What’s wrong with my baby

[OnlyFoolsnMothers]

My 1 month old will only sleep on us- I don’t mean in the newborn attached 4th trimester way, I mean she physically cannot sleep lying down on her back. She makes the most pained sounds, she sounds congested (even though she isn’t otherwise), wheezes, struggles to take full breaths and struggles until she wakes herself up thrashing about. It’s not seemingly colic as feeds fine, no pained crying, no arching of the back. Wtf is going on? Gp and hv both saying “normal” but I have an older child, children in the family, friends with kids, no one thinks these sounds etc are normal.

[lovescaca]

Infant gaviscon is a game changer

[OnlyFoolsnMothers]

Oh didn’t know that re: gripe- thank you.

[CottonSock]

Yes infacol for wind. Gripe water works like a rennie and often got a big acid smelling burp after it. Tastes ok too so could get it in her. Ranitidine prescribed by gp she didnt swallow so i had to give up on it.

[OnlyFoolsnMothers]

Thanks I know we can use infacol before gripe water (age limit) but I think that’s for babies that have trapped wind etc from recollection

[CottonSock]

Try gripe water, really helped for mine. Check age though as its not from birth.

[hermionegart]

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

Would a milk allergy though not show up
Through distress when and after feeding- we don’t have that...?

It was more of a delayed reaction so didn't show at the time of the feed. Aside from some occasional projectile vomiting not long after feeds. I was also worried about giving up dairy but actually there are loads of really good replacements and it was short term until I stopped BF

[lovescaca]

I'm think reflux too. My ds has silent reflux and could only sleep on his tummy, I got a Angela care breathing mat for him. I wasn't putting him on his back when he was clearly very uncomfortable. Health visitor wasn't happy but it's easy for them to just say ur doing it wrong. I think they overlook things sometimes.

[OnlyFoolsnMothers]

Would a milk allergy though not show up
Through distress when and after feeding- we don’t have that...?

[OnlyFoolsnMothers]

recreationalcalpol no c section, but my contractions stopped when they realise her head was blocked byy waters which they had to
Burst.


Should also add she’s alwAys had extreme hiccups too.

[OnlyFoolsnMothers]

hermionegart that’s interesting, because cradle cap and face rash is playing up today- I had two coffees yesterday. Crap giving up dairy is going to be hard!

[recreationalcalpol]

Mine couldn’t lie flat without waking up screaming straight away or vomiting for at least 10 weeks. It was reflux. Did you have a c section by any chance? This can make the baby more congested as well, as the fluids are not squeezed out during delivery.

There was really nothing to be done for it but wait it out I’m afraid, and let him sleep where he was comfortable, propped up on a parent’s chest. We took shifts at night time. My GP was VERY reluctant to prescribe anything.

It was awful, and I feel for you, but it did pass in time.

[hermionegart]

I had this experience with dc1 and gp said it was normal so we struggled on as if it was normal. When I had dc3 and he was the same I insisted it was not normal and eventually discovered it was cows milk protein allergy. My dc1 was then diagnosed with it at age 3, so poor little thing had been struggling all those years (and had reputation as nightmare child who never slept!) As I was EBF I cut dairy for 1 month, noted the change in the baby, and then reintroduced it once and noted the symptoms returning. I then called the GP and said i think it's CMPA and was referred to dietician who confirmed it.

It could be worth a try for you, although it's more complicated if the baby has formula because you need to switch to a prescription formula so obviously please don't cut anything without medical advice in that case. Ask in advance for help doing a milk challenge.
The symptoms were seeming inability to lie flat (silent reflux), difficulty with wind, v infrequent poo, mild eczema and cradle cap. (They still get cradle cap at age 6 if they have milk!) Although, apparently majority grow out of milk allergy by toddler age. Good luck, I hope you find a way to settle baby soon and can all get some rest

[OnlyFoolsnMothers]

How do u tilt a Moses basket, a small cushion type under the head end of the mattress base?

She slept on me all night and her dad for a couple of hours, and on her belly in our bed for 1hr. if we didn’t wake her to feed she wouldn’t want to wake up.

I appreciate all the suggestions, I’m emailing the hv about silent reflux- though hearing there’s no cure as such is terrifying.

[everdaymumma]

Just a note that silent reflux doesn't need treatment if not affecting eating and growth. Gaviscon can cause so many issues ie. Constipation so if you can avoid its actually much easier for you and baby. I would try the tilted sleeping surface firstly, they do grow out of it as they get older.

[October2020]

I'd put money on this being silent reflux.

[OnlyFoolsnMothers]

I’ll email the Hv again and see if I can give her baby gaviscon as a first port of call, after that I may push further and go to a&e to see a paediatric dr.

[OnlyFoolsnMothers]

Fine In a car seat, actually used it for a walk today attached to the Pram wheels and slept peacefully, fine in the Bjorn too.

[PeggyMoo]

We had this with no. 1 - suspected it was reflux hit told it was normal. Are they happy in a pram? Or a car seat? Ours wasn’t so used a sling A LOT. To a lesser extent we have this with no. 2 although I suppose it could be just very bad wind (currently awake with baby asleep on my chest as also makes the horrendous noises / back arching etc when on back).

With our first it passed around 3 months when he was able to roll on front to sleep.

[OnlyFoolsnMothers]

Gymmat thanks will look it up!

[OnlyFoolsnMothers]

Do you have a bouncy chair? Is she happy in there? we do, only had it a few days so she’s just getting used to it, hasn’t been in it enough to know if she’s comfortable in there as such. Will watch closely

My DS used to get really upset after a burp and writhed in pain. I could smell the acid on his breath. Do you have any signs like that? doesn’t seem to get upset after a burp, gets frustrated when I’m trying to get her to burp, but that’s pretty standard right? Didn’t know you could smell acid on the breath- interesting

[OnlyFoolsnMothers]

I rock her into a deep sleep while playing white noise then gently pop her down in her crib and keep the white noise on until she self soothes. I also put her in her Moses basket during the day the same way to get her used to being on her own and on her back

I know this is what everyone says / thinks but this isn’t attachment issues, I had a baby like that. My current baby in question physically doesn’t seem able to lie on her back for longer than 15mins, day or evening, cosleeping in my bed or Moses.
The more I read I think silent reflux possibly. Guess I’ll keep badgering the HV, because after 2hrs sleep, all of which is on me (pressing on my boobs), I can’t take anymore!

[AlviesMam]

My one month old does this, lots of grunting, arm and leg thrashing and like you said noises of congestion or wind where at some point I think she's choking! I've gotten used to her noises now, I rock her into a deep sleep while playing white noise then gently pop her down in her crib and keep the white noise on until she self soothes. I also put her in her Moses basket during the day the same way to get her used to being on her own and on her back. Xx

[octoberfarm]

I'd definitely get a second (third?) opinion on this - no harm, and far better safe than sorry when it comes to breathing stuff. Sorry you're having to deal with this, OP

[PeacefulInTheDeep]

I agree with PPs, it sounds like it could be silent reflux. My DS was similar.

Try tilting her sleeping surface to see if that helps. Do you have a bouncy chair? Is she happy in there?

My DS used to get really upset after a burp and writhed in pain. I could smell the acid on his breath. Do you have any signs like that?

[CustardyCreams]

Reflux, same with my DS2.