The great non-sleepers, newborn and beyond.

[NinaMarieP]

Thread number four (I think).

Welcome to all past posters and any new ones who are also up at all hours!

@Jellybean2017 To be honest, our GP only said it should be given at about the same time every day. I give it to him in the morning before a feed - if I do it after he's more likely to throw it up.
The dose also has to be increased as the baby puts on more weight.

I really feel for you, it's such a hard position to be in I'd definitely try to get a second opinion, both on Omeprazole and definitely on controlled crying, as this doctor does not inspire confidence at all. Omeprazole neutralises the stomach acid which affects digestion so you wouldn't want to give it to the baby if the problem might be something else.

As for controlled crying - without passing judgement - I'd try to explore all other options first as it's such a nerve wrecking process for both parents and babies. I took a peek at the sleep training thread, the OP had to listen to her baby cry for 80 minutes and that's with gentle training - I think I'd sooner throw myself out the window than be able to do that. Why put your baby and yourself through that on the back of one dubious opinion?

@AMagdalena yes he does spit up... Dr just felt his tummy, listened to me explain symptoms and said no its not reflux. But then later when DS was crying he said he would prescribe the omeprazole! He offered to refer to sleep consultant but they are all 2+ hours away and DS screams on all car journeys.

Thanks @ven83 - I don't really want to give him medication if he really doesn't need it. I doubt we will be able to get a second opinion as they just haven't taken our concerns seriously through this whole process. I am on medication for postnatal depression as it's getting me down so so much. I knew sleep would be limited and can cope with that to some extent but it's the near constantly screaming that is so hard to hear. And that won't be helped by sleep training!! It's reassuring to know my baby is not the only one like this but sad to know others are facing the same battles.

@Jellybean2017 I'm so sorry that you're going through so much. It really is so hard I know I sound like a broken record but I'll mention probiotics again as I really do feel they made a difference for us. And particularly if you're going ahead with Omeprazole - it neutralises stomach acid and some of the gut bacteria so probiotics help to balance it out. It took about 10 days of continuous use for us to notice a difference, some people notice it instantly, depending on the issue you're trying to tackle. Unfortunately with colic and reflux sometimes you just have to wait for their guts to mature but probiotics can help speed it up. There's research that shows babies cry less when taking them so it might be worth a try. It can't hurt in any case, if you stick to the recommended dosage.

(Hugs) you're doing so well to cope with this.

@Jellybean I wonder why the Dr was convinced sleep training would help?! If your DS is very unsettled, screaming outside of bedtime and naptime, then there is something bothering him...clearly.
I am really shocked because while I can understand why he'd suggest some form of sleep training (some people don't immediately discard the idea), I really don't get why he recommended CC! There are other, less drastic methods.

Btw, I am going to spend some time with my family over Christmas and my mum is very keen on getting DD nap in the pram or cot (no crying involved, apparently). I say GOOD LUCK 😂

@AMagdalena Ooh please share her secret if she cracks it :) I took out DS today in a pram, we normally use the sling but I had to go shopping. He cried for 30 minutes, slept for 10, then cried for another 10 minutes until we got home. If I'd used the sling I know it would've been 3 minutes of crying, 7 minutes of staring at things and 40 minutes of napping. And then my mother wonders why I rarely use the pram.

Thanks @ven83 and @AMagdalena. Appreciate your kind words. Will look at probiotics if we decide to give the omeprazole.

@NinaMarieP, how do you think the doctor should 'get off their arse and work out what it is'?
Just curious, do you have medical experience?
As a doctor and mum of a difficult baby with medical issues, I sure wish it was as easy as getting off my arse and working out what's wrong with her! Unfortunately basically any form of testing is near impossible or too high risk in such small babies.

Yes, I trained as a paediatric nurse. I know it's not always straight forward but it is entirely unacceptable to say "I don't think you have X condition but I'll treat you for it anyway."

If you don't honestly believe it's reflux then giving reflux medication is at best useless and could even make things worse.

That's what worries me, don't want to cause a new problem if he doesn't need the medication

@Ven83 I shall certainly let you know! I can't wait to sit back and put my feet up while my DM cracks on with DD 😂

@Jellybean Such a difficult situation for you. Couldn't you trial the meds for a couple of weeks (not sure what the side effects are, though) and discontinue them if no improvement?

Totally not caught up on the thread-sorry, it moves pretty fast! Going to make an attempt tomorrow and see if I have anything useful to add, being slightly further down the line.
Meanwhile, Is anyone else getting into bed now? Just got DS down, would love to go downstairs and sink a beer with my lonely DP (I'm making that up, he's probably quite happily reading football gossip uninterrupted) but if I do, I will obviously be woken every 45 minutes upon my return, with a final alarm at 4am.
So I'm going to bed too to maximise sleep and attempt to not be (such) a shambolic, crumbling mess tomorrow
Another wild Friday night.
To be fair this beats the 7.30 weekday bedtime though.

@Jellybean2017 you are doing brilliantly and getting conflicting advice is so challenging. We did sleep training with dd when she was 15 months (ish). It's hard but glad we did it. We would have started it earlier (say, 9-12 months) but she was unwell with constant ear perforations and advice was to ensure babies are well before starting. That makes sense, really, because then you can be (more) confident that they are not crying because of pain or discomfort relating to illness. I really hope you get answers soon

@6monthsandcounting yes! Me! I'm normally asleep by now but I've had a late one tonight so just winding down. Dd is in bed asleep. Ds is downstairs with dh, and dh will bring him up to me at midnight. So I very minute I'm awake now is a minute of sleep lost. But I'm more relaxed as it's the weekend.

I have just settled DD in the cot (she'll last 20 mins, like, but nevermind) as she woke up 5 mins after being put down.
I feel like I should do this every day as it will encourage her to self-settle (who am I kidding?!), but I am gessing it would need to include naps...Too much hard work 😂

Ok. I am off to bed now.

I think this was/is our worst evening yet. How can a not-quite 4 week old still be fighting sleep not having slept since this afternoon?!

It was DH Christmas party tonight so DM was on babysitting duty. DS Has a cough and a cold but thought we would try it as we were only 10mins away.

Sadly he wouldn’t settle so we came back. Poor DM had persevered through 3hours of grumpiness. He’s now settling but I don’t think we’re in for a great night. He just seems so sad.

Is anyone up? I'm on feed #1 after ds went down at 11pm. We had a busy day with post natal group and coffee with a friend that ds tried to stat awake throughout for and got overtired. Hes now doing a fairly pitiful attempt of feeding by his standards.

Would also not be keen on the controlled crying at this stage

Feed #1
Ds has been grumpy today and wanting to be fed a lot. He's been a bit mean to my boobs and has been catapulting them and squashing them whilst feeding which has made me a little sore. He's been quite grumpy and hasn't slept much in the day. Dh was home later than planned from work so I gave in and gave ds a bottle. He guzzled 150ml really quickly. I then took dd to a sports class this event I g and took ds with me as dh wasn't home. I also took another bottle and about 2 hours later he guzzled 180ml. Another couple of hours and dh have him a top up and he went to sleep around 9pm. He's only just woken up! That's a long sleep for a little boy that normally only sleeps for 1-2 hours at night between feeds.

Anyway, my boobs are full to the brim and he's just emptied one. Hoping that'll keep him going for another few hours although because I went to bed 8:30 I've had a decent chunk of sleep only now having woken up.

Makes a change from these difficult nights of late.

But it does make me think he can do it..... but chooses not too most of the time

Why do men take so long to wee?
Dh dropped off ds with me in the bedroom. I changed his nappy and put him in his sleeping bag and then thought I'd nip to the loo before I feed him.
Dh was having a wee. We only have one loo. Ds was crying in the bedroom. I was dancing on the spot and dd was asleep in her room just next door to where Ds was crying.
Hurry up! I say, he just suggests he is already but no sense of urgency whatsoever. He scoffed at my 'pee faster' comment. Like, can men not do that?

So wow. Tonight is a bit different. DS was found to have posterior tongue tie and upper lip tie yesterday morning and thankfully we managed to get it treated yesterday late afternoon. He had been fed before and had some more after (blood everywhere poor mite) and then fed on and off for the evening.

Gave him a proper feed at 21:30 then I went up to the spare room to sleep with DH doing the next feed. Well, I woke naturally at 04:45 wondering what on earth was going on... my boobs were huge and painful and the house was silent! Looked at the app and DH has fed him at 01:30... so that’s four hours between feeds and now 3.5 since the last one... I had slept for over six hours solid! Not done that since before DS was born. Feels very odd.

Was hoping to get to 05:30 so would be about her four hour stint but not much later DS we woke so feeding him now, 3.5 hours after last feed. My boobs are so relieved!

Cannot believe what has happened. It’s like we have a new baby and I know it will continue to get better. He probably could have gone longer but his cramps kicked in and woke him, and I know those should go down now the two ties are fixed.

@GingerHanna How positive! Hope things keep on improving for you.
I think DD might have lip tie, but seeing as I want to wean her off the breast at 6 months, I"m not sure there is much point getting it sorted at this stage.

Well' DD lasted 2 hours in the cot, then another 4hrs next to me and now she's brewing a poo, I think...
Not too bad, overall.

Half hour feeds... whose baby is this? He’s gradually settling in his crib now... took a while to get there and he is grizzling as his cramps still hurt but think he will be okay. Just started pumping (boobs desperately need it!) so really hope he doesn’t need me back!

How old is your LO @Amagdalena?

Trying to settle DD who keeps crying because she is constipated and DH leans over on his sleep and pats her on the arm going shhhhh. She immediately stops crying