3.5 week old - squirming and grunting

[sunnyfields25]

Hi

My DS is 3.5 weeks old. We've been told by a midwife he has suspected reflux, although if correct I think it must be silent reflux as he's rarely sick. The other symptoms match though, including squirming and pushing away from me when feeding.

The sleep problem we're having is that when DS is put down in his crib at night we have 20 to 30 minutes of peaceful sleep but then he starts squirming, groaning and grunting as if he's in a lot of pain. The thing is he's asleep through all of it. He makes such a lot of noise that I'm unable to sleep through it even with earplugs in. The main reason it's difficult to sleep through is because the squirming and grunting gradually escalates over a period of time until it reaches the point where he needs to get up for feeding again. So in my sleepy state I'm just lying there listening to try and judge when it's escalated far enough to signal he's desperate for food. If he was just sleeping silently and then suddenly started making a noise it would be easier as I'd know he needed feeding. It's the fact that he's always making a noise that complicates matters.

He does the squirming and grunting during the day too every time he's put down to sleep. The only way to get him to stop is to pick him up and then he will sleep fairly peacefully in my arms. But obviously this isn't practical during the night.

I wondered if anyone has had a similar experience and if so how did you go about getting any sleep? Also did your baby grow out of this behaviour at some point? I hate watching him like this as it looks like he's in pain but the health visitor assures me that if he was he would wake up (although as I say it escalates to a point where he does eventually wake up).

Thanks!

My baby (nearly 5 weeks old) does this! Exactly the same, although doesn't really push away from the breast. Doesn't seem to be in pain, and never really cries, but sometimes looks like she is straining.

Midwife & hv said she was just fidgety! In the day I tend to prop the head end of her basket up, incase it is reflux, but not sure its made any difference. Some days she does it more than others.

I just wear earplugs at night, and feed her when she starts to have a little grizzle for food.

Sorry couldn't be more help, but you're not alone with a squirmy baby!

My DD did this too, I was convinced she had reflux or trapped wind or hated her cot or was cold, etc etc etc really though it is usually (not saying your DS doesn't have reflux and that could be it too, especially not liking lying down which is a big factor!) just that they're babies, the digestive system all slows down overnight and as it's all a new sensation apparently that's sometimes why they're more fidgety and grunty then.

During the day it's probably as he's so young that he still wants to be attached to you which is also very normal

DD was about 11 weeks old when I suddenly realised that she barely did it anymore, around then they begin to figure out how to deliberately pass wind apparently which I'm sure helps

It is completely impossible to get much sleep through it, it's described a lot as like trying to sleep on a farm with all the grunting and grumbling going on!

I had this with my first child and now my newborn is the same. I had gaviscon for number 1, but haven't been to see a doctor yet with this one. The gaviscon solved it immediately. Have you tried propping the cot / basket up at one end so baby is at an angle? Also keeping them upright for 20 mins or so after a feed helps, I find

Congratulations on your baby.

Don't worry, this is normal baby behaviour. A swaddle usually helps to calm baby down. Also gentle movement like rocking, swaying, pushchair walk. Finally babies are naturally soothed and calmed by sucking, so try a dummy or feedifeeding to sleep.

The final thing I would say is don't try to keep baby awake. Over 24 hours a day, any time baby wakes you just need to feed, check nappy with a few minutes floor time, have a wind/cuddle and straight back to sleep.

My DS made terrible grunty noises for the first few weeks. He hated sleeping on his back. He's five months old now and can roll over and is much happier on his side or tummy. I did find that a wedgehog (reflux wedge) helped a bit (even though he didn't have reflux!).

Hi, thanks for the replies. Yep we have tried propping his moses basket up but I must admit we haven't bothered with the crib upstairs because it didn't seem to make any difference downstairs. We also keep him upright for 20 to 30 minutes after feeding but again I'm not sure how much difference it makes.

A dummy is something I've not thought of trying so I could look into that.

It is weird that he doesn't do it nearly as much when he's being held. It makes me wonder how much of it is down to reflux and how much of it is to do with wanting to be close to people.

I just wish the health visitor could actually see him do it and say to me yes that's completely normal. At the moment I'm not sure I'm getting across how bad it is by just telling her he's grunting and squirming. It really is quite extreme, and I'm paranoid it means there's something wrong.

Hello!
I know this post is old- but this sounds exactly like my 3 week old. She is formula feed. I sometimes can’t decide if she’s unsettled because of gas or if it’s from reflux. She never spits up- but just like your little one will grunt and squirm and seem restless when she’s laying down. It happens day and night- no real pattern. She stops when I pick her up. Did you ever get yours sorted out? Or figure out what it was?
Any help would be appreciated!
Thank you!

D's did this. In fact he might still but I dont know as I sleep with white noise next to my head now!!! Very normal.

Jumping on an old post.

My almost 3 week old is grunting/snorting and squirming in her sleep. She is breast fed. After she has a feed she tends to fall asleep full at the breast, I will burp her and keep her upright for around 10 mins before putting her down. Sometimes she will sleep soundly for a while before it starts or sometimes the grunting/snorting and squirming will start instantly. She is asleep, but it's loud and she looks like she is uncomfortable. I'm a first time mum in lockdown, is this reflux/colic or just normal newborn behaviour? Thank you

Hi,
Also jumping on this old post as my 2week old does this every day and night. I have recorded it on my phone to show the health visitor and if I have to go to a GP I can show them too.
I am worried that he has an intolerance to cows milk or is lactose intolerant but I have been told I shouldn’t cut it out of my diet.
Really interested to know how people overcome this problem as at the minute I cannot see anything helping.

Hello, also jumping in! My two week old doing the same and think it’s reflux. She’s bringing up milk every now & then but not after every feed. She’s breastfed. Don’t know about anyone else but I’m finding it distressing to watch. She’s seems so uncomfortable at times 😢 and won’t settle after feeds anymore.
Keep reading that this is all very common & normal & we just have to ride it out but it’s so challenging when you’re sleep deprived & feel like you can’t do anything to settle them.
Hope everyone’s coping ok! Just wanted to show some solidarity with you, its not easy...

Hi all, daddy here.

Just sharing my observation from my DD of 4 weeks.

Spit ups are normal as baby's esophagus arent fully developed to hold milk down well sometimes. Unless there's blood or greenish spits, its usually a normal occurence. Just make sure its not frequently projectile spits, as that would mean GERD, if I'm not wrong.

As for the violent squirmings, usually happens for my DD when she had cluster feeds or is super full from a large feeding. Tends to arch her back and thrash her head. Just burp them well and keep them upright for at least 30 mins after a feed. I tend to make the room warmer and lose the swaddle to prevent loose fabric in the crib.

As long as they arent crying hysterically, its okay in my case, just keep observing them for any weird breathing/gagging. In my opinion since non of my peds can give a proper explanation, they could be self regulating their own body to manage the gas and wind, so probably let nature take its course.

I managed my sleep by staying up for 6 hours so my partner can rest, and vice versa. So you could probably discuss with your partner with this method.

This is in no way a medical explanation, just my opinion from my perspective. Feel free to correct me and do take my inputs with a grain of salt.

Good luck to all parents!