DD was hard to burp. I would pat her back for hours it seemed. DH swore he had it figured out. He would kind of tip her upside down for a minute and then sit her up. He thought that made all the little bubbles become one big bubble and when you tip them back up the bubble is at the top. Then he would pat her back and she would burp. I don't know why but it seemed to work.
Re: I cannot get DD to burp and it's causing major spitup
I bounce Maile on my knee for a minute (gently, of course)
She's hard to burp, too. The only time she cries is when she needs to burp.