Struggling FTM 15 week old cries non stop won’t sleep

[H44123]

Hi

im a FTM and really struggling. Baby is 15 weeks, was 2 weeks overdue if that makes a difference.

awful first 10 weeks with very bad colic, constipation etc but slept well at night, naps during the day have always been a fight

10-12 weeks things improved generally happier baby less crying etc then had the 12 week jabs. He started refusing feeds for up to 5 days, we managed to get it into him by feeding when he slept but if awake he screamed murder when the bottle touched his mouth. Doctor sent me on my way and said no thrush or sore throat.

since then so last 3 weeks he got better but will only eat when very hungry. This week now waking all night so I think 4 month regression but he is screaming non stop. All day it’s like going back to colic. Tonight 5-6 screaming nothing worked. Now bedtimes screaming for an hour but never did this before.

I feel like it’s breaking me. I am anxious being left with him scared he’s going to have a meltdown. My partner has googled and thinks he has adhd and wants us to take him to hospital.

Silent reflux?

Really feel for you, one of mine was like this. Could it be a milk allergy? Very common

I did wonder that myself. I thought he had it when he was younger but I think that was just colic.

he is happy to lay down once asleep and used to go all night. Also happy to lay on the play mat. I did notice today in his screaming to get him to sleep it was when sat up then I laid him down but I don’t know whether because it just tricked him as in he didn’t realise and just hates sleep or in pain from reflux

Sounds unusual for a baby to refuse food for so long. My DC didn’t like the bottle and drank little and it turned out he was lactose intolerant so associated the bottle with painful wind.

I would take him to hospital. You’re 4 months post birth - do you have support from a HV?

I’m so sorry you’re going through this. Definitely see a health professional. The GP won’t be a specialist in young kids - try to get a paediatrician.

A 15 week old baby isn't showing signs of ADHD. If he is inconsolable and not eating then I agree with taking him to the hospital.

i did always question milk allergy or reflux but didn’t really have many signs. If milk allergy I guess the only sign would have been early constipation and the screaming. no constipation now, he goes once a day. No rashes dodgy nappies etc. same with reflux. Doctors fob me off anyway. Gp 3 weeks ago when refusing bottle didn’t even look at him just said as long as he has half his normal amount per day he is fine

i don’t know whether to go back to go for gaviscon again to try and can use lactulose again. Or am I better trying anti reflux milk first?

he does posset a little bit and isn’t really sick either to make me think reflux

I'd get some carobel and try adding that. It did really help ds with hus silent reflux.

The symptoms of that hear we're-

Crying, so much of it, especially if he'd been flat.
Arching back.
Screaming during feeds.
Refusing feeds.
Seeking feeds for comfort then Screaming in pain and this occurring in a cycle. This mainly happened with breast though, he was combi fed.
Waking up after really short periods of being asleep, especially if flat.
You could also hear him regurgitate and it ho back down.

Does any of that sound familiar?

All sounds familiar.

I have managed to get him booked for a private oral assessment tomorrow for tongue tie to rule that out. Wish I did it weeks ago!

Going to go to GP today and see what they say. I’m thinking of getting the anti reflux milk and asking for omeprazole.

he isn’t visibly sick so I don’t think it’s necessarily needed to keep it down but it’s the acid. I did always wonder whether maybe he has a mild milk allergy. But I’m not going to be fobbed off now. If no tongue tie and we can’t get silent reflux under control I’m guessing it must be some sort of allergy

GPS really fob you off with unsettled babies. We wound up presenting at a&e. Although this was in the winter lockdown so it was the only way to see anyone in person. We got some more serious medication from that visit.

Test did help for a bit but then seemed to stop helping him so it was back on gaviscon again with daily lactulose.

The things that probably helped most we're feeding him on an angle with head elevated and keeping him upright. We'd prop him up on our legs when he fell asleep after a feed, and luckily we had a very good baby carrier so used that mostly but also switched to the seat bit on the push chair so he could be at a slight incline.

Just to give you a light at the end of the tunnel it stopped when ds was 5 months old. I think learning to roll at 4 months really helped as he'd roll all over the shop and burps would come out. He was very hard to burp which I think might've contributed.