Baby won’t lie on back

[Baskyboop]

My 17 day old baby is EBF. He has been congested for a few days but his nose has been a bit clearer for the last 24 hours.

Over the last 24 hours he has wanted fed every 90 mins. During the day yesterday (mon) he lay on his back in his Moses basket for a couple of naps but his preference was to be held.

Since 9pm last night he has fed on and off every hour or so. He slept in his Moses basket for an hour from 11-12 but now every time I put him down, within 5 mins he is upset.

I can’t bed share as he was born 5 weeks early and is still only 37 weeks.

I’m struggling to stay awake and am terrified of falling asleep with him on me. Any advice please?

Have you got a partner? Now is the time you need someone else to hold the baby while you get some sleep.

It will get better, the first few weeks are tough. Is he warm enough? Are you burping him thoroughly?

@Babychewtoy yes we are taking it in turns to cuddle baby, it’s far from ideal as my partner has returned to work and isn’t getting much sleep but needs must.

He is definitely warm enough, vest, baby grow and love to dream swaddle. He doesn’t really burp if I’m honest. I do keep him upright after feeds and try and burp him but he doesn’t often burp. I also try and help him get his wind out by doing bicycle legs etc.

One thing I have noticed tonight is his tummy sounds a bit bubbly, gassy and gurgly despite my attempts at freeing his wind. I’m wondering if infacol would help

Infacol is worth a shot

Is he being sick? Even if he isn’t look up silent reflux. I’m on my second reflux baby now and what you are describing sounds similar. My 2nd needed medication and thickened milk which has helped somewhat. Sending love, it will get better xx

Also to add it can’t hurt to use infacol but if it’s actually reflux then it won’t help and could even make it worse as it’s acidic.

Colief helped with the bubbly sound for us. But we had lots of other problems too. Namely an inability to burp, just because you can't get burps out, doesn't mean they aren't there

Is he too warm? Vest, babygrow and swaddle sounds hot for this weather, although maybe you are somewhere different to where I am! Are you doing shifts with your partner? One of you does 9-2 and one does 2-7? The first few months can be very hard.

its cooler where I am, room temp is between 19.5 and 20. His love to dream is a lightweight one for moderate weather.

Struggling to do set shifts as such as baby is breastfeeding so often at the minute.

Am I best speaking to health visitor or gp about silent reflux @BellaNutella88? he isn’t being sick.

The Gp will be your best bet if it’s silent reflux. My son had silent reflux and it took me a while to realise because there was never any actual sick ! I’d have a read up on silent reflux and see if it sounds like what your little one is going through but the no burping and not laying on his back sounds like it to me.

the doctors will fob you off if little one is gaining weight and thriving. So you will need to be clear of any discomfort he is in and the effect it’s having on you.

Give him some paracetamol and see if he settles

Oh OP I could have written this myself in the early days. It won't make you feel any better but it is very common and does get better. With my first we would take it in turns to hold her until she was big enough to safely co-sleep which was an absolute game changer and led to much better sleep for all of us. With my second I introduced a dummy quite early but I was more experienced in breastfeeding by then so you want to make sure that's established first. I think lots of babies experience reflux/Colic in this position, it's just not natural for them even though it's the safest. My first was eventually diagnosed with CMPA which didn't help but I think lots of newborns are like this.
In the daytime can you just let her sleep on you and watch TV? My girl never ever went in her moses basket or cot in the day once, it was always on me in the sling. It was so tough but I loved those times watching hours of netflix while she slept. Much easier with one though, do you have any other children?