I can't do this anymore

Knottie1457011059

my pregnancy was horrible. I thought motherhood would be better. It's not. I have a child who is sick 24/7 from daycare, who refuses to be put down for even one second, has extreme acid reflux, and will not still at night. He is 5 months old and I thought BY NOW we'd make some progress and nothing. I truely can't take this anymore. I don't understand how to get him to sleep. It's only getting worse. Waking every hour on the hour all night long. I work full time. I can't function any more. I fell asleep driving the other day. Like this isn't working anymore. I get no help from the doctors. He's on reflux medicine. I change and feed him when he wakes so it's not hunger. I've tried letting him cry it out and he's resilient to it be will cry from 8 at night to 8 in the morning. I'm getting so frustrated I went outside the other night and just started screaming because I'm losing my mind. I don't know what to do. 

jwebbbber45678

That's so rough, I'm sorry. Maybe it's something else besides reflux? Could you get another doctor's opinion? 

Knottie1457011059

I been to three pediatrician and a gi specialist.

mpache06

I'm so sorry! I've had it pretty rough as well. My baby has colic and crys ALL the time. Im so jealous of other people and their happy babies. I mean dont get me wrong i love mine and would't trade her for the world but im wondering if this stage will ever pass. Im a single mom and if it wasnt for some help from my mom i wouldn't be making it. My baby is almost 6 months now and the crying is finally starting to get better although she has her days. I hope you get some relief soon. I know how it feels. Sorry I don't have any advice to help you out

ChelKlav

Do you have him on a probiotic? My son has reflux also and we put him on a daily probiotic and its like a whole new baby. He doesnt even need his reflux meds anymore. 

mmd091909

I am so sorry, I know how hard it is. My 5 year old was the exact same way as a baby. We were lucky if he slept an hour straight at night. Looking back I don't know how I did it. He also had reflux, we tried a lot of different medications. None of which ever seemed to work for him. Around 8/9 months the reflux wasn't quite as bad and he was a lot happier. At 13 months he slept through the night for the very first time. 

You said you feed and change him through the night, have you tried not changing him, I just go up a diaper size. Or reducing the amount you feed at night (assuming he is having enough during the day) He may be waking out of habit at this point. 
Do you have anyone that would be willing to help at night on occasion? Or during the day on days off? Hang in there, he won't be like this forever. It will pass. 

LoveLee2014

I'm so sorry. Good for you for walking away outside to let some steam off. We don't have the reflux issues but my LO hardly sleeps at night. He's been 'asleep' since 11pm but constantly has to be shushed and patted on the bum to keep him asleep. I have tried not soothing him and after a few minutes he's full blown melt down mode....then he could be awake and fussy for HOURS. It's so awful. I get so grumpy with months of no sleep. I can't function during the day. I never know what day it is. I would pay any amount of money for 8 hours of sleep a night. I keep telling myself this too shall pass....

D+R

How is he at daycare for his teachers? I would also agree with the possibility that he is waking out of habit. Those sound like some good tips @mmd091909. Just remember breaking habits can take a little time. Hang in there it will eventually get better!

BrittanyM1015

I'm so sorry to hear you're going through this. When DD was about 5 or 6 weeks we went though almost a month of her crying all the time. I couldn't put her down. She needed to be walked constantly. We couldn't even just sit with her. She was only happy on the move. Out of desperation I tried a probiotic called Mommy's bliss(at target) and in about a week she was such a happier baby. I would definitely give it a try. There's another brand called Gerber soothe as well. I hope you find some relief soon!

aidensmom1992

Maybe try co sleeping if your not? May not work in your situation but I had 2 months of no sleep.. then we started co sleeping because i couldnt take it anymore and he is still up every hour or 2 but im right next to him so I scoop him up right away and he is asleep again in minutes.

Knottie1457011059

Thank you ladies.... I'm going to get the probiotic today and I'm trying co sleeping again tonight. We used to do it. 

shelbydd

You got some good recommendations here. I might also try seeing a therapist. No judgement, I just think if your feeling that overwhelmed (and for good reason) it might be good to have someone you can openly talk to without worry of judgement.

FatPony

I don't have any good suggestions, but wanted to wish you good luck mama. Kudos to you for taking a moment to vent. 

JenLovesDesign

Usually when I get at my wits end, I realize I need a change.  Can you figure out finances and drop a day of work?  Can you shift some more responsibility to your husband?  Can you switch to a daycare with not as many children so there is less chance of illness?  Can you make sure you get alone time for a half hour each day by taking a walk. I'm lucky to have a pretty easy baby, but I have been at the end of my rope more times than I would have preferred.  

evapsiu

Before I used to think that bringing babies to a chiropractor was insane.. But because my LO was really not sleeping well and used to get scared with any noise plus having bad reflux, I decided to give it a try. It has been 8 sessions of 5 min so far and I cannot be more thankful and glad that I took him. He used to sleep so little, yesterday did not wake up at all and he took a 3 hrs nap in the afternoon. Plus he's eating better, more active and he doesn't complain when he goes washroom now. I totally recommend taking your LO to a chiropractor!

caityrose

What is he sleeping in? Lo can sleep like 8 hours or so straight in the rock n play even though she's nearly grown out of it. I had her in there a few nights when she had a stuffy nose and it was a life saver.

KYmama9286

Can you trade off night shifts with your husband? You go to bed early around 8 or 9 and he is on baby duty until 2 then he can go to bed and you're on call from 2 until morning? Or even do full night shifts- he takes a night, you take a night? Even if it means you have to sleep on the couch or guest bed so you can't hear the crying on your night off? It's both of your baby so no reason you should do all the night stuff. 

Dd#2 was super colicky and didn't sleep and it was awful. I honestly really struggled feeling bonded and close to her because it was just so frustrating and exhausting. I loved her dearly but I didn't like her very much. If it gives you any hope out of my 4 kids she was our only colicky baby but boy it humbled me. I wouldn't have survived without dh's help and calling in a sitter on occasion to give us a break and chance to reconnect. Hang in there mama, it will get better eventually. 

ItsmeR30

evapsiu said:

Before I used to think that bringing babies to a chiropractor was insane.. But because my LO was really not sleeping well and used to get scared with any noise plus having bad reflux, I decided to give it a try. It has been 8 sessions of 5 min so far and I cannot be more thankful and glad that I took him. He used to sleep so little, yesterday did not wake up at all and he took a 3 hrs nap in the afternoon. Plus he's eating better, more active and he doesn't complain when he goes washroom now. I totally recommend taking your LO to a chiropractor!

This! I took my 4yo (when she was 3) and my 3yo (when she was 2) and it was amazing the difference I saw in their behavior and sleep! I was terrified at first but it truly did help! And while you're there, get an adjustment for yourself. 

maddenmama15

My little one has a mild case of acid reflux and a friend suggested getting a Hazelwood necklace for her and I can honestly say it has made a world of difference for her. They make ones with other stones in them too that help with other issues also like amber for teething. My daughter wears a Hazelwood and rose quartz necklace constantly and we never take it off bc it works so well lol. We also give her some water once a day...about an ounce or two, and she sleeps in her rock n play. We rarely lay her flat on her back either. Good luck!! :-) 

mamadeez

My cousin was apparently a horrible baby. It took his parents and doctors ages to realize he could only digest goat milk or something strange like that. I wish you the best. You sound like a very good mother for going through all of this. I hope the return to cosleeping and probiotic help shift this trend !

steph256

Look into getting an Amber teething necklace also. We suffered through colic for 4 miserable months on top of the acid reflux. She finally outgrew both. We did chiropractic treatment which helped. Then I finally took my 3 year olds Amber necklace off of her and put it on the baby she is like a completely different baby now. My next step was going to be probiotics. 

mrsjessicaoliver

We have done it ALL also. Colic baby with severe reflux (he was hospitalized) that wakes every two hours is so miserable. So I feel ya girlfriend! I actually had to get on antidepressants for post partum (even though I'm sure it was just major stress) when he was 4 months because it was getting worse instead of better and I was crying every day. We go to an occupational therapist every Monday because DS won't eat more than two ounces without screaming in pain. So he eats every two hours.. Which is miserable for getting anything done. Point is... You are not alone. And I can't promise it'll get better because it's really hard to see the end in sight for me as well. What I can suggest is the book healthy sleep habits, happy child (I think?) four days in for us and life changing for sleep. He slept 7 hours last night! Worth a shot? Also.. Per the GI doctors.. Rice cereal in every bottle and solids twice a day. We have another GI appt on Thursday to add more meds because the Zantac isn't working. Did they change the dose as he gained weight? No one told us that until a few weeks ago!! I wish you the best of luck. If by some grace of God we get an answer on Thursday, I will share with you!!

Knottie1457011059

Thank you so much @mrsjessicaoliver

kileychasey

Is he breast fed or formula? my lil man had the same issues. We tried everything from taking dairy out of my diet to formula and cereal to gas drops and colic relief. Nothing helped it if it did it was only temporary and everyday was a new day filled with screams . We have recently put him on elecare formula as suggested by our gi dr and it has finally made a difference! It didn't change over night but prob after two weeks . Look up milk soy protein intolerance.... That's what my son has. Hope u are getting some relief.... I know how you feel