7 week old DD crying. Some help and support please

[Chica31]

Hiya, my DD is 7 weeks old today. For 6 and a half weeks she was an angel. Everyone was very jealous and commented how calm she was. However, a few days ago she started getting more and more upset and grumpy.

Normally she has 20mins or so feeding, I breast feed, a bit of a play for half an hour to 45 mins. When she starts to look tired she has a nap for an hour and a half to two hours. It's all gone wrong!! She is still feeding for the same amount of time, so I don't think it is a growth spurt, but trying to get her to have a nap is nearly impossible. She cries and cries. Luckily, DH and me are teachers so he is not at work at the moment. DH is currently sitting in her bedroom cuddling her. She is still not asleep after over an hour of cuddling.

After feeding her she is happy for about 20 mins then she starts screaming again. SO I wondered if it was wind or a tummy ache. I try burping her, but no wind comes out.

Not helping that MiL is staying for 2 weeks and my SiL fed on demand and shared a bed.

Sorry to ramble I need some help and support

Hi Chica
It could be wind or colic or even reflux. Does she throw up her feeds at all? Is her weight stable?

Not that I believe that feeding on demand and sharing a bed is wrong, it's just not what I choose to do. Or maybe thats the problem?

She threw up a bit last night at midnight. Her weight is very stable and she is gaining about 8oz a week

Thanks for helping

Why has it suddenly happened. What am I doing wrong?

Chica, I doubt you are doing anything wrong. I am a postnatal teacher and I see this all the time. Firstly, colic can just come on - it is usually intense and prolonged crying (up to and sometimes more than 3 hours). Is your baby moving his/her legs up towards his/her body? Do you think it could be wind or do you feel it's something else? If her weight is stable, then it's unlikely to be reflux but not impossible. Does anything stop her crying (jigging around, noise, car etc??)

To be honest the crying doesn't last for long, she is soon calmed, but not asleep with a cuddle. She mainly seems to be just resisting sleep. So of course, it is making her very grumpy and not the happy baby I had before.

Sorry I left I went to feed her.

I have just fed her to sleep and she is now in her crib fast asleep. I'll see how long it lasts. Feeding her to sleep was something I didn't want to do. I've been reading loads and loads of books, but really liked the baby whisperer, which up until now was really working

Maybe I'm worrying about nothing. Her crying doesn't last for long, she just won't go to sleep very easily, she then often wakes after an hour. Before she was napping for 1 and a half to two hours. Her night sleeping is excellent. Last night, she had a dream feed at 11. Unfortunately she was a little sick at midnight, but then slept through until 6am. Fantastic.

Sorry everyone and thanks for your help. Now I've written it down and looked at other postings in more detail I think I am worrying about nothing. I realise some babies cry for ages. I have decided to keep a log to try and keep it in perspective. It's just her behavior changed so much. I like reasons for things then finding ways to fix them. I guess babies aren't always like that.

Thanks

Good luck Chica. The first few weeks can be very tough but it does get better.

Sometimes babies seem to wake up at this age and they sleep less and demand more. I know several people who thought they had 'dream babies' until one day, suddenly they had a real baby I think you are right to think not all baby behaviours can be fixed. Don't worry though, it will get easier

Congratulations on your new arrival! I agree with TheProvincialLady, your little one has woken up! Exactly the same thing happened to me with DD1. For the first few weeks of life she drifted in and out of sleep reasonably easily, often without any help at all. All of a sudden she couldn't do it without help and would get overtired and over stimulated really easily.

Try to settle her as soon as she starts to show signs of tiredness, rather than waiting for her to cry. It may be that she needs something more than a cuddle to go off - I swaddle DD and pop her in the pram and push backwards and forwards. Bouncing on a bouncy chair, jiggling or a sling all worth a try.