Colic/reflux/Dyschezia/overstimulation or normal?

[Rooandtwo]

Hello

My DD IS 2.5 weeks old - so probably I am trying to make sense of this much too early.

Most (very nearly every) evenings she is pretty fussy between 4:30 and 10/12/1am worst case. The last few days the crying has definitely increased but in general the pattern is the same with some nights of clear cluster feeding thrown in. She is sometimes definitely not rooting, totally clean nappy but she is straining, arching her neck, crying and intermittently turning red in the face. We think maybe this is dyschezia? Occasionally she spits up some milk, no more than a tablespoon at a time and usually only once or twice a day. I keep her upright for half hour after feeds and burp her often. Only recently has she seemed able to actually burp properly even. She gets hiccups quite frequently, as she did in the womb.

so basically, when I google, all kinds of stuff crops up and I go in circles. In the end I think I’m hoping someone will just tell me that actually at this point it’s ok she is like this and that it’s all to be expected. Is that possible? Or do I need to apply myself to uncovering which exactly if these seemingly overlapping issues is the thing for us?

when she’s screaming of an evening it’s so hard but I also know that in the scheme of things she might well be normal and that things could be worse if that makes sense. I just want to know I’m doing what I should be.

In the nicest possible way I think you're overthinking things and definitely googling too much! (Had to google the term dyschezia - never heard of this! For anyone else, it's difficulty pooping). It's so hard when you want to find answers to what's going on and work out what is normal. Sounds the witching hour to me - totally normal for baby to be extra fussy in the evenings and can last for several hours. It might also be there is some reflux if she's arching her back. But I would say if you're concerned speak to either of your midwife, health visitor or GP for some reassurance and advice 🙂

Thank you gentlemum (an appropriate name). That is basically exactly what I was hoping to hear. If you had to have a license to use google then I don’t think I’d be allowed it to be honest. I need to find a way to ride this out without trying to fix or find reason I guess.

This sounds exactly like how my DS was in his early weeks.

Arching their back after feeding is normal in the early stages as their digestive systems are still developing and it can be quite uncomfortable for them when eating.

The crying in the evenings can be a variety of reasons, often known as ‘Colic’ or the ‘Witching Hour’. It’s believed this is also due to digestion, but not fully known why it happens. My son was the same, often starting at 6pm and sometimes lasting until midnight. Some people give something like Gripe Water or Colief - doesn’t work for all babies but some find it helpful. If you consider this, make sure to check what age they can start taking it. Think it’s from one month for both.

My DS is now 14 weeks and has grown out of the arching back thing. Yours will too. He is occasionally still fussy in the evenings, but not for as long.

I totally get you and am the same with google! In the early weeks when I was up so much in the night feeding I'd be on google searching for answers to every single little thing, I was driving myself crazy! In the end I had to be strict with myself and limit what I could search (e.g. only spend five minutes googling, only read what's on the nhs choices website and not a million others as well). You're doing great, and it will get easier 😊

It sounds very normal, but those early weeks are so hard.
It's happened with both my daughters, one did have reflux but it was very obvious day and night she struggled with reflux. The second was more overstimulation and seemed a bit worse on nights she struggled with wind. She's 12 weeks now and I can't remember the last time she was like it, even tonight she was definitely overtired from poor naps today and was quite fussy, but went to sleep quite easily. It seems relentless at the start but it does pass.