Worried sick about 6 week old

[Muppet7410]

I have a 6 week old baby girl, she's my second child. Since the start she has never been quite right and I can't put my finger on it. I've seen 3 doctors, one of which a private paediatrician all of which have suggested different things.

Baby's symptoms are:
Sometimes chokes while bottle feeding.
Is uncomfortable after feeding - writhes about and climbs up my body.
Has an intense, distressed cry and goes rigid. This is much worse of an evening but can also happen anytime of day or night and is inconsolable.
Hiccups.
Grimacing.
Very rarely awake and content.
Difficult to settle.
Doesn't sleep much.
Has cold, pale hands.
Doesn't settle after night feed, will generally grunt and cry.
Wet farts.

One doctor thought it might be CMPA but the milk we tried was so thin it kept coming up and even out of her nose. Another doctor thought I was a neurotic mother and told me babies cry. The doctor we saw privately suggested reflux and to try gaviscon and ranitidine. We've had one dose of gaviscon so far, we're to introduce ranitidine if the gaviscon doesn't help.

I'm worried sick because I'm dubious whether it is even silent reflux.

I'm struggling to do even the essentials of personal hygiene and eating because she cries so much. I haven't slept for more than 3 hours a night for 6 weeks. I'm worried it could be something more serious.

Any advice appreciated and welcome. Thanks.

I am only clutching at straws here, and comparing your baby with my granddaughter when she was a baby. She had similar symptoms to your baby and it later turned out that she was allergic to dairy and was probably very uncomfortable with cow's milk. It may not be the case with your baby of course, but you could mention a possible dairy allergy to your doctor and see what he or she thinks.

I have no advice but didn't want to read and run! Poor you and her, hopefully someone will come who can help

Sorry, I have just looked up CMPA and realised you have already gone down this route.

I second dairy allergy my husband had this when he was baby and he had the symptoms you describe. Reason why I know this is am currently pregnant and had a long discussion with mil about the husband when he was a baby

Silent reflux? Skip the gaviscon and go straight to ranitidine. Saved our sanity with DS!

(Saw German GP who told me gaviscon is a bit pointless but always prescribed first on nhs for some reason)

what milk did you get? Perhaps is cmpa and reflux you can be prescribed something to thicken her milk a bit and also the gaviscon will help with that too. But the milk and the anti reflux meds work by building up in her system so you may not find any improvement for a few weeks. Soul destroying I know. If after this time ask to be referred to a paediatric dietician & back to paediatric consultant.

Will she let you swaddle her? Sometimes babies with reflux prefer to be swaddled firmly - usually with a Muslin to stop overheating but they just like the security I think, I used to babywear with my youngest as I couldn’t put him down, it’s exhausting but just remember it’s not forever, it’s worth trying these things for a few weeks then speaking to gp hv etc. I’ve seen babies similar to your admitted overnight for observation as it helps to see the issues and have nurses document how she behaves/feeds to give drs a better picture.
Hope things start to improve, but to insist on further help if they don’t

Does sound like something is upsetting her stomach and causing wind. Reflux/colic maybe Both P proteins etc my DS was similar, grew out of it by 2, but did have to be careful around hard to digest foods when he went on to solids.

Has she been checked for tounge tie

Nanny care goat formula
My son was like this
It changed his whole health

Sounds similar but not exact to my little girl.

Gaviscon made my 6 week old extremely constipated so we moved straight on to ranitidine which has helped but she has slightly looser poo than normal.

I agree with checking for milk allergy but speak to your gp, try and record the sounds for them, that's what I did.

Also if you can make her crib on a slant to help with reflux, I have a next to me crib which can be lowered at one end, however she sleeps in her pram bassinet in it.

Hope this helps

My baby was a bit like this though not as bad. Goats milk formula helped and having her in the front pack as much as I could, as per lactation consultant's advice. She also had a tongue tie treated.Things improved a lot around 12 weeks for us. Hope you see an improvement soon

I'd definitely try the formula prescribed again but like others have said maybe use a thickener like carobel.

Allergy UK has some really good information on CMPA here. It might be worth giving their helpline a call too and talking all if this through with them.

As for coping, can DH get up a little earlier and make you a sandwich for lunch and have her whilst you shower and get changed?

As a pp said, try wearing her in a sling. Hopefully it will ease her symptoms and calm her and it will give you both of your hands back

Can DH have her for a couple of hours on the evening or even just take her out for a long walk or drive so that you can get some sleep?

And definitely make sure you get a lie-in at least once a week.