She just won't stop

[Trinaluce]

Hi there,
Wonder if you can help. Having a really hard day with DD. 7 weeks tomorrow and she just hasn't stopped crying all day. She doesn't want to sleep, she won't settle downstairs with us, feeding won't calm her, she won't take a dummy, she doesn't need changing, infacol isn't making any difference - is there anything I'm not thinking of or any tricks you know that might work?

[Leoness]

Poor you - have a cup of tea, relax
Sounds like wind to me

Get comfy on your bed
Try lying her on her right side with your left hand on her tummy and rub her back firmly and slowly in a clockwise direction.
Your left hand pressing gently on her tummy.

Good luck sending calming love to you x

[BoysAreLikeDogs]

Trina, firstly congratulations on the birth of your daughter.

It's been a long time since mine were babies - but I found that these helped :

Using a sling to cart the baby around on my chest

Swaddling worked on one of them (can't remember which one, how sad is that)

Gentle rocking to-and-fro in the carrycot fitted onto the pram base.

Walking around with the baby cuddled close ( I wore a path in the carpet)

Remember -this is a stage, it won't last forever. The tiredness is a killer, and you have my sympathy.

[Ecmo]

Oh I can sympathize I remember that.. Have you tried taking her for a ride in the car?

[controlfreakinfreaky]

have you checked whether she has a fever? any rash etc?

[Trinaluce]

Thank you all - but I've tried ALL of these! I wouldn't mind if she was running a temperature or something cos then at least I'd know she was just poorly and couldn't say 'mummy my (whatever) hurts'. But when I know she's FINE it's soul destroying

[Dottydot]

Awww - the crying is awful and you're knackered as well. It's a nightmare and I remember it well, even 4 years down the line.

Whatever you do, try to look after yourself as well - if she's crying all day, a couple of minutes to make a drink and eat a sandwich while she's in another room won't make any difference to her but will give you a tiny break and keep you going.

How is she outside? I remember holding ds2 and walking up and down the pavement just outside our house - I'd had a section so couldn't get far! - quite honestly mainly because his crying didn't sound as loud outside...

Do you have anyone that could take her for 20 minutes while you have tea? my mum was a life saver and would come and take ds2 and wheel him up and down while dp, ds1 and had tea most nights - ds2 was a real cryer and didn't stop most days/nights...

Sending lots of sympathy and quiet moments!

[Dottydot]

ooh - I remember ds2 liking to lean forward and kind of put his head forward resting on my hand - must have been more comfortable for him and it stopped the crying sometimes. It looked very strange but worked!

[Trinaluce]

Palming her off on someone else is all well and good - but it doesn't solve the problem

[fourlittlefeet]

can you send DD out for a walk with her in an sling to give you a rest? always worked for me

[IAteDavinaForDinner]

First, do check for fever or rash. Better to have her checked over by the doc and pronounced fit than be worried all night or something worse.

Secondly, have you got any help? Relative to come over/neighbour/friend who could take her for half an hour while you go round the block?

Thirdly, try her in a warm bath, fairly deep (up to her chest if possible) in a dimly lit warm room. Make sure you're talking calmly and quietly all the time and then go to a dark room to dry off and see if she settles a bit. Sometimes that was all that helped mine - his main problem was that after the first few weeks he stopped sleeping properly in the day and was therefore exhausted and inconsolable at night. A bath might help stop the crying and then you can regroup for a bit.

Hang in there, sending loads of sympathy - it's really tough.

[SmugColditz]

Sometimes they just cry, and they grow out of it, she won't do this forever.

Give her a nice warm bath, and put some of your favourite music on, and feed her again

[Dottydot]

No - but the problem will solve itself, honestly, in the next few weeks. She won't cry forever and it's just a stage (repeat constantly). But it'll drive you bonkers while it lasts and you need a break!

Ds2 howled and screamed his way through the first 14 weeks of his life. I cried with him and thought he must be the most unhappy child ever.

He has since then has turned out to be the happiest child in the world - he's the most positive, sunshiniest boy - never stops smiling and singing.

[Sushipaws]

We send huge hugs your way, I know how awful it can be. My dd had bad colic for a week, we were very lucky it only lasted that long, but I remember feeling like my heart was being wrenched out my chest with every scream she made.

I think if they cry uncontrollably for an hour your meant to call the doctor, just to check it's all ok, but that might just be in my area.

When it got really bad, my dh would take dd to the all night supermarket, the lights and the drive really calmed her. It also gave me a break and helped me build strength for the next onslaught of screams.

Good Luck

[fourlittlefeet]

meant DP! Think the fresh air and swaying always helped her off to sleep, while the motion got rid of the wind and it also gave DP a bit of exercise.

[IAteDavinaForDinner]

Also, if you suspect wind, try lying her on her back and then gently bicycling her legs (knees up and down). Then, with her thighs perpendicular to the mattress, lower her legs to her right then her left (so her lower body twists gently). Then push both her knees gently towards her chest. I was always amazed at the volume of farts DS could produce this way.

[noonki]

Try feeding/changing/winding/

if all fails then try 'leopard in a tree'

lie her tummy down against your forearm, her head in your hand (I think, try her head in your elbow if feels better)

lots and lots of (((()))) it will stop xxx

[noonki]

and have you tried 'cycling her legs to get her farting (trapped wind is horrible)

[Trinaluce]

Thanks, might try the bath.

I know it's just for today - health visitor's over tomorrow, she ALWAYS has a rough day the day before an appointment! - but usually I've been able to settle her for more than five minutes before. All the more galling, DH takes her and she just shuts up. As soon as she's handed back, she starts up again.

And I can't feed her again, I have nothing left

[SmugColditz]

You're stressed about the HV, and she's picking up vibes?

HAve a glass of something cheeky

[Leoness]

Trinaluce you are so stressed and at the end of your tether but it is just a stage - do palm off - to recharge yourself

this crying stage is draining - look after your self as well

Have you tried running the hoover or a hairdryer something loud enough that they hear it over their cries.

[IAteDavinaForDinner]

Give her to DH then!

You will always be making milk so assuming you are BFing she can feed constantly and she will always be getting milk, just at a slower flow. It's possible she's having a growth spurt and wants to feed a lot to increase your milk supply. If this sounds familiar then try to let her feed as much as possible (although i remember being half-demented because I had a baby permanently suckered on it was infuriating, but it only lasts a short time thankfully (didn't bloody well feel like it back then though, I admit!).

Hang in there

[bluejelly]

Poor you... I found my dd wanted to do nothing but feed at that age, even though I felt like there was nothing left she still wanted to, for comfort more than anything I think, but it meant that my supply increased all the more, which was good...

[Leoness]

"DH takes her and she just shuts up." - Perfect stick with that.

I agree with colditz have something for your nerves and help you relax - a 1/2 glass of wine whatever followed by large glass of water for your milk supply - go get rest you'll make milk if you rest.

best of luck

[controlfreakinfreaky]

another vote for a warm bath in a almost dark room... i used ti lie in the bath with ds1 on my tummy / chest (head out of the water!) for an hour at a time... it used to be the only thing that calmed him sometimes.... sending you calming vibes....