Does anyone have a baby who just will not stop screaming? Please help!!

[PleaseStopCrying]

As the title and name suggest he just screams hysterically literally every day!

Doctors have basically said its colic as they have ruled everything else out and there appears to be no discernable cause for the screaming.

I kind of feel the colic diagnosis is just because they dont know what else to suggest. But the constant screaming has been going on for about 10 weeks now honesty im starting to not enjoy spending time with him because I know most of it will be him screaming.

Its not just at a specific part of the day and when he screams nothing seems to calm him. Everything I've tried for the past 10 weeks has made literally no difference.

°He's been tested for cow milk allergy.
° We've changed his formula.
° We've tried multiple colic soloutions such as drops.
°I've read up on purple crying but im not sure its that.
°Hes been seen by several gps and our health visitor and no one seems to have any more suggestions other than he will grow out of it.

Basically everyday is him screaming for hours and it really is screaming he can be smiling one minute and then the next he's red in the face yelling so loud he can be heard from half way down the street when I have the windows open.

He is 12 weeks old and I swear its just getting worse if anything and I'm beginning to wonder if its normal to cry so much. We cant even go to hour long baby group without a full on screaming fit and per day I'd average he screams for at least 12-13 hours if not more sometimes for just 50ish minutes and other times for up to 4-5hours continuously.

Please tell me im not alone and if you have any advice im all ears, I cannot do this for much longer its really stressing me out. I want to enjoy being his mummy but its almost impossible to do so when all hr does is scream.

Ds1 had colic and it was awful. You have my deepest sympathy. Truly horrendous. We tried infacol which didn’t have much effect. What really worked was taking him to a cranial osteopath. She said his neck was stiff from his forceps delivery. I was initially sceptical but willing to try anything at that point. After one session he was noticeably less colicky and after the second he was like a completely different baby. Happy, relaxed, no screaming and has been lovely ever since. Might be worth looking into.

I would see go/health visitor again. Babies do cry but that much doesn’t sound normal.
Has silent reflux been mentioned? Is he growing normally and hitting other milestones? How does he sleep at night?

You have my sympathies. My 3rd baby was quite high needs and it was torture but she didn’t scream for 13+ hours a day

Yes. I had this. My first GP was entirely useless and completely dismissive.
I found a brilliant GP who diagnosed Silent Reflux. Some of the things your describe are very similar to what we went through.
My baby got medication, although it didn’t really help too much. I also got medication because I was so sleep deprived I developed awful post natal anxiety.
It was pure hell, you have my sympathies!! I know it doesn’t help to hear now, but I promise you, things get easier.

You are not alone. I feel for you.

I've also heard very good things about the cranial osteopath way, as @Minai suggested.

Sorry I don't have any more advice.

Oh goodness that is extreme. A friend's DC was like this but he has CMPA it turns out. He's still quite a sensitive baby who is prone to tears but not as bad as it was.

Have you looked at the Cry-sis website?
www.cry-sis.org.uk/

With that amount of screaming, I'd be inclined to think it's something medical too, especially if it's been going on for three months.

What do you mean tested for cows milk allergy?

Any eczema/skin issues like bad cradle cap?
Any mucus poo?
Is it any better if in an upright position after feed?

Yes, dc3. It was a mixture of silent reflux, an awful (& long 5pm-12mn) witching ‘hour’ & a tendency to become over stimulated (helped by having her in a wrap a lot of the time). I forced the dx on her silent reflux when she was only around 2/3 weeks old, as she looked just like her older brother at times with the crying (he had had full blown reflux). Starting medication for that, combined with using a wrap & keeping things very calm (as much as possible with 2 older siblings) after around 4pm helped. She was a much happier baby from around 5 months when she started sitting & crawling.

Thanks for the replies I know in my head that its eventually going to get better but right now eventually seems a very long way away.

I forgot to say they suggested it might be silent reflux but the medication also made no difference. When I went back the GP basically said well if it didnt work then there wasnt anything else to suggest and to just wait it out.

He sleeps for about 4-6 hours most nights but thats only a very recent development. Some nights though he still wakes 3-4 times. Milestone wise he sesms to be on track and he is gaining weight well.

I have not considered a cranial osteopath but its certainly something to look into, at this stage I honestly would try anything! Do all osteopaths treat babies or do I need a specific type?

Silent reflux? My daughter had this at around 8 weeks but as soon as we were given Gaviscon she was fine (this doesn't always work, some need a different medication)

Sorry cross post OP

A friend experienced what you are going through. She took her baby to a cranial osteopath. The baby apparently, ‘filled her nappy to her armpits’ directly after the session and was much happier afterwards. Whether or not the nappy filling was related to the osteopathy I can’t say. Sounds very well worth trying. Best wishes

What do you mean tested for cows milk allergy?

Sorry I appreciate that wasnt very clear. He had a period of throwing up after each feed which I suspected was a bug but they tried switching his formula to Nutramigen but it made no difference to the screaming and he threw most of it back up so the GP put him back on cow and gate.

No other symptoms eg a rash or eczema. Poos all seem normal and feeding position makes no difference.

He also hates the sling which does not help matters as he doesn't want to be put down when screaming and yet he also doesn't want to be fussed/held too much so I had hoped the sling would bea soloution to that.

Mine screamed for 2 years. Didn't stop.

He's now the most delightful 7 year old.

Not helpful I know but there is light at the end.

Which Nutramigen? The hydrolysed or the hypoallergenic version?

Is he getting overtired? Dd will scream non stop if she doesn't get enough naps during the day, but I have to really really work hard to get her to nap as she will dodge them at all costs

Mine screamed for 2 years. Didn't stop... there is light at the end

2 years!! Thats a bloody terrifying prospect.

What meds were you given for the possibility of reflux and how long did you try them for?

Reflux and being fobbed off by Drs about it is my specialist subject.

I don’t remember by DD crying for the first 5 months, she screamed and screamed.

For the silent reflux - do you know which medication you tried. We had to use gaviscon powder sachets and omeprazole.

Which Nutramigen? The hydrolysed or the hypoallergenic version?*

We tried both beween week 4 and week 7 neither seemed to help and he threw up most feeds on both.

Is he getting overtired?

Some of it might be that but equally he can start literally first thing even if he got several hours during the night.

What meds were you given for the possibility of reflux and how long did you try them for?

Gaviscon and something else but i can't remeber its name. They stated him on them at 6ish weeks might have been just before and GP said to stop not long after his 8 week jabs so at almost 9 weeks.

It’s a while ago for me now, and so maybe @Whyismycatanasshat might know more but I would think if you used omeprazole or a similar PPI it might take a little longer to fully work? Maybe the meds were stopped too quickly.

It’s awful OP, I can empathise DS2 was exactly like this for the first 7months, it was a terrible time, we also had DS1 was 21mths at the time.

There was nothing we could do to calm him, we tried white noise, craniotomy osteopathic treatment etc.

My son was EBF made no difference whatever we tried, many trips to the GP etc.

He did grow out of it about 7mths.

I can imagine how you are feeling it is exhausting, but it will get better, just do whatever you need to, to get through it and take any offer of help that can give you a break would be my advice.

Good luck.

Mine was like this. She became calmer and more bearable at 6/7 months. It was a combo of silent reflux being properly medicated with omeprazole and being able to sit up unsupported. People wonder why we’re not that keen on having another; well, the horror of a constantly screaming baby never really leaves, IMO. Good luck and do whatever you can to stay sane.

So the gaviscon really just thickens the milk in the stomach So it’s not as easy to be sick and won’t help the pain management as much as say omeprazole or (not wifey available) ranitidine. Both of those are available as liquid but you may have a fight for omeprazole liquid.

They work by inhibiting; and will take anywhere between 2 and 4 weeks to kick in. During that time your baby may experience “the acid battle” as it’s called on forums and support groups, where symptoms appear worse - including sleeping - before you see positive results.

Personally I’d be asking to try the meds again. I had to fight and fight to get liquid omeprazole as my DD couldn’t manage the dissolving tablets, it took 18 days of her being worse and being at our wits end before literally overnight a miracle occurred! She’s so much better now.