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Babies: 0 - 3 Months
Newborn crying help
I really am at the end of my rope here. DD1 was not like this so it's new territory for me. Not to mention, DH is working a LOT more this go round, so I spend most of my days alone with both girls. It's rough.
Here is my concern: DD2 cries constantly if she is not nursing or (on the rare occiasion that this pacifies her) being held. And honestly, that helps maybe 5% of the time... I just end up nursing her. Not that she eats all the time - mostly she just sits there, awake, staring at me, not sucking. She will not take a pacifier. Vibration on the pack n play or the bouncy seat does not help. Sitting in her car seat/infant carrier makes it WORSE. We thought we had it narrowed down to being reflux... yeah I don't even know anymore if that's it. We've been giving her medication and I don't see a huge improvement. Talking to her, shushing her ("shhhhhhhh"), swaddling her, walking... nothing is working here. It's not really easy for me to pack her in the car and go for a car ride to help - not when I have a 20 month old as well - not to mention, she screams bloody murder when I put her in the seat, and every.single.time the car comes to a stop. I spent last night (while waiting for DH to get home from work, and literally begging him via text to leave early) crying because of the constant screaming. The ONLY way I can soothe her is to nurse her - but is nursing her, LITERALLY, every 20 minutes normal? It's seriously becoming hard for me to care for DD1 because of how high maintenance DD2 is.
Any insight? Is this colic? This is ALL DAY for us... I really am beside myself here and just lost. I feel trapped in my house because leaving and being out and about with a screaming infant is just not something I can mentally handle. Any other ideas? Is she just a fussy baby and we just have to out-grow it? Help.
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Re: Newborn crying help
Early on J would cry if not being held. Hold him, carry him, jiggle him, etc and he would be fine.
Have you tried a baby carrier yet? The moby is often the most recommended. Allows you to wear your baby and do other things. Check out this blog for other carriers for newborns.
I am not sure how two would be if the younger was like DS, he really does seem to need a lot. He isn't on the breast all the time though, which is sort of nice, except that the breast only calms him if he is hungry.
Newborns like to suck, so it is normal to feel like, and be feeding them around the clock. Their tummies are tiny. They comfort suck a lot. This is important to build up your supply. The My Brest friend might help you have an arm free to feed and read or play a little with your other child. Also, on a similar post earlier today there was a lot of suggestions for slings... you can nurse and have one hand free with them.
Colic and food issues tend to show up a little later... (I think) like from 3 weeks, colic peaks at 6, usually dwindles off by 3 months...) food issues have other signs. Green poop, blood in poop, rashes, etc.
Good luck!
I know this isn't much help, but my DD (now 15 mos) was exactly that way. I felt kind of trapped as well! Wearing her certainly helped, but we definitely spent a lot of time nursing in the beginning. It did get better when she was about 5 mos old!
Just wanted you to know you aren't alone. Poor little babes - they spend 10 months all cozy and then out they come and it rocks their world. My guess is that your DD and mine just use the nursing as a way to ease their transition. Good luck!
Breastfeeding Counselor with Breastfeeding USA
Babywearing Guide ** Newborn Carriers
Cloth Diaper Guide
Safe Bed Sharing Info
My little guy is just over a month old & I am going through this same exact problem. Only thing that works is nursing, but he never nurses for more than 5 minutes per breast. He's gaining weight fantastically, so his pedi. is not worried. I, too have a toddler at home (18 months) -- so just up and leaving the house, not really an option for me either. That and, DH and I share a vehicle and he works overnights, so I'm stuck here during all this. One thing I have noticed in my situation is that DS does not spit up or burp regularly, it takes extra effort to get him to, like keeping him upright for prolonged periods of time/babywearing him and walking around to get him to get anything up. He seems to be extra stuffy and have a hard time getting 'all of it' out. His cries to me seem very painful at times, and he really seems like he just wants to get up and move when he does this. His whole tiny body wriths around and he moves in up and down motions while flailing his little fists. I've told the pedi. all this at his 1 month check up, but they just recommended alternate feeding options to keep him fuller longer, such as replacing one feeding around 'bedtime' with a bottle of either formula or pumped breast milk. He won't take a bottle, or paci. He actually chokes if you put either in his mouth. I've even tried the Playtex "Just Like Mommy" nippled paci's. Nothing. My toddler would never take one either, but did just fine with bottles. Other than trying to get your little girl to burp more by keeping her upright more often after feedings, I am in the same boat and also need some answers! But it does definitiely seem to be some sort of gas and/or reflux issue. And I HAVE tried Mylicon gas drops, and I am not sure if they do anything, because he still wants to eat like a mad man after that.
It could possibly be colic...how old is she and for how many days has she been like this... this could possibly be going thru a growth spurt and hungry all the time...try putting her in the car seat and then place her on the dryer...maybe that will help get her to sleep...hang in there it gets better
Sorry to butt in but DD was exactly like this until she was about 3-4months so I know what you are going through. I tried every type of gas drop out there and nothing helped!
A friend of mine suggested biogaia probiotic drops and although it didn't cure her from colic, it made a dramatic difference after a few days so I would definitely recommend it! Here is a link for more info: https://www.biogaia.com/consumer/biogaia-probiotic-products/probiotic-drops
Oh and of course, my Dr. said it was ok to use this.
Hang in there, it will get better and when it does, your life will be so much easier! DD is now the happiest baby I've ever seen its crazy to think she was so colicky!
during screaming fits is she pulling her legs up?
DD had colic and reflux and she would scream all day with 10 minute catnaps from exhaustion then wake up crying again.
She had severe reflux and would arch her back during nursing, could only be awake or sleeping upright. Not just an incline but literally having me stand upright or sit up against a wall. Zantac did nothing and so we had to move onto Prevacid with Zantac to keep it under control. I also found if I was in constant motion she settled down better (bouncing or swaying).
For colic her ped noticed she pulled her legs up and stiffened up. He said this was from a severe gas and bloating. I gave her mylicon after every feeding and eliminated almost everything from my diet. I took out all dairy including butter, spicy foods, caffeine, chocolate, gassy veggies, anything acidic and carbonated drinks. (some were for reflux) I started to add stuff back in when she was almost 4 months old.
Also what helped was doing a colic massage after a bath, colic hold (you can google it) and when it got really bad her ped said I could give mylicon before and after every feeding.
Good luck! I know what it is like to feel trapped but sometimes you have to go out. Wearing the baby helps but I understand your frustration.