Colic? Reflux? Allergies? 4th trimester? Seriously frazzled mum!

[PartySuziPlease]

Baby girl is 8 weeks old and since she was born she has been very fussy and uncomfortable. She is exclusively breastfed snd feeds between 12-14 times within 24 hrs. I cannot put her down to shower/toilet/ change clothes without her screaming blue murder. She hates car, pram, bouncer, mat... Basically anything that isnt upright on me. Ive trialled infacol, colief, infant gaviscon all to no avail as its clear she has a digestive problem. Hv has advised me to cut out dairy and eggs as we have a family history of these allergies but it is making absolutely no difference... It had only been 2 weeks though. She cannot lay flat, she wriggles and grunts and eventually cries before picked up. Her poos are either mucusy or like water and just run out of her continously. When feeding she pulls on and off and screams in between burping. She flails and kicks about an hour after feeding. She does become more unsettled as the day goes on, by tea time she is inconsolable.

Looking for any advice... I am frazzled and feel like we have tried everything and the poor thing is still in so much distress.

Im holding her upright after feeds and tilted her cot for reflux.
Ive also booked an appointment for a chiropractor this week.

I dont know what else i can do to make her more comfortable????? She wont go to anyone else apart from me or my husband in short spells. Im barely getting out of the house as its so stressful. I also have serious mum guilt as my wee 4 year old is not getting half as much attention as my hands are always full with baby.

I dont know what else i can do???

I genuinely felt the same as you when my toddler was newborn, I was convinced there was something wrong with his stomach as he was constantly uncomfortable and unhappy. I spoke to so many people like chiros, hv, gp and all confirmed he sounded normal despite him screaming 4+ hours a day and never seeming happy (although nobody saw him in person as March 2020!).

Anyway, best things we found were a carrier so he could be upright and with me most of the day but I could still do things. Also Frida Baby Windi sticks - absolutely amazing, they’re a strange concept but they helped us so much. Most of all, as rubbish as it sounds the best thing was time. You’re in the thick of the colic stage now I’m sure it peaks at 7-8 weeks. By 12 weeks we weren’t great but there was a significant improvement.

Do you have an infant feeding team near? Ask your HV, I found we had one and it was incredible they gave me so much help and advice at this stage.

Thanks so much for your reply @Pen89ox i am exhausted with it all. I know what you're saying about time, it just makes me sad i cant enjoy my tine with her as she is so uncomfortable and unhappy and im so stressed with it all. Will have a look at the windisticks

Ask your GP about omeprazole. I thought it was horrid having to put baby on medicine at such a young age (ours started at 5weeks and weaned off at 6months - 1.5ml a day) but it saved my sanity and baby was so much happier. Obviously do your research first and see if it’s right for you. We had done side effects; mild constipation (she had what I can only describe as playdough poos) & appetite loss (from 35tg centile to 9th but gp & HV & midwives weren’t concerned.

good luck

Have you cut out soy too? That is quite a common one that goes along with dairy allergies. And v annoying as it's in so much stuff!

Thank you, im going to phons hv again tomorrow as thinking omeprazole woukd be a good shout. Soy also thought for allergies, might give it a miss for a few days and see if it makes a difference!

This sounds just like my DS. It got better at 12 weeks. We used the ergo baby sling most of the day. It will get better just hang in there.

You can look at my previous posts to see I was exactly where you are
Omeprazole helped definitely
Reading about high needs babies helped
Time has helped
Xx

Thank yoi, weve crakcked the allergies i think... Eggs and dairy... Her poos are finally normal. Been to a chiropractor who has said she's really tight round right side which is causing discomfort and finally been prescribed omeprazole. Hopefully in a week or so we start to see a difference. Poor wee lamb is hoarse with screaming blue murder.

Also check out the wedgehog to put under baby's head (Amazon or direct from their website)

Colic calm is fab too, sold by some pharmacies you can check online where

Allergens especially dairy can take 6 weeks to come out of the system

All the best!

Omg, I feel ss though I've written it minus the 4 yr old part. I'm so sorry to hear you're going through the same thing, lovely. Even though I can't offer any advice as I'm searching for answers myself, I hope it passes/you find a solution for your little one.
Sending virtual hugs! Stay strong x

I too have an unsettled one - 6 weeks today

Doesn't sound as bad as what you've described bless you but I'm still finding it hard

Little one seems uncomfortable and at night she doesn't really sleep ! Seems to moan grown and thrash around

We've tried changing from cow and gate to comfort, infacol, geipe water and very recently been prescribed aptamil pepti 1 from GP
Nothing has worked yet

We are exhausted and sad we aren't enjoying this time as much as we want to 😞

X

Have you considered going to an osteopath? My son was the same, always seemed so unhappy from birth, we would get maybe 2 "happy" minutes from him per wake window and the rest of the time he was whinging, crying and moving about like he was really uncomfortable. I felt so bad! We took him to an osteopath and that day he was ALL smiles (melted my heart). It takes a few appointments for the effects to last but he's now 8 weeks and he doesn't whinge/cry through every wake window, although he still cries easily when something bothers him (e.g. he hates his car seat). After a super fussy first 5 weeks, he didn't even go through the witching hour 6-8 week period and I really thank the osteopath for that!

Also try to use a hoover/hair dryer type of white noise -- that has also been miraculous for helping him fall asleep (on me) when overtired and fussy.

@Endlesslaundry123 that's interesting as my friend suggested that so we have made an app for next Friday ! Willing to try anything that may help her - I also have a white noise machine coming today! Just would like some rest in the night as no one is sleeping 😴 😞it's miserable x