Miserable newborn

[hyub]

I'm just feeling completely broken by my 5 week old. For the last 3 weeks he has become gradually more fussy to the stage where he is basically always whinging or screaming if awake.

I feel like I can't keep going on like this, I am physically tired but emotionally wrecked from his crying/trauma.

(He is formula fed. Has symptoms of reflux and an eczema type rash on his face which makes me suspicious of CMPA. GP only given gaviscon so far which is doing sweet FA).

I just need to hear stories about it getting better, please?

Thank you

Sorry, wrong topic, have reported myself

If you're suspicious of CMPA then get yourself another GP appointment for tomorrow and demand to trial a dairy free formula. Dermatological rashes are an inflammatory response that mostly derive from something going on in the gut (unless it's a topical irritant); babies are born with sterile guts and so to be suffering with inflammation at 5 weeks is very suggestive of a reaction taking place.

Honestly the amount of tiny humans being let down by the healthcare system infuriates me.

Thank you. I wasn't sure whether to push for reflux treatment, CMPA treatment or both?

Reflux is a symptom in babies rather than a condition in itself. The chances are that if there is some reflux occurring then its root cause might be the dairy allergy if there is one. I would seek to explore whether the underlying cause is CMPA before disrupting the gut microbiome with reflux medications.

Thank you

OK so I don’t have experience of cmpa etc but I did have an incredibly fussy newborn (for different reasons that I set out below) and just sharing that it does it does it does get better.

My dd hated everything. Some fond memories I have of the first three months:

• I couldn’t even get my shoes off from getting inside with dd before she was screaming the house down. Every. Single. Time.
• I couldn’t change her nappy for the first three months without her screaming the hosue down. Every. Single. Time.
• She was born in winter and I couldn’t get her into a pram suit either it her screaming the house down. Every. Single. Time.
• She only contact napped (fine to be fair unless I needed the loo and DH was working..)
• She only slept 45 minutes in a row at night
• I didn’t go to one coffee shop for three months without her causing a scene.
• Wondering why every other newborn baby I saw seemed much more content than mine.

I was exhausted.

If you can relate to any of the above I promise you it does get better!!!!!

I now have such a lovely six month dd. (She’s still a little demanding). But honestly she is really fun and makes me laugh. I can change her nappy peacefully. I love waking up to her and planning our days together.

For me the change really was noticeable at four months, but lots of people on here say they noticed big changes at three months. Just hang in there, you’re doing great. It’s bloody hard work with a fussy babe!!

Hope this helps xxxx

Thank you 🤷🏻‍♀️

Sorry- wrong emoji haha

The baby reflux lady on instagram is quite good! Has baby been checked for a tongue tie? Ir can affect bottle fed babies too. I second chasing up the CMPA, you can even buy a tub of CMPA formula (massively expensive off prescription but can help your case if doc is really reluctant as you can prove a change) and see if that improves things

Hi OP I'm sorry to hear that you're having a difficult time with your newborn.
Both my DD's had CMPA with DD1 being particularly severe.
I remember that she was put on gaviscon initially and my concerns about CMPA were dismissed and labelled as colic, a bit of reflux and baby exczema and I really had to fight to get her onto a prescription formula so please keep monitoring his symptoms and going back to the dr.
Just to let you know that there are various types of prescription formula to treat CMPA. Both my DD's needed an amino acid formula called Neocate as the other hydrolysed formulas didn't work.
DD1 also ended up with carobel (a thickener) in her milk along with ranitidine and then omeprazole as she had such severe vomiting although these symptoms stopped when she was eventually prescribed Neocate.
I hope things improve for you and your DS.

My son has cmpa . I'd request a df formula for trial but bear in mind there's some that are lactose free (not suitable for dairy allergy) some that have reduced dairy content but still some and then completely dairy free. I was bf so only had formula for top up. We used neocate. It's very expensive so doctors are not keen to prescribe. It is completely dairy free but it does taste awful . Basically do your research before going gp. You can also ask for reflux meds . What helped my son was-
Sleeping upright in day Ie on us
Tilted cot
Reflux med - we had rinitidine but don't think it's available anymore
Gaviscon
Dairy free

It does get better but so hard at time

Thank you for sharing experiences.

Well I think I can conclude that gaviscon hasn't helped so will be returning to doctors. The GP also only gave me like a 3 day supply for some reason.

I'm sure they will next suggest omeprazole and I'm wondering if it it's worth trying that first? Or should I push directly for a cmpa milk?
I'm not especially looking forward to cmpa milks as I know texture/taste can be an issue and it can make reflux worse...

It's also really hard as even my family are like 'he's just a crying baby with colic' and we should wait it out, but my god it is horrendous having a baby so distraught all the time.

(Also tongue ties cut a few weeks ago)

Hi,

I had a very similar experience, I remember saying he's either asleep (and that's not very often!), feeding or crying, he is never awake and happy! He could scream solidly all day, eight hours sometimes!

The doctors diagnosed him as CMPA but I was sceptical and the dairy free formula made almost no difference, we tried different kinds and there was no noticeable difference in his unhappiness.

But around four months he started to improve and from maybe six months on he was quite often called the happiest baby they've ever seen. It seems like it's going to be impossible to get through to four months like this but you will get there. You're already over the first month, just three more to go and I'm sure you'll see improvements. In the meantime take all the help you can get!

It could be the milk? I know there could be several factors but whenever I have heard parents say this, I've suggested trying Kendamil formula and it has helped.

Oh @hyub my middle son had horrendous colic and it breaks your heart, seeing something you love so much so sad! I completely sympathise with how distressing it is. We were lucky, the gaviscon worked with mine, but like PP said I'd look into kendamil.

I'm currently reading reviews of formula for my baby due later this year and it seems to by far be the most popular.

My little boy also cheered reet up once he was a few months older and became the happiest little chap. Sending strength and solidarity! Update us on how he gets on, poor fella! X

This is what I'm worried about- going round the houses on different meds/formulas/bottles combinations to have no improvement (and maybe even side effects). This is pretty much what happened with my daughter- the only route we never took with cmpa- and she just got happier when she was about 1.

I actually have a tub of Kendamil funnily enough. But reluctant to start formula hopping as could cause issues in itself? But funny that two of you have suggested Kendamil...

Sounds like cmpa to me too! It is ridiculous but you have to push the doctor to listen to you, I say ridiculous because I was in the same position in 2010 and my mother was in the same position with me as a baby in the 1980s. The fact that it's all these years later and health care providers still need you to reach breaking point before they'll do a damn thing is honestly unacceptable.
You know your own baby better than anybody, don't let anyone try to doubt you because of how young your baby is etc.
Do you mind me asking which formula your little one is currently on? In the interim it's maybe worth switching to an anti-reflux one (apatamil used to do one, not sure if they still do as mine aren't babies sorry) If it is cmpa then it won't fix everything but it's worth a try from a reflux point of view. That or the lower lactose ones.
And don't let anyone berate you for changing formula either.
You and the little one will get past this and you'll both thrive, sorry you're having to go through this shitty bit first though. I do remember it very clearly so you have my empathy. Big hugs.

My first baby was a nightmare, to the point where by 10 weeks old I thought she would be better off if i put her up for adoption!! She slept crap, screamed and cried constantly, she would cry 6pm until 10pm and would only be rocked to sleep. If you haven't already then try a dummy, have you tried any colic drops? Ask gp for omeprazole, I have heard babies get on better with this as gaviscon can cause constipation. My 2nd baby is a lot easier and calmer, thankfully!! It does get easier though, stay strong.

I was desperate at one point for the baby to be diagnosed with reflux but a number of doctors absolutely ruled out reflux and refused to even let me try the reflux medication. A lot of doctors and health visitors have a real lack of understanding of how genuinely traumatic it is and just merrily tell you to wait a few months when you barely feel like you can get through the next few hours let alone months.

Colief drops took the edge off a little, but were a huge inconvenience to use! I could barely understand the instructions in my extreme sleep deprived state. We used infacol religiously, not sure how much it helped but we didn't want to risk stopping it!

On the plus side there's plenty of people who'll tell you how easy you have it with a baby and that toddlers are much harder work but you know that you'll breeze through the toddler stage because nothing is worse than this!

Hi op are you also using Infacol and Dentinox drops.

Thanks all

Currently on SMA
Infacol- no help
Coleif- no help
Haven't tired dentinox, gripe water or anti reflux/comfort formulas

On Friday I will go back to the GP and ask to try diary free milk. They will say no try omeprazole first (if I'm lucky!).

Definitely follow up on CMPA. If you're a first time mum you will be gaslighted by the GP. HVs can be more helpful. Keep pushing! You know your baby better than anyone

I agree with PP as it sounds like CMPA to me with his unhappiness and excema.
In my experience I was fobbed off by drs so many times and I was refused Neocate due to the expense for months until my DD was classed as failing to thrive.
I'm not sure why Drs gaslight first time mums on this issue but please demand a trial of a prescription formula you know your baby best.
My DD used to scream so much that my in laws would come every evening and sit with us between 6pm and 11pm because we just couldn't cope with it. I wouldn't wish it on anyone.