Colic or just reflux?

[Littlelady33]

DS is just over two weeks old and has pretty much given up on night time sleeping. Can't stand to be put into basket and screams until held (when I've checked that he's changed and fed etc). OH does not help with evening/night/early morning feeds so I'm feeling exhausted and

[Littlelady33]

Sorry posted too soon! And wondering if the crying could be colic or just reflux? Any suggestions welcome I'm starting to lose my sanity slightly....

[dairyfreequeen]

it could be reflux, does he seem equally upset if you lie him flat in your arms? Reflux can be very painful, if you think its that speak to your hv or gp (they might give you some gaviscon)and also hold him upright for a wee while after a feed to let it all settle. Colic is defined as regular, prolonged unexplained crying so doesnt really tell you wants wrong. OTOH he is brand new and he might just want to be close to you!! hth, it is awful when it seems like theyre in pain and youre trying to figure out what to do.

[dairyfreequeen]

also if you are getting no sleep you need to get your oh on board. At that stage DH would change him(allergy baby, required a LOT of changing!) i would feed him and one of us would hold him upright for 20mins then get him into bed. When he didnt need so many feeds we did shifts, my dh leaves for work at 6.30 so hed be up with the baby from 4, so i could catch a couple of hours. Its a hard but very short time, i promise!

[CurlsLDN]

Oh op that sounds really tough.
As pp said, really it's the other way round - reflux or just colic.
Colic simply describes prolonged unexplained crying and doesn't really have any useful cure.
Reflux is a (common) medical condition where the valve that keeps acid and milk down in the tummy isn't fully mature. There are treatments for this, from infant gaviscon to prescription medication.
Apologies if you know all that, it's just I remember clinging to the 'diagnosis' of colic when my ds was a similar age, when in fact he had reflux and with medical help we were able to actually help him.

May I ask why dh doesn't help with all those things?

[Littlelady33]

Thanks both that's really helpful. Tbh I couldn't say that the crying is prolonged enough to quote meet the description of colic just yet - but I do have trouble winding him after a feed - our health visitor is great so I'll raise it with her rather than suffer in silence! Your OH sounds very supportive - I guess from our side it seemed logical that if take the nights as OH works and I have mat leave but it is difficult. It's the 9pm - 7am shift when the baby is really difficult - during the day he's an angel!

[TiesThatBind]

Sympathies. I have a five week old (two weeks adjusted) who doesn't sleep much at night and a DH who doesn't help overnight.

I think my LO has mild reflux. Putting a wedge under the Moses basket mattress helped us, and holding upright after feeds. Plus accepting that sometimes we will co sleep because he just needs to be close.

I have also cut out dairy and wheat from my diet. I think that has helped him a little but might just be a placebo effect...