Hi All. I wondered if anyone has had the same experiences and would share/ suggest alternatives I could try and alternative routes to explore!
My 6 week old for the last 5 weeks has been having;
- Excessive crying and screaming/ irritability, inconsolable for long long periods, unable to settle
- Even after feeds/ unsettled with feeding
- If can console will settle for 20 minutes then starts crying again
- If can’t console will get so worked up, is hysterical, arches back, extends all limbs, flails limbs, goes red and hot/ sweaty, tears
- The above is only waking hours 9am- 10pm, the 2 night feeds at 3 and 6 he feeds well and drifts to sleep after
- Not sleeping/ relaxing/ fights sleep, will only sleep for 6 hours overnight (broken into 4 hours then 2 hours around night feeds) fights sleep any other time, I can get down but will last 20 minutes before wakes
Seen GP and Paediatrician at hospital. Feel it is reflux and colic
Tried the following
- Check nappy
- Check temp
- Check clothes/ nappy not too tight
- Offer feed- feeding signs/ preempt to reduce crying/ air swallowing
- Infracol x2 before feeds- tried for 3 weeks but hated sensation of it building inside
- Gripe water 5ml x6 day- preferred this as forced wind out, now is settled passing wind- only thing that has improved! have not weaned down
- Gaviscon infant 1 sachet with 5ml cooled boiled water x6 day before feeds
- Omeprazole 1.6ml x1 day before first feed
- Calpol infant for pain relief
- Feed lying down or head up during feeds
- Feed off both breasts, burp/ rest between, ensure fully fed and not crying for hunger
- Comfort milk (aptamil pepti) thickener top up to ensure fully fed and not crying for hunger- never takes this so I’m assuming is full after breast feeding
- Burping during/ after feeds unless goes to sleep
- Or kick out on mat
- Electric rocker/ bouncing chair
- Head up after feeds
- Head up on cot
- Reflux head up change mat
- Change on side to avoid any discomfort caused by lifting legs up towards stomach
- Settle in side lie hold on tummy on one arm or lap
- Holding/ carrying/ motion- over shoulder/ up down rock/ cuddles into chest/ horizontal sway/ flat across lap
- Quieter room
- Darker room
- White noise
- Shushing
- Singing/ talking
- Play with baby/ toys
- Pacifier/ sucking finger
- Warm bath over baby’s tummy
- Kick nappy free
- Car
- Walks/ pram
- Leg bicycling
- Tummy massage clockwise
- Osteopath/ cranial sacral therapy- did 3 sessions but no effect
- Started dairy free diet one day ago but I have minimal diary diet anyway
I feel my days are like Groundhog Day- nappy/ feed/ cry inconsolably between 9am and 10pm. It’s really really worn me down this last week as I just can’t console baby and have constant crying/ screaming and I feel completely empty :( I’m ashamed to admit empty of not just energy but feelings for baby :( :(
Thanks in advance