colic or fussyness?

[TheBreastmilksOnMe]

My DD is 7 weeks old and has a scream that can rupture eardrums. I'm not sure if she has colic or is just a very demanding baby- the complete opposite to DS! She starts crying about 5pm and will carry on untill 10pm-ish, sometimes getting hysterical. Sometimes we can calm her using rocking, feeding, dummy, and rhythmic sounds such as the hairdryer and the cooker hood, sometimes she will sleep all evening and be fine. It's like she cannot get herself off to sleep. She is breastfed and we co-sleep so thankfully she sleeps through the night and only wakes a couple of times for a feed.

I just want to know when the evening crying will stop and if there is anyhting we can do to help her. We have tried Infacol but I don't really think it makes much difference as I don't think it's a wind problem. Any advice appreciated TIA.

Sounds like classic colic to me. It does stop in the end - they usually outgrow it by 12 weeks (and our DS got better earlier than that with a bit of cranial osteopathy - expensive but worth a thought!) If you have problems earlier in the day with arching her back/fussing over feeds etc.. consider reflux too. Good luck-you will manage, although I know it doesn't always feel like it!

Thanks bethy, she doesn't seem to have any problems in the day so I think it's 'just' colic! She does seem to be getting better bit by bit though and is more consolable than she has been. Fingers crossed!

I had two with reflux, it's like colic but the screaming and fussy feeding can go on all day and night.

I nearly lost my mind so I know how it drags you down.

They both needed medication but i'd say, with or without medication it all calms right down at the 12 week mark. Colic goes hand in hand with reflux so at least the colic clamed down at 12 weeks and we only had the reflux to deal with which was solved with meds.

The most important thing about babies with colic or reflux is that unlike babies without, you can't keep feeding them one feed on top of the other.

You have to give at least 2 hours from the start of one feed to the beginning of the other.

My DS generally didn't want fed too often anyway so it wasn't too much of an issue but DD wanted to comfort feed 24/7. It was then the pediatrician told me about there immature digestion and teh importance of spreading the feeds.

My DH would pace up and down with the hairdryer on so we could spread the feeds a bit and the difference in her was magic.

The hysterical, turning purple screaming stopped!

Hang in there. x

Ideally by 8 weeks, 3 hours would be even better

You'll never forget the cry of a colic baby. It wasn't until I had my 2nd child I realised what a proper baby cry was! I used to have to stand holding DS from 3pm until about 10pm in the evening every night. Try learning a few techniques for baby massage to the stomach and leg area, I found this quite useful. I tried infacol & gripe water but to no avail. They do grow out of it - I know that doesn't help you now.