4 week old constantly crying

[pinkoyster]

Can anyone shed some light?

Dc2 is 4 weeks old, and apart from the short bursts that he sleeps (1-1.45 hours is the longest stretch he goes for) just screams constantly. I am utterly utterly exhausted. It seems he has trapped wind, but he vomits almost after every feed so am wondering whether reflux?

I burp him to within an inch of his life, but if anything it's getting worse. If he's not sleeping he's crying. He is ebf. I have an appt with the GP tomorrow, and have eliminated all dairy and gas inducing foods (tomatoes, onions, garlic) from my diet. I also have a tantruming almost-2 year old to look after so cannot go on like this much longer..

Hang on in there pinkoyster, whatever it is it will not last forever and You Will Manage. I am a veteran if 3 refluxers and it sounds like your GP should consider it, especially if your wee one is arching, knees up to tummy and waking up crying from an otherwise restful sleep. Ranitidine can be prescribed even at 4 weeks, as can gaviscon. Watch out for the weight dependency of ranitidine though, they grow out of it so quickly so get weighed every week initially. I know how crushed you feel, it is awful.

Thanks hobnob. Dc2 is on the 91st centile for weight , which's why I hadn't considered it till now. But the situation is getting unbearable. He'll drop off cos he's so exhausted from the screaming, then wake up after a few minutes to resume the crying again. I just feel so bad that there's nothing I can do...

I second the reflux shout. Do not be put off if the gp disagrees-their knowledge is shockingly variable. See another and go back again and again if necessary. Google some of the reflux sites to get all the symptoms and expect to leave with medication. Refuse to leave without it. The medications work to varying degrees so go back after a week if you see no difference. If the vomit is projectile, they should also be keen to discount another condition. I've had 2 refluxers and it is very hard. Those who have children without it can not possibly understand. Look out for the advice re propping up the Moses basket, rubbing not patting for winding too. We used to have to keep ours upright for 90mins after every feed. Good luck. Let us know how you get on.

I second the reflux shout. Do not be put off if the gp disagrees-their knowledge is shockingly variable. See another and go back again and again if necessary. Google some of the reflux sites to get all the symptoms and expect to leave with medication. Refuse to leave without it. The medications work to varying degrees so go back after a week if you see no difference. If the vomit is projectile, they should also be keen to discount another condition. I've had 2 refluxers and it is very hard. Those who have children without it can not possibly understand. Look out for the advice re propping up the Moses basket, rubbing not patting for winding too. We used to have to keep ours upright for 90mins after every feed. Good luck. Let us know how you get on.

Sorry it wouldn't post initially-better twice than not at all I guess!

And dc2 was and still is at the 90th. They can comfort feed. He still puked 20x a day though!

Thanks for the suggestions all..

I guess what I am debating is whether it is colic or reflux. Today though I have had NO respite-screaming from 8am till 4pm when he collapsed and slept till 15 minutes ago. Resume screaming..

Also, it appears to be getting worse not better-he was not as bad when he was born. There is no projectile vomiting (unless I pat to burp him), just normal vomiting (if vomiting can ever be normal)..

Am really hoping for a cure soon :(

Colic and reflux can also be aggravated by tongue tie and other food sensitivities. Ask your gp to check for tongue tie while you are there. I am reading the Complete Guide to Food Allergy and Intolerance which is an incredible book. Prof Brostoff's advice for colic is to see a gp for severe colic, which sounds like your ds. For milder colic try, in order; more through burping, removal from any source of smoking, infacol to help wind, ColiMil to help gut spasms, probiotic drops from BioGaia since many colicky babies have disturbed gut flora, reducing lactose by using Coleif, and smaller, more frequent feeds during the day; then investigate food sensitivities.

I meant to say, with all 3 of mine I have tried gluten free in desperation and it has seemed to help. But get gp to get you in touch with a dietician 1st. You also need a prescription for a calcium supplement if dairy free.

Reflux can happen without projectile vomiting. None of mine have been vomiters at all, but my first got oesophagitis from her silent reflux, with blood in her nappies as a result.

Sorry if i've confused matters-i was trying to exclude the condition that requires surgery of which one symptom is projectile vomiting.
The sickness is reflux. I had one silent refluxer who was not sick at all and then my classic, ruin the carpet type dc2!
Have you been to the GP?

Whether colic or reflux it sounds like a digestive issue causing pain and discomfort. Are things improved at all if you keep your LO propped up after feeds? Tongue tie also sometimes confused with jaw issues in the early days, as slightly out of line jaw can present itself in similar way to a tongue tie (in that it restricts). I'd recommend visiting an experienced cranial chiropractor as they will look at all of these issues and see what can be done before going on to any Meds or surgical procedures. It was very effective for two of mine who had reflux. What I loved was that the cause was sorted out rather than just the symptoms being treated. Best wishes with getting sorted soon. I hope your baby is comfy asap.

Colic just means unexplained crying. If your baby is vomitting then it sounds like there is an actual physical cause to his distress - reflux looks like a good bet.

Have you tried a sling? Not a cute obv bit might give you some respite in the mean time.
Don't be crushed - sounds like fecking hard work!

Cure* iPhones are the thought police!

search for cranial osteopath for similar threads on MN - could be worth a try.

Thanks all. Thought I'd come back to update.

Saw my lovely GP, who couldn't decide whether its due to reflux or lactose intolerance (my husband and DS1 suffer badly from it). So she's prescribed infant gaviscon and referred him to paediatrician.

Started gaviscon this morning. Less throwing up, but he's still uncomfortable after feeds. Will watch it, and update again as to whether cured or not. Fingers crossed!

Very unlikely to be lactose intolerance - that is pretty rare and serious in babies, your DS would be failing to thrive not 90th centile!

My second was lactose intolerant but that was only when she went on to milk (aged 18 mths). She did not have a lactose issue with breastmilk.

I still highly recommend seeing a cranial chiropractor as they will aim to sort the problem, so that there's no need for meds (i.e. treat cause not symptom). I've tried cranial osteopathy but it was not as effective (in my experience) as cranial chiropractic which sorted out reflux (two of my DD's).

Was she intolerant to cow's milk then, rather than lactose?

Hi Sam Was intolerant to the lactose in cow's milk - but not in goat's. Added lactase enzyme (using drops) meant she could tolerate the cow's milk. Goat's milk was much easier though as no probs with that at all.

Does sound like reflux! DS1 is 2 and a half and DS2 is now coming up for 6 months. Both had awful reflux and DS2 continues to throw up lots after breastfeeds (fine after his solids). The sleeping is a whole lot better now, but I do think the crying peaked around 8-10 weeks after which sleeping improved and then we had a couple weeks of regression at 4 months again. I am finding it really tough adjusting to two!! Life is on fast forward.... Hang in there, it will def get better (starting to see light at end of tunnel). x

P.S. I remember at about 6 weeks he had one day when between 8am and midnight he had only slept about 30 mins and I was at my wits end!! Amazing how things can change quite rapidly. There is hope.

My dd screamed all day long too. We were prescribed Colief; after a week on it she was so much better. Still very demanding and in constant need of holding, but when I did hold her the screaming stopped and her poops became soft and lovely so she had no problems passing them. If you baby does have colic, the one thing I can promise is that it will pass. Hope you get the answers you need x

DS1 was lactose intolerant and the first time I used colief on him (while breastfeeding) he had more milk that feed than he had had the previous two days put together. Lactose intolerance can be a sign of an immature digestive system, and be temporary. DS1 grew out of it by 4 1/2 months. However, colief helped, but didn't solve the problem completely while I was breastfeeding, and DS self weaned the first time I tried him on a bottle of formula to which I added the colief at 12 weeks. He just refused to get back onto the breast.