help! Baby hates nappy changes.

[PeraltaSpidey]

Hello.
I'm wondering if y'all can help. My 6 week old daughter Hates nappy changes to the point she's wailing herself hoarse.
She has trouble with her bowels and is too small to properly poop (she was a preemie so is just at her expected due date now.). This also means that she gets pretty gassy. So I have to hold her legs up and "assist" with her pooping. So I can't be quick every time because I have to check that she's not needing assistance - if you catch my drift.
But during this, she is screaming blue murder, and I'm finding it genuinely distressing because I'd hate to think I'm hurting her. It tears my heart when she's wailing. They don't sound like her pain cries (they're a little bit more like a pterodactyl) but they might be. She's literally inconsolable until her clothes are back on. The Dr checked her on Monday and all her bones are fine. But as a FTM I'm scared of doing something wrong and forever scarring her or making her associate me with the nappy change.
What can I do to make it more bearable for her? Or will she grow out of it?

So I can't be quick every time because I have to check that she's not needing assistance

Do you mean every time she’s passing wind you are taking her nappy off and holding her legs to see if she’s pooing? Sorry if I’ve misunderstanding.
Congratulations on the birth of your DD.

Ah it's hard to hear them cry. Mine used to scream bloody murder too. I used to play peek a boo on the changing mat with her as distraction which worked quite nicely and when old enough to gold things, I'd give her a little rattle or toy (or another clean nappy!) to play with which also kept her occupied. Has the dr given any advice on helping her have a poo?

Mine is 6 weeks and screams. I thought it was normal…

Hi no no sorry.

Every nappy change- not every time she farts. God I'd be there all day and go through about 5 bazillion nappies the way she goes on! Little harmonica butt.

Has the DR advised/prescribed anything to help her poo?

Honestly, whilst it's hard to see them cry, for a couple of minutes it's fine.
She's probably uncomfortable if she can't poo, will feel cold, wants you, doesn't know what the fuck is going 😂

White noise used to help calm my son down.

Wait until she's older and starts rolling mid dirty nappy change and then runs off. 🙈

Congrats on your baby.

She's on a preemie formula still at the moment, as even though she's growing super well she's still tiny (6 lbs). But the general consensus is she'll probably get there in her own little time. If not, we may have to switch up her formula but as it's a prescribed one it's not as easy as that, you see.

The formula itself is prescribed because of her Low preemie birth weight (3lb 6) and she's still tiny despite rapid growth (6lb).
We've been advised a little bit of water and the HV says using a bit of vaseline on the base of her bum. But nothing more.

Mine was the same and stopped crying during changes at about 3-4 months. I think it's normal.

Is it because she is naked? Rest a muslin over her and change underneath it like a tent!

Hello. Gripe water worked amazing for my little girl and still does 2.5ml in her bottle should help with her wind and to help her poop. I used to have to do the same with my little one holding her legs and it was awful. I wouldn’t put it in every bottle but for her wind I would use dentinox colic drops and that helped to x

My girl was like this too! I remember having to take her to get bloods done when she was tiny and she was fine with the bloods part but screamed the place down when I undressed her to let the nurse weigh her 😅 I found putting a blanket or towel down on the changing mat helped at times

How do you make sure she doesn't wee on it? She's like a turbo jet!

Hey,

We're going through a similar phase with my preemie son who we brought home from SCBU last week. What we've found helps so far is:

• keep room warm, avoid drafts from open doors etc and consider swaddling their top half
• towel or muslin down on the changing mat - even better if it's a bit warm
• have warm hands yourself
• use warm water (just from tap) and cotton wool (he hates a cold wipe so if I have to use one I pop the packet on the radiator for a min first)
• one of either myself or my partner helps hold his dummy in and comfort holds his head
• use a barrier cream but warm between your fingers for a sec before applying
• alson we do low lights and a Spotify baby sleep playlist! It honestly feels like we're creating a baby spa experience which is a bit ridiculous but makes it so much less stressful.

Good luck with it!

Here's the playlist we use - first sing makes him instantly calmer!
open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DWZd79rJ6a7lp?si=cLGzIKkhSp-dSI8ajelhJQ

oooh I can answer a parenting question! My DD HATED nappy changes until she was about 12 weeks. To the point that I didn’t go out, because I was worried that I’d have to change her nappy and people would think I was doing something terrible to her in there. I have never heard anything like it in my life, it cut right through me. I tried all the tips and tricks but nope, soul crushing screaming until the last popper on her babygro was done up. Until one day, she just stopped and decided she liked it, all bloody smiles and happy kicking! DH and I were so traumatised we brought it up at nappy changes for months 😂 “oh DD remember when you used to hate this” etc

(now she’s 10 months and bloody hates it again but at least now I know why…there’s things she’d rather be doing 🤦🏼‍♀️)

My DS used to scream every time I changed his nappy. I would dread it! Some great ideas on here. I stuck some black and white baby sensory pictures up next to the changing table and they really distracted him and chilled him out. He's 3 months now and is generally fine during nappy changes.

Oh gosh sorry I've just realised this is an old thread! So sorry, I'm new round here!

That's ok! Now she's bigger she quite enjoys a nappy change!