6 week old crying constantly, PLEASE HELP!

[Changingoftheguard]

My dd cries from morning until night! No amount of holding, feeding, swaddling, white noise settles her. Sometimes being in the car works but as soon as we're out she cries.

She is bf but even that is a struggle, she kicks her legs and squirms even after getting wind up. She's been checked for tounge tie. I've had mastitis twice and so worried about getting it again.

I have a 16 month old too and I'm finding it sooo hard I feel like she's constantly watching peppa pig and she has to sit listening to her dsis cry alllllll day, I feel so guilty.

I bought a mamaroo today thinking that might help but nothing.

I seriously don't know what to do and dread each day!

As others have said, silent reflux. The acid bubbles up to the throat causing the same pain but then goes back down. It was the arching you mentioned that is a classic reflux/silent reflux symptom. Gaviscon can cause a bit of constipation but in my experience that was far less distressing than the reflux. Ranitidine is typically the next step if gaviscon is having limited effect. Also, reflux/silent reflux is closely linked to cow's milk protein allergy, so perhaps bear that in mind if there's not much improvement with the Gav and/or ranitidine.

Hello! Sounds so familiar. My DS was like this, he had a posterior tongue tie, I saw it myself when he was born (am a HV) and he had it snipped twice, also has a high palette. He was also so uncomfortable so I cut dairy out and honesty the change was phenomenal. No more crying, grunting, wet chest, sickness etc. He was more content. We are slowly re-introducing dairy now at 9 months. It does get easier. Definitely get her tongue checked by someone properly qualified in doing so, it made so much difference to us. Hope things settle for you and your baby is more comfortable.

Honestly that was meant to be

I'd say, from having this experience with my 2 DD's, this is CMPA and silent reflux. My advice would be to cut dairy from your diet if you're breastfeeding or ask your gp for nutramigen formula. I'd also see if you can be prescribed ranitidine for her rather than the gaviscon as IME the gaviscon doesn't work and just causes constipation. I know how awful this I've been there. My two were different babies once we got the CMPA sorted which hopefully will give you some comfort. If you can whilst you're getting to the bottom of it try and get some support. Even if you have a friend that will come and cuddle baby for 20 mins whilst you have a cuppa in another room. My DM was my lifesaver with my DD's. She would come round and take them for walks, cuddle them, rock them etc and I think it's how i held onto my sanity!

Hand hold OP, my DS2 was just the same, we couldn't do anything to help him , he was also BF. I can only assume he had colic or reflux, we had endless visits to the GP, to be told he's a healthy baby take him home!

I know how hard it is when you have a toddler too. Have you got anyone who can give you a break, or take DD1 out for a couple of hours?

On the off chance it is colic, have you tried Colic Calm? That worked for our screaming baby. Just don't spill it anywhere, it's impossible to get the stain out!

Our little man was exactly the same. Exactly! I sort of knew something wasn't right, we got gaviscon for acid reflux and it made such a huge difference. As others have said raise head end of cot a few inches with books under legs and keep baby upright as much as possible.
Gaviscon is messy to do when bf but we did it, mix it in a few ml boiled water then add same again breastmilk n put it on baby spoon. They learn sooo fast to take it so don't worry if it's really messy first few days.
Re constipation, never happened as we only gave 2 sachets a day and this worked, being bf baby is less likely to have this side effect so DO NOT let that put you off!
The gaviscon won't harm but may help so I'd recommend trying it, our baby was literally a different child after. He's 13 weeks now and rarely needs the gaviscon, we know how to tell if he does. It gets way better, trust me I've been where you are only my baby screamed from day 5!
Best of luck, let us know how it's going.

Thank you all so much. Made a desperate call this morning to the gp and they have prescribed gaviscon, she's asleep in the mamaroo at the moment hallelujah but will be due a feed so will try the gaviscon.

Luckily my dsis is a godsend and happy to have dd1 at any time I'm struggling, she doesn't live close close though so would rather me try and get this sorted.

Thanks all so much

Hope it helps OP

Good luck, I hope it works.

Good luck Changing! Let's hope this helps her.

Hurrah! Hope she settles down.

Hope it helps but if she is struggling with constipation then it's likely that this will make it worse as it is known to make babies constipated. If you have any expressed milk it will be easier to give in a bottle as you need to make 15ml of liquid for bf baby. Which is 3 x large calpol syringe, I couldn't get DD to take it at all.

Hang on in their.
I would go back to the GP and ask to be referred to a pediatric consultant as they can prescribe something (I can't remember what it is called!)

Do you have any family or friends who could take the kids our for a couple of hours a day to give you a break?

Speak to your HV, GP , breastfeeding specialist to get as much support as you can.

You need some rest though.

I promise it will get better 💐 xxx

God you poor thing!! My DS had posterior tongue tie and squirmed and thrashed when BF but he didn't cry constantly like and what you are experiencing plus and only happened when feeding and if you have had it checked my numerous people then I doubt that it is. Have you considered investing in a sling? Just worth a shot as if she is struggling with reflux and you mentioned she fell asleep on you upright then maybe you'd get some rest bite if we fell asleep in the sling and you could spend time with your other child? My DS loves it and it is a life saver! My heart really does go out to you, take her to the GP if it continues, cry if you must to get them to realise how bad it is. Keep strong! Xx

I wouldn't cut out any food groups without specialist input. Insist on a referral to a peadiatrician

How are you OP?

Could be colic (awful), reflux, or even milk allergy?

Hi all, well the gaviscon hadn't really helped but I've heard it's came take a few days? The health visitor is coming tomorrow for her 6 week check so im goinbf to mention it all to her.

I'm going to wait a few a few to see see the gaviscon makes any difference and if not it's then on to the dairy I think. I'll try/eliminate/consider almost anything right now!

Luckily my partner has been off work the last few days then went to my dm so everyone has been helping. So lucky and grateful for that!

I suggest you see a lactation consultant as they can do a proper tongue tie assessment (HVs, midwives and GPs are not properly trained) and can also advise on colic / reflux / allergies and whether you should be cutting out any food groups at this point.

www.lcgb.org/find-an-ibclc/

I also suggest that you ask your GP for a referral to a paediatrician. I wouldn't want to waste days and weeks letting them play guesswork with prescribing various things that may or may not work.

My baby was the same and diagnosed as having silent reflux. It's called silent reflux because the baby doesn't vomit so there's nothing to indicate the baby is suffering apart from its behaviour. Basically the baby just has permanent heartburn which is really painful for them.

My DS was initially started on Gaviscon at 4ish weeks of age but because he was breast fed it just wasn't practical at all and didn't make any difference. I went back to the GP and asked for Ranitidine and the difference in him was amazing. He was a different baby within 48 hours.

Go back to your GP, say you don't feel the Gaviscon is working and want to trial medication instead.

It's really hard having a constantly screaming baby so I hope you can get it sorted OP

So many mistakes in my previous post. I'm going to give the gaviscon a try but dd is due her 6 week check soon so will see how we go and mention the dairy thing to the doctor.

One thing though is she's had a lot of bottom wind earlier so I held some warm water over it (only gently but seems to get things moving) and she exploded, it was crazy the amount that came and kept just flowing but there was also like liquid/mucus which after having a read online can be a sign of intolerance.

Maybe I'm just clutching at straws but I'm forever looking for an answer as I know something isnt quite right.

I'm just just worried about cutting out dairy when giving her gaviscon as won't know what the issue is then so will wait a few more days and if no improvement will look at cutting out dairy/speak to doc

Changing,

It is really irritating that gps continue to prescribe only infant gaviscon for reflux. Infant gaviscon is what is known as a food stabiliser only; it thickens the food and makes it more likely to stay down. It does nothing for the pain: rien, nada...

You need an antacid (sometimes called an h+ inhibitor) to prevent the pain, either ranitidine or omeprazole.

Either go back with a more aggressive attitude or ask to be referred to a paediatrician.

Totally agree with larry except I think I would say assertive rather than aggressive

Name,

Agree, assertive is a much better word...