Excessive crying/ screaming newborn

[FrostyBear1]

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

@Handsoffstrikesagain

I don’t really see what there is to disagree with? I made the point that a baby gaining weight can still have a physical illness. I used my son as the example. Silent reflux means they don’t throw the milk up but still have the pain. I am referring to my particular experience.

You stated that “Crying excessively is not normal. Screaming daily for 3-4 hours plus means there is something wrong”

If the Gaviscon helped a bit it is probably reflux. The acid can still come part way up and cause pain even without vomiting. Speak to HV/GP.

@Handsoffstrikesagain

OP have you explored cranio osteopathy? I don’t know much about it but know many people that have experienced good results.

Funny you mention this. It’s another thing we investigated. Spent £50 for him to look her over, say she was physically very healthy and well and that some babies hate being babies and cry excessively!

@Handsoffstrikesagain

I thought they massaged their heads? I didn’t think they checked the babies over as a GP would? I am no doctor I should say at this point 😂 That’s a shame it didn’t work for you. As I said, I don’t know an awful lot about it OP but may be something to investigate?

He stripped her off, looked at her head and shoulder and alignment etc. He asked about her birth. It was quite thorough. I suppose it wants to be for £50

I would say investigate CMPA too. I know you say you don't eat much dairy but really very little can have an effect. A friend of mine had a baby with CMPA and he screamed his way through the first four months or so until it was diagnosed. She ate a sausage that contained milk by accident after weeks of being dairy free and he went back to screaming for the day, so even if you don't each much dairy, there's a lot of milk and egg in random stuff.

Is your baby constipated? Mine used to be with gaviscon. Comfort milk does the same thing, it essentially just thickens everything.

Mine always put on weight but still had a CMPA despite projectile vomiting everything and spending every evening screaming. It’s exactly what the GP would say, as if putting on weight was the indicator that everything was fine. It used to drive me mad.

Definitely persevere with the dairy free diet. My baby had CMPA and reacted through my breastmilk even though I hardly ate any dairy. It presents differently in all babies. There are some fb groups that might be able to help, search for “breastfeeding with CMPA”, they are very supportive.

FrostyBear1 wondering if you have had any improvement? I'm going through very similar with my 8 week old and am losing hope

@FrostyBear1 @Belle131 have you mums seen any improvement? What worked? How are your babies now?