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Behaviour/development

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Original poster

Baby screaming for 8+ hours a day

21 replies

Kitty39 · 08/03/2017 05:02

Hello everyone, I have a 'bit' of a issue with my 7 nearly 8 week old boy.
Our days usually end up like this: wake up 7-8, he's happy and smiling but then at 11-12 everyday he starts screaming, nothing will calm him, this goes on until 7-8 at night when he finally sleeps.

I have no idea what to do over him. Hes been like this since two weeks old when I rushed him to the hospital as he was throwing up after feeds, he was put on oxygen and then sent home two days later, the doctors told us they didn't know what happened or why he was being sick but the sick was coming up with some force.

Eventually (4 weeks ago) after this he was taken to the doctors and put on gaviscon, the vomiting stopped and he calmed a bit but was still unhappy and crying a bit, eventually at 4-5 weeks old he started to get worse again.

Took him back again yesterday, whilst waiting he screamed the place down like how he has been for the last 4 or 5 days. He screams when trying to feed him and wakes up screaming, at this point I'm having to nearly force him to take his bottle and he only has 2ozs of each feed. They said to try anti reflux milk and Infacol, we tried with no improvement.

Yesterday he screamed all day again and I took him back to hospital. The doctor told me he's gaining weight fine and thriving, I'm just feeding him wrong and he's hungry! He said to 'tease' him during feeds and talk to him.

So we've brought him home, he's the same as before, still screaming but now we're talking to him during feeds. The only time he stops screaming is when he's on my shoulder. My mother in law has had a look at him and said he's acting like he had tummy pains.

Please help, I have no idea what to do and nothing seems to be helping. He just screams and screams, he turns red, throws his arms and legs about. He seems so upset and pained .

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RNBrie · 08/03/2017 05:08

It sounds like reflux. The gaviscon is thickening the milk and stopping him being sick but the pain is still there. Demand a paediatric referral from your gp. There are a list of drugs they can try which include ranitidine, omeprazole and domperidone and different combinations work for different babies so there's some trial and error. You have my total sympathy because reflux is awful.

TheXxxxx · 08/03/2017 05:11

My DS was identical to this at 8 weeks, he was having stomach pains because he couldn't digest cows milk. I was BFing but it was being passed through my breast milk. I went lactose free and he turned into the happiest most contented baby you could imagine.

ZeroDarkHurty · 08/03/2017 05:36

Agree sounds like reflux and the gaviscon isn't managing it well. There are other medications available. Does he nap ok in between the screaming? Or is he chronically overtired, which will make it worse.

Scrumptiousbears · 08/03/2017 05:37

My sisters boy had something very similar and he had an allergy to cows milk protein. Was a different boy once he was put on meds and different formula.

Original poster

Kitty39 · 08/03/2017 05:40

The doctors won't put him on anything stronger and dismiss me when I mention milk allergies, his dad had a milk allergy when he was a baby as did his two brothers.

With naps he falls asleep on my shoulder, I'll move him and lie him in my lap on in his cot and a few moments later he wakes up screaming. He never naps for more than 10-30 minutes.

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LondonSouth28 · 08/03/2017 05:43

My friend had a similar situation. It nearly broke her being told things like 'talk to her during feeds' when she knew something was wrong. She went private and got a referral to dr shah (at the Portland hospital) and her little girl was better within days as he identified the issue and provided medicine that rectified the hardcore reflux her daughter had. If you can afford to do it, see if you can get into see him. My friend cannot speak highly enough of him

LapinR0se · 08/03/2017 05:44

It sounds like he has bad reflux/allergies and exhaustion.
Firstly you need a referral to a paediatric gastroenterologist to sort the feeding and pain.
Then you need him to get lots and lots of sleep, ideally at 8 weeks he should be sleeping most of the day and night with only 1 hour awake time between sleeps

flapjackfairy · 08/03/2017 05:45

Absolutely sounds like reflux so go back to gp or keep annoying hosp till they prescribe something stronger. Probably omeprazole based.
Ask for a gastroenenterology referal because he could be aspirating his feed if needing oxygen. That means he could get some in his lungs which causes chest infections etc. So any signs of coughs etc get anti biotics and ask for chest xray if bad.
Persist with this because unlikely to go away on own. Good luck and please update if you can x

jamont0ast · 08/03/2017 05:47

If I had to put money on it I would say it's a CMPA.

It is quite common, but often dismissed as colic or reflux, but sometimes it's a combination caused by the allergy. I don't understand why it's not taken more seriously.

I would go to your gp and demand a test to either confirm or rule out. This amount of crying is not normal. Even colic would not go on this long each day.

Is your baby constipated or suffering with diarrhoea? It can cause bloody poo if constipated and acid like poo that burns the skin terribly. I've seen both and it's terrible.

aliceinwanderland · 08/03/2017 05:48

Agree that it sounds like silent reflux as he is only sleeping upright. Make sure you wind him for a good 20-30 minutes after each feed until he does a good burp. Let him nap in a sling if you can and try raising the cot mattress at one end so the heaf end is a bit raised.You can get blocks for it or we just used books. Also agree with trying to simplify your diet. If using formula I would recommend aptamil.

Redkite10a · 08/03/2017 05:50

I was told GP's can't prescribe anything stronger than gaviscon, you have to see a pediatrician for that. Until you can get something else sorted, do you have a sling so he can nap upright, if it is is reflux lying down makes it much worse. We found a wedge in DD's cot helped, but at 18 weeks I still can't lie her down for naps unless I stay next to her, and dd was never anything like as bad as your ds sounds.

Original poster

Kitty39 · 08/03/2017 08:54

Just got my partner to call the gp, they have listened to him and put little one on ranitidine. Will keep updated.

OP posts:

empirerecordsrocked · 08/03/2017 09:04

Hi op - just be aware that the ranitidine can take a couple of weeks to reach full effect - it's cumulative so don't give up on it if not immediate. Also helps if you time the doses to 45 mins before a feed - easier if ff.

Keep him upright for at least 20 mins after a feed. Raise the head if the cot / Moses baskets / get a reflux wedge.

Original poster

Kitty39 · 08/03/2017 09:37

I've been told to give it three times a day in his feeds.
Thanks for the help everyone. Will see how he goes and update

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Original poster

Kitty39 · 08/03/2017 17:43

Bit of an update and wonder what people think of this, my partner has been caring for him for most of the day and he's hardly cried, in fact the crying was done when he was handed back to me and during feedings. Any ideas?

OP posts:

gentlemama · 09/03/2017 13:33

Have you tried carrying him in a sling or baby wrap. This can help babies with reflux as they are being kept upright and also if he's in pain he might be happier if he was near you all the time (not suggesting you're not with him). I found they helped when my boy wanted to be carried everywhere. This way I could do things while carrying him so I felt happier and calmer and this seemed to rub off on him.
Only suggesting this as a solution in terms of coping until you get more help. If he's in that much pain he obviously need professional help so keep fighting until someone listens!
Just another thought; did you have any antibiotics when you were pregnant and if you're breastfeeding have you had any whilst feeding him?

MamaHanji · 09/03/2017 13:51

It sounds like my first who had horrible reflux, and my second who is dairy soy and egg intolerant. You need a paediatric referral to determine what is wrong. Don't let them palm you off. It's not right for him to scream constantly, dairy soy and egg free has helped so much because from about 10 in the morning she would scream constantly nearly with only 5 minute sleeps then waking and crying.

Get a referral and don't take no for an answer.

Oblomov17 · 09/03/2017 13:57

Big hug op.

Ds2 screamed, off and on, all night. He was fine during the day. He slept at night but he was up and down, up and down. Sometimes he would scream for hours. Over the night it was certainly hours. Often 3-4 hours over the course of a night.

I begged for help. I got nowhere. In the end, my mum insisted I paid to see a Paed privately. He did nothing.

I can only conclude that I was failed. Don't let yourself be.

You Certainly have my sympathy.

aliceinwanderland · 09/03/2017 21:00

Dd1 had suspected reflux and I had real problems feeding as she was hungry so wanted to eat but was in pain so couldn't. I guess she was lying horizontally to feed so it made the pain worse. I also had no idea how long it could take to wind some babies. Up to 40 minutes walking about with her on my shoulder with constant back rubbing. But I learnt that until she did a massive burp she wasn't done. Gaviscon made a big difference too.

user1481139951 · 10/03/2017 15:12

This sounds very much like my DS who is now 8 weeks. He's been diagnosed with reflux as we rushed him to hospital at 2 weeks and was given gaviscon which did nothing. Since then the constant battle to get taken seriously by GP's has been unreal and infuriating! My DS has now started screaming during feeds and will only take 1 ounce before he fights the bottle and spits out the teat but I can see he is still hungry and wants to feed but can't! Took him to the GP to be told he's doing that because of a blocked nose and was basically made to feel like I shouldn't be wasting their time. It's awful when you know something is very wrong but get no help. I hope the ranitidine works for your LO as reflux is horrible! Best of luck.

mycavitiesareempty · 11/03/2017 23:03

I would also put my money on cow's milk protein allergy, if mechanical causes such as pyloric stenosis have been ruled out, along with other physical causes.

The semi good news for you is that, finances permitting, you could trial your baby on a hypoallergenic formula. Aptamil Pepti is one, others are Nutramigen or the least 'milk like' ones, Nutramigen AA or Neocate. You can buy these over the counter. We started with Neocate, which was soundly rejected by DS, and I am not surprised as it tastes like chicken-flavoured water; then we tried Aptamil Pepti and we were very lucky this was broke down enough for him, and palatable enough for him to accept it, tastes like Horlicks.

You may have to these specialist formulas in advance, or, I bet you can order hypo formula online now.

Either way it really does need addressing sooner rather than later for everyone's sake.

Hope it gets better for you.

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