What is wrong?

[ReginaFlange]

I have a DS who is 7 weeks old. From about a week ago he's started to wake from sleep crying hysterically. Sometimes he is awake and starts crying hysterically too. He appears to be in pain. The crying fits will go on for about an hour sometimes more.

At first I assumed he was colicky. I have a really strong letdown and (Google says) and oversupply which makes him really windy. I spent my life burping him but even successfully obtaining belches doesn't prevent the crying jags.

Im getting worried now because his behaviour is changing. He is waking from his sleep crying almost frantically. He roots for the breast whilst crying and then is almost angry with it, drinking furiously whilst breathing fast, coming off and then almost snapping to get it back. He finally calms down and falls asleep on me but if I move him he wakes. Even on me, he has a restless sleep, whimpering and moving.

I feel I don't know what I'm doing. The crying is making me feel I'm going mad and I'm worried that he is in pain. I don't know if I'm doing the right thing by feeding him on demand? If his stomach hurts won't adding more milk in hurt it more? Yet sometimes he won't accept anything less than the breast to calm down (spits dummy out or cries around it)

Goes without saying I'm not getting much sleep. Can't even drive him around for peace because he wakes in the car seat and cried deafeningly. Also the wakings means he is not getting the sleep he needs and he's then overtired.

Two other background facts:

1. I have another DC so I know this is isn't average newborn behaviour; and

1. DC1 got a tummy bug recently. I wondered if DS had caught it as he had a few poos with mucus in it but I haven't noticed much mucus lately.

Does anyone know what might be wrong? I really need some help.

Best advice is to speak to GP or health visitor/midwife if you're concerned- they'll be able to reassure you best x

Could he have reflux OP? Definitely take him to the GP x

Reflux?
Lactose/Cow’s milk protein intolerance?

The mucus poo can be a sign of intolerance. It might be lactose (rare) or cows milk protein (less rare). In both cases you would need to remove dairy completely from your own diet and then it can take a couple of weeks to leave your system.
How is his weight gain?
Any sign of a tongue tie?

Could be reflux...Lots of babies lose weight as they are afraid to feed. However some babies feed lots in order to soothe the pain from reflux. They often feed very frantically at the start of a feed. Some doctors can dismiss reflux if babies are maintaining normal weight gain but I would go and see a GP for an assessment.

Thank you all. I didn't think reflux because he doesn't vomit at all. Just a bit of possetting rarely. I've made a GP appointment ( I live in London so the best I could get was next Thursday :( ) trying time figure out how not to get fobbed off as just colic and "wait it out"

I had a similar issue, we're at 8 weeks now but has the constant crying including on wake ups from 3 weeks. Saw a consultant and started using Colief. You can buy it in boots near the infacol- different baby from the first feed.
Maybe google it but worth a try as it can't do any harm.

My baby was exactly the same!!!! Your post could have been written about him!

At 4 weeks old it was suspected he had reflux and was put on treatment but things continued, and even got a bit worse, so at 9 weeks of age I was back at the GP who said it was most likely due a dairy allergy, which is what it did turn out to be.

Phone your HV OP. They’ll get you seen sooner than that and should give good immediate advice as well.

They don't have to vomit for reflux to be a issue... mine never did. Have a look at silent reflux and see if the symptoms fit. Hope all goes well with the GP.

Mucusy pooh always says Cows milk protein allergy to me. Try excluding dairy from your diet and see what happens? It can take a month or so to see an improvement, but I noticed a change within a couple of weeks.

My boy was like this. I eliminated dairy from my diet and he improved so much. Even now -he's 15 months - he can't eat dairy without explosively mucous filled nappies. He has goats milk, goats milk yoghurt etc no problem.

The other thing to eliminate would be teething. My daughter started around 8/9 weeks and it took me ages to figure it out.

Ladies thanks for all your support.

To update you: it could possibly be down to tongue tie. DS was diagnosed with a posterior tongue tie when born but they said it would sort itself out. Went to a breastfeeding support clinic and they agreed that the tongue tie could account for the crying as a shallow latch would let air in plus he'd only be drinking the first milk and not the rich stuff at the end. makes sense as he does struggle to keep the latch going and he does want to feed a lot.

Anyway have been referred to a tongue tie clinic. Let's hope this helps.

In the mean time could you try expressing for him?

Who said a posterior tongue tie would sort itself out?? That makes no sense, it would either not effect feeding or would need to be snipped, they don't sort themselves out, I'm sorry you got such poor advice.