Colic, reflux or just irritable?

[BabyBailey2]

Hi

My 11 week old baby girl just seems to cry all the time at the slightest thing and I'm starting to feel so resentful when I see friends with chilled out calm babies as I seem to spend my whole day trying to prevent or stop her crying!

She sleeps fairly well at night but can really scream during the day. The doctor said it could be reflux and/or colic and prescribed Gaviscon but that made her constipated and was really hard to give her when breastfeeding. Now on infacol and colief and switched to comfort formula. Am also starting to see a cranial osteopath, but I just feel in such a muddle as wondered if it could be an allergy/intolerance but doctor wouldn't do allergy test so don't know whether to stop breast feeding or whether she could be allergic to formula!!!

She cries at the slightest thing or if I hold her in any position other than up against my shoulder. I'm at my wits end and feel so sad that I'm not enjoying my tine with her yet.

Any advice or similar stories??

xx

What was the birth like? CS/natural? Long labour etc?

Do you get out with her much during the day? I know this might sound silly but my 5 month old DD gets really irritable if we spend too long in the house.

There's a support thread on the breastfeeding part of the site that might help you. Loads of symptoms listed, experience, advice on coping, medicines tried.

If it's silent reflux it is a case of 'breast is best'.

I had 2 with this. I found the osteopath a help. Gaviscon made my baby constipated, but there are other options.

When I was feeling bad I used to focus on the baby and conjure up all my sympathy and empathy for him/her. And when things were good I'd soak it up to get me through the rough times.

There's a book I found a help 'Colic Solved' - found on Amazon. I also like 'the happiest baby on the block' (Karp) - also found on Amazon.

Keep going back to your GP (or another if you feel you are not getting anywhere). I've had two boys with reflux - one 'typical' sicky reflux and one with silent reflux (where they're not sick very often, if at all).

I'm afraid I can't go into more details tonight, but I've posted on several threads about things to try (and probably on the breastfeeding one mentioned above).

You will get through it, whatever the cause, and the memories of this very difficult time will fade. Don't compare your baby and your feelings/experiences to those of your friends as it will only get you down. Find someone who can give you a break and be kind to yourself. Good luck.

Thanks guys!

I think I'm in such a muddle because if it is just colic and not reflux then I would continue with comfort milk and colief, but if reflux then I guess I should go back to Gaviscon but then you can't use the comfort milk! I would like it if they could actually test her for reflux but heard it's usually just diagnosed on symptoms.

Also have heard certain foods can make reflux worse like dairy, caffeine etc but doctor and midwife said diet doesn't really affect breast milk but others say it does - such conflicting information out there! Dairy really hard to cut out of diet so don't really want to do it unless I know that is the issue.

I do try and take her out but usually end up quite flustered if she screams. Am taking her for a walk every day now screaming or not!

Will just take each day at a time and try to stay positive.

Hi, my baby was similar in the first 3 months. He used to cry a lot about half an hour to an hour after feeding and he was also sick very often. We also tried gaviscon but it's a PITA to administer when breastfeeding. I used to carry him in the sling a lot which calmed him down no end, and this was also a lovely way for me to enjoy him. In the end we just waited it out and he gradually got better and has been a lot better since 16 weeks old. He is now a super smiley 5 month old who laughs a lot and only really cries when hungry, tired or teething.
I know that the professionals say that diet makes no difference but from personal experience i found that DS cried a lot more if i had eaten spicy food or had juices or fizzy drinks.
It will get better!

My Lola 6 weeks cries all day at the slightest thing & won't settle in Moses basket, bouncer, swing seat... Anywhere except in my arms, which makes life difficult & can't do some things. She has silent reflux & is on domperidone, ranitidine & sma staydown milk, which are helping. Sleeps well at night , but screams all day. I don't know what to do some days- at my wits end.