2 weeks old and miserable

[Whatisgoingoff2024]

Second DC arrived 2 weeks ago, healthy weight and no concerns noted from hospital. She came out screaming and honestly hasn’t stopped crying since.

She seems a very “unsettled” newborn, our first night on the ward all the other babies were sleeping peacefully and she cried all night. The midwives took her from me on the second night so I could have a rest.

Since coming home she has cried/screamed a lot, we can be cuddling her and within minutes she screams out. I feel like I have no bond with her as I feel at heightened stress 24/7 and it feels impossible to soothe her. My anxiety is through the roof and I can’t stop crying. I’m spending hours rocking/swaying/shushing/skin to skin and she is constantly fidgeting around crying.

My husband is back at work tomorrow which I’m dreading. I feel so guilty on my 3 year old and miss him so much.

She is very difficult to wind, she is sick a lot and fights her sleep. She wakes hourly through the night and grunts and strains on repeat. Sleep is non existent.

She is formula fed and getting 1 or 2 bottles of expressed breast milk (my supply is on its way out).

My little boy was a very content/chill newborn so I’m finding it all very difficult. I’m so paranoid something is wrong with her and feel like an awful mum.

Some babies can be really hard during the newborn period. Have you weighed baby? Formula might be enough, but it could be that baby is hungry. Bit of a long shot I think, but worth checking.

Reflux is another possibility - ask your health visitors go to your GP.

Come back and talk through their advice.

DS was like this, it was a nightmare (he’s 15 now and fabulous) unfortunately this is just how some babies are.

But, I’d get her checked over at the GP just to rule out anything being wrong, then maybe try changing her milk, DS had comfort milk which helped a lot.

It’s very likely to be a phase that will pass, hang in there.

I’m so sorry this is so hard. I also have two but my first was exactly like your second and was very almost the reason I was one and done. But my second was very content, like your first. But I really do feel for you. Obviously as you know it doesn’t last forever, it is the natural order of things that there are much brighter days ahead. Could it perhaps be CMPA? My oldest had that.

It could well be that the milk it causing her to be gassy or have reflux. Sometimes it’s trial and error until you find the one that suits.

Not mine, but a friend's newborn, she took her to an osteopath, who did some manipulation. The change was almost instant.

Reflux? We did baby osteopathy too. Life saver

I'd be speaking to health visitor or going to the doctors. Sounds like she could have reflux, a milk allergy or colic. You might need a special formula. If you think wind is a contributing factor you could try Infacol or Gripe Water (my DS had bad reflux but was never unhappy with it, just puked all the time and couldn't be put down).

Thank you for all your advice and words. My husband picked up so colief drops last night and she slept much better through the night. Not sure if it’s a fluke or not. We have the health visitor tomorrow so I will ask about comfort milk etc.