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Original poster

Baby super fussy and constantly screaming

12 replies

MrsBojingles · 09/02/2015 11:14

DD (5 months) is being super fussy and screaming constantly, I'm at my wits end and really don't know what to do. I've taken her to see Doctors and they've checked her over and can't find anything wrong, taken her to health visitors and they aren't worried as she's gaining weight (though she dropped centiles)

She's EBF and since before Christmas she screams anytime I bring her to the breast. I was managing to feed her when she was sleepy, sometimes in the bath, and that was manageable. In the last two weeks however she's got increasingly worse, and will only feed if she's laying on her back and I lean over her (not comfortable at all). I've tried with a bottle but it makes her scream too.

She screams and arches her back a lot, I don't know anyone else who has a baby like this and it's wearing me down. I've got an appointment at the baby clinic this week, but Just hoping someone might have some suggestions as to what on earth I can do to get through this. I'm self employed, but just not getting any time to do any work (DH salary covers us for the basics, but I really need to bring something in also).

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TwirlyCat · 09/02/2015 20:46

Is she teething? Have you tried Calpol 20min before a feed?

TittyBojangles · 09/02/2015 20:48

Sounds like my ds at that age. We put it down to silent reflux, gaviscon helped but too difficult to give to a bf baby, so gp prescribed ranitidine which worked for us.

Original poster

MrsBojingles · 09/02/2015 21:45

Teething - yes, but seems to be constant. She will calm down with calpol, but doesn't always help with the feeding much.

We were given gaviscon to try for possible silent reflux, but it was so hard & distressing to get into her that I gave up with it!

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TwirlyCat · 09/02/2015 22:16

I remember my EBF DD went through a refusing to feed phase at about this age but sounds as though you have it tougher. Have you tried a doidy cup or spoon feeding milk? If it is silent reflux then when you get to weaning this might help. DD was a EBF baby, generally quite miserable and 'high needs' but she eventually just grew out of it. The GP had no answers for me except to top her up with formula which I couldn't do even if I had wanted to as she was a bottle refuser. I spent a lot of time researching (and money on various things) but there was no answer that I came across, sorry that isn't much help is it. If you think she is in proper pain then I would definitely return to the GP.

Binglesplodge · 09/02/2015 22:26

Sounds a lot like my 4 month old: we're trying ranitidine at the moment in the theory that it could well be silent reflux. Gaviscon was hellish but just because it doesn't work that doesn't mean it's not reflux. I'm sorry I can't offer more advice but I have the same problem and don't feel we've got to the bottom of it yet! Sending sympathy though: it's very very hard.

I'll be watching your thread with interest...

alicemalice · 09/02/2015 22:28

If she's calming down with calpol, she's in pain somewhere. No fever or anything at all?

Binglesplodge · 09/02/2015 22:28

I should say that although we have the arching and screaming we don't have the feeding problem: it's worth pestering your doc/health visitor until you get to the bottom of it...

FoxHugs · 10/02/2015 01:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bluecarrot · 10/02/2015 03:03

Have you considered cranial osteopathy? Heard amazing things for all sorts of complaints.
Sounds tough on you all :(
Also wondering about allergies. Would be weird that they just start suddenly though might be worth considering, ESP if she's refusing milk.
How much sleep is she getting? Does anything, rocking her, holding a certain way, pushing in pram, a swing etc help? Does she cry more of held a certain way?
Not saying its this, as there's so many possibilities, but a girl I know had a baby become "high needs" all of a sudden and it turned out to be a dislocated shoulder from when a sibling tried to "help" them roll over. My cousin cried from about 3 months, high needs and turned out she had shallow hip joint and was in pain for 8 months before they found out.

Original poster

MrsBojingles · 10/02/2015 20:52

Comforting to hear I'm not the only one who's been through something like this. HV hasn't really been able to help, kind of feel like I'm annoying her now :( but got an appointment tomorrow, been offered a doidy cup to use with expressed milk, but it's a scary idea tbh. It takes me 20 mins to get 40ml out these days (used to get 120 in about 5 mins).

I've wondered about allergies too, she's been refluxy/colicky from the start, but never tried restricting my diet.

I'm just wondering if she's conditioned herself to a feeding aversion- before all this started she would pull off the breast and scream, go back on, pull off, scream several times over. Now she just won't go near the breast! :(

She sleeps great at night, and feeds wellat night too, I think that's why she's doing ok weight wise at the moment. She'll go to sleep about 7.30, have a feed about an hour later, dreamfeed about 11, then usually sleep through to 7am (sometimes wakes about 4 for a feed)

What helps is holding her upright, cuddled in close, rocking gently and singing to her - calms her right down. Or walking on the pushchair- she's very nosey and loves looking around. Want to try a sling, tried a moby wrap some time ago but she wasn't fussed on it!

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Original poster

MrsBojingles · 10/02/2015 20:54

She cries a lot more if held across my arms - traditional baby style if you get me!

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Bluecarrot · 10/02/2015 23:57

I'm so glad you are both getting a decent rest.

If you could bear it though, I'd try to sneak in a dream feed at 4am. Could you dream feed at naptime or does she wake crying?

Do you feed her with her sitting up or reclined?

A highly recommend slings. We love ours. Have a google for a sling library either near you or an online group who do Skype consults and postal lending, to make sure you are carrying properly ( to keep you both comfortable) And hiring will mean you won't get stuck with one you or she don't like. Think we tried 10 before going back to practically the same one I had for dd1 11 years earlier!

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