2 week old inconsolable on waking

[happylittleclam]

Hi

FTM to a two week old, we're currently exclusively breastfeeding. Previously DS has been giving clear hunger/wind/sleepy cues, fairly settled and contented, feeding every 2/3 hours and sleeping for decent spells.

Overnight last night and then throughout today though he has completely changed. He is screaming immediately on waking, frantically feeding, fighting sleep and nothing will settle him.

Does this sound like colic? Or maybe an allergy to something I'm eating? Just normal for 2 weeks old?

Really struggling with the sudden change in him and him seeming so so unhappy.

Hi there,

It sounds like colic, I would contact your GP or Health Visitor for further advice. It may be that your baby has a tongue tie where they need a wee help with their tongues in order to latch properly when breastfeeding. If you wanted to supplement but baby is allergic to lactose or milk protein they can offer a prescription formula. Breastfeeding is best though, I am sure you are doing a great job.
Advice would be absolutely no caffeine as it all goes through you to the milk. Stay strong, you are doing a great job and there is plenty of help at hand. Xx

Has he still been having plenty of wet and dirty nappies OP? Just making sure he is getting enough milk, it's so hard to know with breastfeeding!

Will definitely get in touch with our health visitor for advice. Not sure he has a tongue tie as he feeds really well, no obvious issues with latching and has put on good amounts of weight so far.

Yes, still filling his nappies. More wet and possibly less dirty ones today.

I'm thinking wind might be exacerbating things as he is feeding so frantically, screaming wildly when off the boob and not really tolerating being winded, though we do persevere.

He is completely settled atm on DH which is progress!

That all sounds promising. My son was almost permanently attached to the boob too! I think at that age some babies are also hypersensitive (I’m sure my son is) and its not always the feed that they need but just the general suckling that they need in order to feel calm and secure when there are so many new sounds/sights/voices.

Sounds like a 2 week old to me! 2-3 weeks is usually carnage and so is 8-9 weeks ime. It's good the baby is settled with your partner - I used to find this with the "frenzied" feeding. Sometimes I think they just work themselves up with the smell of/proximity to milk even when full so if someone else takes them, they can calm down. Make the most of it and go and have a shower/bath and cuppa while you await the next feed! This behaviour calmed down a lot with mine after 12 weeks so it's not forever.

Could it be cluster feeding? If so it'll only be a phase.

It sounds like the 2 week growth spurt to me, should be done in 4-5 days, another one about a week after

First of all, massive congratulations for BF!!

I bf both mine and I noticed they both suffered with wind after a few weeks (maybe because your milk had come in and they're filling their tummies with it now? Self soothing on the boob so filling up more?)

We tried everything, nothing helped other than constant winding at every opportunity. Figure of 8 on your knees, regularly stopping during bday to burp.

It did settle when they got to about 12-16 weeks, I found bf so much easier at this point too.

Have a chat with the HV see what suggestions they have.

You could try cutting out dairy?

Not hugely helpful but mine was similar, horrible wailing at nappy changes and on waking, basically any time not sleeping or contentedly feeding. HV said it was 'stimulating behaviour' which is designed to make us produce more milk to keep up with their growth spurts. It was hard bloody work! So frustrating but didn't last that long, we're 4 months in now, cluster feeding eased off a few weeks ago and she's a much more efficient feeder which makes it all worth it! Good luck x

And yes, a lot of the time it was wind too, horrendous wailing and then a massive burp, sometimes 20-30 mins after a feed, by which point she'd be starving again and the whole cycle would begin again

Have you tried white noise? My baby would ONLY settle for that in the early days. Loud white noise. Lots available on Spotify.

@happylittleclam i realise this post is from a little while ago, but finding myself in exactly the same position I was hoping you’d be able to reassure me that it does indeed get better?!

We've gone from fairly contented to wild, frantic feeding and not settling just hoping that there is light at the end of the tunnel!

It does get better!!

For us I'm sure it was cluster feeding/stimulating behaviour and only lasted a couple of days. It felt so awful at the time so you have my sympathy but it shouldn't last long.

We did start DS on infacol before feeds which helped with winding and made him more comfortable although he still fed and fed and fed.

With you in spirit!! You'll be out the other side before you know it and on to the next thing haha!