Excessive crying - help!

[VioletMummy78]

My DD is 5 weeks old on Thursday. Having a nightmare as it feels like she cries literally non stop. Always been hard work feeding her and on Monday the doc prescribed baby Gaviscon for reflux. As a result she isn't as sick as she has been, but the crying is constant. She looks to me like she is in pain - face screwed up, fists clenched, really angry screaming and so hard to settle. The only thing that seems to settle her is physical comfort - then I think is she really in pain as she seems to stop as soon as I pick her up and rock her etc!

This in turn is causing a problem with sleeping as not she won't sleep anywhere apart from on me, including at night! It is worse late afternoon and evening so it does seems like colic but to be honest at the moment it feels like she us screaming from the moment she wakes up. Can colic last all day?!

Have an appt with a cranial osteopath on Monday to see if that helps but just getting to the end of my tether!! DD was a big baby, breech and born by c section. Any advice would bs appreciated.

Do you have a sling you could carry her in?

I had twins with 24 hour colic! We finally got better at seven months! Nothing we tried worked to improve matters apart from following a very strict Gina Ford type eating/sleeping/waking routine (very unpopular on here so I am whispering).

Best of luck - my thoughts are with you.

Sounds like it could be reflux or maybe a milk allergy of some kind. Heve you spoke to your doctor about intolerances?

My heart goes out to you, it really does. It's heartbreakng. My ds was the same and we never did get to the bottom of it. He was just hard work and eventually grew out of it.

Either way, it does get better but I'd definitely keep on at the doctors or health visitors to see if it is a medical thing that can be helped. Some babies however are just miserable and take time to settle down and get used to the world. I know that doesn't help you much now but you are I am sure feelingat the end of your tether like it'll never end. Just to let you know that it does end, been there, it get's better.

Poor you, I'm so sorry, it's really miserable isn't it. So exhausting to have a baby that's miserable all the time, sounds very like my ds at 5 weeks! Definitely speak to your gp again about reflux meds as gaviscon is only the first step and doesn't work for everyone. There is a good refluxsupport thread on the feeding topic.

Do give cranial osteopathy a go, we have found it very helpful.

Also google Dr Harvey Karp on Richard and Judy - a video clip on YouTube of ways to calm young babies, very good. White noise is a lifesaver! we have a cd now but we started by running the hair dryer or Hoover really close to ds' ear. They like it really loud!

A sling is also great, especially with reflux as they like to be held upright. A stretchy wrap like a moby or Kari-me is good for a new born, or a Wilkinet is good if you want something more structured. You can get them cheap on eBay.

Finally, accept all help you can, pass the baby off at any opportunity to snooze/shower etc and remember that some babies just have a harder time adjusting than others! Ds is still a sensitive soul at 18 weeks but compared to 5 weeks is utterly transformed.

Thank you all so much for your advice. Actually forgot I had posted here because the gaviscon really seems to have done the trick!!! DD has been having a dose every feed for a week now and is a different baby. Although she is slightly constipated anything is better then the pain she was so obviously in. Am now able to leave her in her bouncer for ten minutes at a time without her crying and am more confident leaving her to cry when she's tired as I know she's not unccomfortable.

How awful though to be in so much pain at a young age! So glad we have got it sorted. thanks again for your support xxxxx