to sleep if you are nervous about her being on her front. Did not help ds's reflux though tbh.

[Nosleeptillbedtime]

Oops sorry, see you have tried that.

[naty1]

I think a lot of reflux is caused by allergies.
Gaviscon can cause constipation.
Baby swing?
Have you tried swaddling?

[givemeaclue]

Speak to gp about reflux. Ask for ranitidine. Try coilef.
Understand that it is norml for 6 week olds to stay awake 9pm- 3 am, they are not "stubborn" they do not yet have a proper sleep cycle.
But get help for poss reflux, speak to gp, hv ask for paediatric referral if neck.
Good luck, it is a killer but it does end eventually!