Newborn distress

[kksm]

Hi all, looking for advice.

We have a 4 week old baby girl who is our third, and since birth, she cries to the point of shrieking/distress unless she is asleep or feeding (and sometimes she is shrieking while feeding!) It seems to be a reaction to over tiredness/getting herself to sleep and while it’s fairly easy to get her to sleep in arms or in a sling, she won’t sleep/go to sleep in a cot, buggy, car/car seat, any other baby sleeping device. She lasts 2 minutes comfortably, and is distressed by 5-10. Motion doesn’t help and unless in the sling/arms seems to make things worse:

It’s becoming difficult to juggle my older two with my husband back at work and no method other than the sling to do things which isn’t always convenient (ie out walking in the sun it’s hard to protect her, toileting/showering me and the older kids/eAting).

The gp is treating for reflux, 10 days in and no improvement in the shrieking although she definitely has reflux as she is spitting up after all feeds and vomiting after some, and and you can hear the classic reflux sound. I have also gone dairy free as of today to see if there’s any difference.

Has anyone experienced similar? Is it an age thing?

Have you tried a dummy?

Sorry - brief reply. In a Zoom thing but I am a bit bored!
Have a read of this

www.babydoc.com.au/faq/colic-bore-your-baby-to-sleep/

And google 4th trimester/purple crying.

What is she on for reflux? My eldest had it and my 5 month old currently does, and we didn't see an improvement or things settle until she was on Omeprazole as well as the Gaviscon.

I would also second trying a dummy, it helped ours with settling.

The lack of settling in a cot or car seat could be due to the reflux as its an uncomfortable position with reflux. We initially had a moses basket and we put books underneath the head end of the stand so that it was tilted which helped.

Can you put her in the bathroom a bouncer chair when showering.. the position is better than flat on back for reflux. The prob is you need to watch them when very young, that they don't slump forward if they fall asleep, as they aren't held like a car seat - so only use when you can watch them. I would of thought car seat would be ok as up right.

I have a now 5 month old now and a nearly 4 year old and I've just let her nap on me and if I have to get up I do and she wakes. We've done walks in the sling .. Sun hat, leggings and suncream if feet exposed. Babies love to be held I go with it. She's been extremely sicky, but finally improving. I don't know if it's reflux, but I heard giving medicine to bf baby's was difficult so left it, she gains weight fine.

Thanks, OP here.

She won’t take a dummy- screams if she does and occasionally it might work for a minute but then she spits it out

Have tried all the tips suggested throughout thread and none have worked.

At night, we gave up with cot in short term and have managed to get her co sleeping (which she wouldn’t do initially) and she sleeps ok during the night, waking every 2-3 hours. She tends to sleep on my arm half on her back half angled to me. I would prefer for her to be in a cot though as it’s safer.

Keep the advice coming please! And thanks to everyone who has taken the time to reply so far

Cmpa or other allergy?

Thanks. I cut out dairy in Monday and apparently it takes two weeks for it to take effect as the lining of the stomach Gets damaged with an allergy and has to regrow. Apparently there’s only a 0.5% chance that it is that but I’ll try anything!

It does seem like reflux. BTW be cautious about her sleeping on your arm - it can push them into a chin to chest position which is a SIDS risk. Sorry, I know it is tough to get them to sleep at the best of times. Info is from here - perhaps just make sure your arm is under her shoulders rather than just head?