5 week old constantly upset! Help!

chelle822

I am literally at my wits end! My 5 week old is miserable! The doctor diagnosed her with reflux and put her on Zantac a few days ago, however she is still miserable! I am breastfeeding and formula feeding. We have tried enfamil, enfamil gentlese, Gerber gentle and finally we put her on enfamil AR. I feel so bad switching her formula so much but i don't know what else to do! She spit up a lot on every other kind except the AR. Now, all she wants to do is nurse or eat....it's the only thing that comforts her and she screams when she finishes. She is rarely happy, and it's killing me! If I put her down she immediatly fusses or is happy for five min then fusses. Last night there was no comforting her, she stiffened up and screamed while I tried rocking her to sleep! I keep her upright after eating and she screams and claws at me. I need so advice, I have a 3 year old who I can't give attention to because her sister is so upset...it's heartbreaking!

hbrooks09

Bless both of you! My daughter just got diagnosed with reflux yesterday and was having the same problem! My pediatrician said it could take up to 2 weeks to tell a difference. Hang in there! Also, do you have forceful letdown? Sometimes that can make babies fussy as well and she is nursing so much because milk is basic and helps reduce the acid in her tummy making her feel better even if it's for 5 minutes. Do you have someone who could watch baby for a couple of hours while you and older sister have a lunch or dinner date?

chelle822

Thank you for the response! I did not know it could take up to two weeks, we just increased her dosage. Last night she was the most upset she had been...she hadn't pooped at all yesterday and today she did so I think she is feeling a little better. How can you tell if you have foreceful letdown? my husband works but had been great about taking our older one and playing with her or letting me have time with her, I just wish it could happen more often. I guess I'll have to be patient!

PlainJane8350

I was trying to determine if my baby had reflux, was bothered by my over supply or had an allergy. You could try eliminating dairy for 2-3 weeks and see if you notice an improvement? My daughter's a new baby, everyone comments on it. She actually has relaxed and even happy periods now, it's amazing. I tried eliminating dairy based on two of my friends from college noticing that it helped their babies, too.

EmJ628

My twins were diagnosed with reflux right around the same time as your daughter. Give the Zantac a week or so and if it is stil not helping ask your doc about a PPI (proton pump inhibitor, like Prilosec) or a referral to a GI specialist. Our boys acted the exact same as your daughter. One the Zantac worked within days. The other has a more severe case and he ended up on Nexium after trying Prilosec and Zantac. We also put the worse twin on hypoallergenic formula and it was a big help for him. Be aware that Zantac is very weight sensitive so once/if you find a dose that works, it will have to be adjusted periodically as your LO gains weight. Reflux is VERY frustrating! There is a lot of info out there though to help you. If you aren't already, keep LO upright after feeding that makes a huge difference and maybe try sleeping on an incline if you are not already. We finally found our guy likes a bouncy seat and now he's content to sit there and play! It's my other one who is the high maintenance one now!

Knottie1442268460

Also 5 weeks is one of the "wonder weeks". A clingy time where brain development will occur soon. Google it. Very interesting!

hbrooks09

Forceful letdown is when you BF and milk squirts too fast from your breast. Baby may choke or guzzle to try and keep up. If that's the case try block feeding (only letting her feed from one breast for 2-4 feedings). If the other breast becomes uncomfortable express only enough to relieve pressure. Mostly common if you have an over supply of milk

p_stone

agree with PP remember that that 6-8 week window is where colicky behavior peaks for a lot of little ones so give it another week or two and see if it subsides. I remember with one of ours we had her in the carrier nonstop for a couple weeks there. We just put in earplugs and walked her around for hours so she'd be upright and held close. good luck!