screaming dd aged six half weeks - help

[katherine2008]

just a sanity check, dd has been crying most of the day, i've managed to calm her for short periods then she has woken screaming again. i did take her in the car to a friends and she slept in arms for an hour then back to hysteria< screaming in arms, eventually quietening but won't be put down. she won't take a dummy at all today, doesn't have a fever but is overheating due to crying so we have the back door open! we switched her from easy digest to normal formula on saturday no probs over the weekend but we will switch back on next feed. just wanting someone to say this is normal or not really! i am feeling very tearful and not coping! help

Didn't want this to go unanswered, DS went through a stage of terrible colic around the same age so I know how hard it can be.

Have you got a sling -- I found it saved my sanity during the stage where he wouldn't be put down. It's supposed to help the colic as well. Also just taking him out for a walk in the pram, even if he screamed the fresh air helped me a little!

Some people find Infacol/Colief/gripe water help, might be worth a go?

Mainly though, try to remember this stage will pass very quickly. Hang in there

thank you - we use infacol but can we try gripe water yet, or is she too young? fingers crossed for the weather tomorrow so we can get out. do you think this sounds like colic then - I feel so stupid not knowing what is wrong with her and a bit useless!! and there is only so much crying one person can take. thank you so much for replying - you are very kind!

Colic only lasts until the baby is about 12 weeks old - my son had it - absolute nightmare but it did go I promise!!! You're doing all you can - check with NHS direct re the gripe water - I'm almost sure we used it at that age.............

I think gripe water is OK after 4 weeks? It'll say on the bottle anyway.

It sounds like it could be colic, although not everyone agrees on what colic is, or what causes it. The NHS has a good factsheet on things you can try to soothe her, here.

Also remember to look after yourself. If it's all getting too much then it's fine to put her in her cot for five minutes while you go and have a cup of tea and a breather.

And of course if she does get feverish or seems unwell (apart from the crying obviously!) then give NHS Direct a call.

i think i'll call our hopeless health visitor tomorrow if we all make it through the night! i have noticed today that she was sucking after her feed - i wonder if she is hungry as well as everything else, if this is colic? she is taking 4fl oz seven times a day - does this sound right or should i think of increasing (once we are back on the easy digest!!!)

Is she wanting to feed? I know babies have a growth spurt around 4 to 6 weeks so it could be that. You might need to offer feeds a bit more regularly over the next few days.

VVVQV makes a v good point, I forgot about growth spurts!

could she have belly ache constipated? my ds was teething at that age no teeth until 6 myhs but teething pains from 6 weeks

if draining bottles then make feeds an ounce bigger my ds at this age was on 6 oz bottles as kept draining them

i was told as soon as drinking whole bottle none left its time to up the feed to an extra ounce and so on until on solids

give a bit of gripe afyter feed so not likely to get wind but sounds hungry feed as and when and not on a so many hourly basis i was demand feeding for quite some time with ds as went through bouts of not drinking much then needing another bottle and a top up

will add i spent alot of money on infacol and gripe water had an affect infacol had none on my ds

another thing i was told to raise head of moses basket with towel or pillow or cot mattress

leave sitting upright for 10 mins after each feed before settling down it did help alot and to wind after every few ounces taken to help prevent big gas build up

dont let them drain bottles as taking in too much air hence the adding an extra ounce hope something helps

if appears belly achey a hot water bottle on your lap with a towel over and lay dd on belly on water bottle and gently rock and rub back so soothing for them if in pain

thank you - we've just fed her and she is still licking and pushing her tongue in and and out. it's hard to know when to demand feed as she is crying all the time at the moment - shall we feed every 2 hours through the night and see what happens? she has always drained her bottle since she went onto formula so it's hard to know where to stop but will keep going - and will try gripe water tomorrow - she had a poo this morning so not sure she's constipated. will try more feeding - thank you

Sounds like a plan

She'll refuse if she's not hungry.

Remember HV saying aim for them to leave 1oz at the end of each feed, then you know they've definitely had enough.

if not drinking properly make sure she doesnt have thrush of the mouth quite common in bottle fed babies my ds had this if tongue is white and furry looking and white doesnt come off when wiping may need antibiotice my ds was a different child once they were in him works quick

if its not then feed regualy do 4 oz every 2 hrs or up the feeds to 6 oz and see how she settles and for how long with my ds i kept a diary so i knoew what he fed and when he fed and when he ppoed so i could try and work out what could be wrong

then i could see how often he fed and how much

thank you will up feeds and try gripe water. you are all very kind

hope all went well last night for you x

we upped her milk and she slept for nearly six hours, longest ever!!!! she is very snuffly and was very dozy today so I think the start of a cold on top of colic was just all too much. you guys are all so helpful though - my husband thinks this site is amazing! xxxx

Katherine glad things were better last night, hope tonight is the same for you.
My HV is great and recommended massaging Ds's tummy in an anti clockwise circular motion to help with colic/reflux as he was continuing to suck after feeds (reflux), he is bf so might be different with ff babies