Hello
Apologies this is really long but I'm at my wits end and desperate for some advice. My DS1 is 6 weeks, breast fed only and for the past 3 weeks has been having a lot of gastro symptoms - constant green liquid poo, screaming and writhing in agony after feedings and when opening bowels, legs drawn up, spasms, constant crying, won't lie on back, vomiting, flatulence etc..
The past week has been so bad that I can't even put him down to sleep at all as he wakes in agony within seconds of being put on his back or even at a slight incline in the carseat/bouncer. I basically sit up all day and night holding him up right and rubbing his back so at least he can get some sleep. I am completely exhausted to the point of actually hallucinating last night that I was floating above the bed and out of the window it's become ridiculous and I am worried for my sanity.
I have been to the GP 4 times, each time a new thing was prescribed, starting with paracetomol, infacol, colief and infant gaviscon. None of these things seem to have made any difference and stool sample showed no infection. I went back to GP again today. He advised that the reason this is happening is because DS1 is feeding too much at one feed and his stomach is overloaded. He said I need to stop demand feeding and minimise gaps between feeding and do it little and often instead. He suggested I should be feeding for about 5-10 minutes every hour. I had previously been demand feeding by watching cues when baby hungry which was usually fairly long feeds of about 30-40 mins with reasonable gaps in between (3-4 hours). I have just started this new feeding today but now baby is continually crying with hunger and doing hunger cues and I feel racked with guilt by denying him. I wanted to build a relationship of trust with him so how can I do that if I am not meeting his needs.
Can anyone advice, does this GP advice sound right? I am of course willing to do anything but feeding every hour is going to be such hard work when I can barely function. Is baby going to be getting enough food? Also, is 5-10 minutes long enough for each feed? I am literally dreading night times as its always so much worse when my body clock is telling me I need to sleep and there is no chance. Crying my eyes out whilst writing this I can't see any hope of things improving and my nerves are shot to pieces by constantly watching my baby crying. The GP was completely unsympathetic he asked me if this was my first baby and when I said yes he said "well babies are hard work and some are demanding, that's what its like". Fair enough but I have spoken to other parents who say it's not normal for your baby to be crying and writhing in pain all day even if he is gaining weight! Please help, any advice much appreciated!