6 week old miserable cryer!

[Loucla]

My little girl is 6 weeks old almost 7 weeks and what I can tell completely bloody miserable all of the time! She seems to spend every waking moment screaming. I find myself living for her naps and the night time as she sleeps relatively ok at night. Just writing that makes me feel awful and like the worst mum in the world.

She does have reflux dr at 6 week check didn’t seem concerned said as she’s putting on weigh it’s ok and something she will grow out of which I know she will but that doesn’t help now! She will have her bottle between 3-4oz and will bring some bk up over the course of an he or so. She’s feeding ever 2-3 hrs. As soon as she finishes the bottle she screams. I can’t sit down with her for more than 5 mins. Can’t distract her with tummy times and toys etc.

Everyone keeps telling me this is normal but surely this can not be normal! Does anyone have any help as I’m literally close to a break down!

Cmpa?

Hang in there lady. Mine was the same and it's shit. She will get better

Is she on Infant gaviscon? If not take her back to GP and ask if it possible to try it as she seems in pain/discomfort. I didn't push hard enough with my reflux baby and is a regret as it stressed us both out!!! (She is is now 9!)

Mine was the same. Fight for Gaviscon and if that doesn't work omeprazole.

Never lie down until an hour after milk.

Let her sleep on you if needed.

Happiest baby on the block is a useful book with advice.

Get out and do buggy walks or baby carrier walks.

Look up fourth trimester theory.

It will pass. We've had our second and she is nowhere near as difficult so sometimes they just don't settle so well to the world. Once they start smiling, laughing and doing more then it get easier.

It’s so tough having a baby like that, DS2 was exactly the same, I can remember how exhausting and upsetting it was. It will get better, just takes a little while. Take an offers of help you can get OP, would be my advice.

Maybe she has a milk allergy?

Also tummy time hurts for a reflux baby sometimes. Toys it's too early really. If she is screaming after milk she is probably in pain. Hold her and walk around until it passes (also get the meds!) - use ear plugs if you need. Make sure no trapped wind.

Is she getting enough sleep? Newborns can only stay awake for 40-60 mins sometimes which isn't enough time for a whole lot more than feed and nappy.

You can't distract a young baby from crying with toys. That works sometimes when they are older but if they are little they are crying because a need isn't being met - even if it feels like they don't even know what the bloody need is! You also risk over stimulating when they just want comforting.

You're at the peak of it probably. It starts to dissipate from 8 /12 weeks for many fussy babies.

Do you have support from a partner or family. I also felt close to a breakdown at the time, still scarred many years (and one happy second baby) later. I wish I had asked for support irl at the time.

Thanks for all your replies! Took her to GP at 3 weeks gave us carobel. Had 6 week check today and GP didn’t really seem interested just kept saying as she’s putting on weight she’ll grow out of it. HV is coming tomorrow so will speak to her about it. No one seems interested! Will ring drs and insist on some more help if I get nowhere with HV tomorrow.

It’s just heartbreaking thinking she’s so miserable 😩. I’m not sure about cows milk allergy no ones mentioned that before I’ll look up symptoms.

I keep telling myself it’ll get better around 12 weeks but it hard when I think we’re only at 6/7 weeks I feel like I’m wishing the time away!

She hates the car seat and the pram so it’s difficult to get her out in a walk for either.

Im trying to stick to the 40-60mins awake time but my god does she fight sleep! X

I’ve read crying peaks at 6 weeks so it should get better 🤞

She may be picking up your stress and reacting to you try to keep very calm so that she doesn't pick up on any stress and tension that you are feeling. make sure she is not too cold or hot. My dd was too cold when we first brought her home from hospital and cried all the time. Is she crying while you are holding her?

To be fair, doctors were absolutely shit with us, just like ‘yeah babies can be like that’

Funny how when we removed dairy and soya it all went away 😬😬😬😬.

Keep going, your baby only has you to advocate for them. It must be awful with them being so uncomfortable.

Mine was exactly the same … hated her pram, car seat, bouncy chair, didn’t want to be up, didn't want to be down, wouldn’t go to others, just cried all the time. My only saving grace was that she slept through the night from 6 weeks old. She couldn’t be pacified with just any toy, it had to be the toy she had in her head 🤷🏼‍♀️ She crawled at 6 months, she scowled at everyone who tried to talk to her. Fast forward a few years and she was a headstrong, stubborn, awkward little girl who just seemed to want to ruin everything with her behaviour. Fast forward even further, she struggled to fit in with others, it became apparent there was more to her than I thought. I look back to her early days and think there were a lot of sensory issues going on. I don’t know the answer for you, but I do know I tried everything and it made no difference - I didn’t take up offers of help from others, I wish now I had. All I can say is it will get better although that may not help you … accept any offer of help from those around you, keep telling yourself you’re doing great, it’s not your fault, try not to be hard on yourself.

My second still has reflux at 12 months and hasn’t had any medication for it ( joint decision by consultant and I ) she also has cmpa.
I changed my pram over the pushchair setting at about 6 weeks so we could go out for walks. Some car seats are more comfy than others and she might be better in the car seat if her food has settled and she’s ready for a nap.
It could be wind in addition to the reflux so make sure she’s winded. Definitely keep her upright for at least half an hour after a feed. An hour if you can manage it. Raise the head end of wherever she sleeps. Mine slept in a Moses basket on a large footstool so I put a folded up towel between the footstool and the basket.
I was told if they get very upset when they are being sick then medication is going to be effective. Is the carobel causing constipation?

Honestly, both of mine were like this, they were either asleep or screaming, both hated the car seats and would scream, both hated the pram and would scream! I felt housebound with them both! Such a hard time, one I wouldn't want to repeat!
Hang in there it does get better, mine are now 7 and nearly 5.

We keep her upright for minimum 30mins pace feed take regular breaks. She hates being winded over the shoulder sitting down laying on belly. I’ve a million thoughts going through my head that’s there could be more going on! Add on the she’s not smiling yet (although I know it’s still early days) I’m just worrying there something wrong with her development.

Honestly we haven’t really tried the carobel as we didn’t want to throw constipation into the mix. GP said she was reluctant to prescribe gaviscon for this reason and we were in agreement with that. She’s taking 3-4oz a feed maybe we should try the carobel. She’s still feed about every 2hrs as well atm which GP said is too often but when do I do when she’s clearly hungry having thrown up half her bottle!

I feel for you, I have a 4 week old who if he isn't asleep or feeding is screaming, it's exhausting, none of my others were like this, it makes you feel rubbish.

Stick in there.

All mine fed every 2 hours .. I wish health professionals would give up giving out ‘text book’ advice about this and actually deal with real life experience. Mine only started going 4 hourly at probably 3 months old ish. They kept saying to go longer in between feeds, they shouldn’t be feeding 2 hourly, make them drink more 🙄

We did drop her to 90mls/3ozfor her bottles this morning but god love her she was screaming an hour and a half later as she was starving! So back up to 120mls/4oz and see how long she goes between bottles. We’ve also added in 1/2 spoon of carobel to her 2 bottles this morning and so far she’s managed to keep both bottles down! Still unsettled and crying but hopefully that will start to improve! Hopefully avoid any constipation as well with the carobel!

Oh dear, I feel your pain. Went through the same with my second child, and I can tell you from experience, it wasn't fun at all. Don't worry too much about it; it'll get better with time. This Youtube Video might help...you'd find some good nuggets in there. Best of luck!

My baby is 5 weeks old
Just won’t settle at all
Will this get better ❤️‍🩹

Yes it will! I promise!

Since I made this post I have a completely different baby! We started her on carobel to thicken her milk and my god what a difference it’s made she hardly ever throws up after her bottles. She’s a million times more content! It’s helped her reflux no end! She is however still really unsettled of a night we call it witching hour she just will not nap between the hrs of 8pm to 11pm when she has her last bottle unsettled and crying HV said sounds like she has colic too unfortunately but that should settle on it’s own around 12 weeks fingers crossed!

Have you noticed your LO is windy? Could be colic or reflux? I honestly thought I was going to have a breakdown. It’s still hard and we still struggle but we’re getting there she’s 7 weeks now.

Have you tried a sling OP to go out for a walk if LO hates pram? Keeps LO up right while getting out?

When you put LO down do you swaddle? May help?

Have you tried raising moses/side crib when sleeping? Infacol? Think she may be too young for gripe water but most people think that's psychological. Can only say from my experience what we tried it might work 🤷🏼‍♀️

I know a lot of peoe hate them but dummy? Used to help massively with my LO reflux and still does.

My LO fed every 2 hours. Almost at 6 months and she still likes it 3.5/4 hours and the bottle she likes to have some at say 7am and then the rest at 8am 🤷🏼‍♀️ do what she likes. She will take what she needs.

Also when getting baby to sleep I was always laid her on her left side in our arms. Aids digestion or something and helps reflux they say. Helped ours in the bad times.

Also going to sound crazy 🤪 but bigger teat size? Can help some LO with reflux. Did mine. Not sure how it helped but after some research it suggested it 🤷🏼‍♀️

Careful of gaviscon made our LO very constipated. Doesn't with every baby but did ours.

Since going on the carobel she will now happily lie in her pram! Car seat is still a work in progress but much better!

I had the baby carrier out and that works great going to get a sling though as she doesn’t seem comfortable in the carrier just yet.

I’d actually love her to have a dummy atm as I’ve heard that does help she’s very hit and miss with it will take it sometimes will not tolerate it at others.

Will try laying her on her left when holding. She’s a lot better and I’m hoping things continue to improve 🤞🏼 Carobel so far not causing constipation will monitor HV said some
Cooked boiled water any help if she does x