3 week old miserable when awake

mrsdanielleM2010 · October 2014

I need some help. My LO is just starting to want to be awake a little more of the time - which is wonderful - but when he's awake, he's so cranky. I can't decide if he wants to sleep but is fighting it, or if he wants to be awake but is either bored or something else.

I can't take all day witching hours, I just can't. Help!

mrsdanielleM2010 · October 2014

Adding... This is new and he seems to young for the first leap. So what gives?

bumpuser10199668 · October 2014

As you know, this hit our house about two weeks ago. All I know to do is wear him in his carrier. And also, some days are better than others. Look for sleep cues and go into major sleep mode when you see them. You have literally like ten minutes to get it going before you enter miserable sleep fighting territory in my experience

nilvero · October 2014

If I think LO is cranky from tiredness or overstimulation, I swaddle him and rock him. It usually works, if he is tired. If not, I'll try wearing him. If he is super cranky, sometimes DH and I will take him for a car ride.

Irisheyes1247 · October 2014

At five weeks we are finally going longer stretches of being awake and content. But there are def times of overtired/cranky thrown in. I just put lo in a carrier, it's my best bet.

sapphires-and-diamonds · October 2014

LO is 3 weeks as well and rarely content long when awake. I have noticed he fights sleep a lot. We dance and sing to Pandora (he likes psychedelic rock

) usually he will calm down then pass out after a few songs. If that isn't working I make sure he's toasty warm, stick the boob in his mouth, even if he ate recently, and he's normally asleep within minutes. I'll hold him for at least 15 more minutes to make sure he is really out before putting him down. Also the swing plus music is amazing as long as he's calm before putting him in. Trying to strap him in while fussy equals major stop breathing melt downs. Reading to him keeps him occupied for a bit too. It's all experimentation at this point. Sometimes I just stare at him while he cries and have no idea what to do next. I haven't tried wearing him yet. I may need to try this next time for my own sanity.

jortiz780 · October 2014

We had this issue a week ago. I wanted to pull my hair out being with her all day. It ended up being reflux issues and she was uncomfortable all the time. Now that we have that somewhat under control, she is mostly content during her wake times. Do you think your LO has gas issues?

mrsdanielleM2010 · October 2014

jortiz780 said:
We had this issue a week ago. I wanted to pull my hair out being with her all day. It ended up being reflux issues and she was uncomfortable all the time. Now that we have that somewhat under control, she is mostly content during her wake times. Do you think your LO has gas issues?

I swore I wouldn't be the crazy ftm running off to the pediatrician at every turn but we are going tomorrow to check this out. Agh

jortiz780 · October 2014

mrsdanielleM2010 said:

jortiz780 said:
We had this issue a week ago. I wanted to pull my hair out being with her all day. It ended up being reflux issues and she was uncomfortable all the time. Now that we have that somewhat under control, she is mostly content during her wake times. Do you think your LO has gas issues?
I swore I wouldn't be the crazy ftm running off to the pediatrician at every turn but we are going tomorrow to check this out. Agh

You just gotta...to make sure LO is OK and for your peace of mind.

JanisBaby14 · October 2014

We just had this hit middle of last To week this weekend!! But my guy has had bad gas pains most of the time. We actually were just at pedi today cause I was so distraught over it and just wanted him to feel better.

I'm a FTM so I was terrified of doing tummy time or anymore pressure on the belly for spit it but pedi said pressure on the belly when gassy is best. So we've been "kangarooing" him on our chests and he looooves it. Calms him right down and after a good half hour we can put him in his rnp.

Totally know how you feel about all day crankiness! It's overwhelming and just not fun. Hope your LO gets better!

teenybean · October 2014

I drape little man on my knees tummy down and gently rub his back for gas and it works wonders. We also give him a break from a diaper on a towel and "bicycle" his legs, also works well for gas. This has been our gassiest dude yet.

trebekastan · October 2014

ekh2081 said:

AmyG* said:
Remember 3 week growth spurt makes em cranky, they want to eat more often and sleep more to grow but can't quite figure out the pattern of how to do that right. they go from zero to crying. they also begin to lose the ability to block out too much stimuli and they can get too worked up with just normal household noise. It gets better, but these weeks you often just have to sit and hold them and rock them and try all sorts of things. but if in doubt if most likely due to the growth spurt, so feed them again and see if it helps. of course also add in additional burping, if they take in too much air and it doesn't come out as a burp, it's gotta come out the other end instead.
We are in the three-week growth spurt now. Baby wants to eat all the time!! I feel like I'm feeding her too much. Possible? All she wants to do is eat!

Actually, I think I figured out today that I have an oversupply issue and have been feeding him too much. You can look up lactose overload and see if the symptoms match your LO.

And please take people's advice on here with a grain of salt. Just because someone is an "expert" doesn't mean we should all follow their advice blindly and without question. There is such a thing as feeding too much and telling someone to feed more is irresponsible when you aren't actually qualified to give such advice.

mrsdanielleM2010 · October 2014

Update: went to pediatrician today. He asked about a long streak of symptoms- fighting the latch, clicking noise while nursing, resisting sleep, spit up or vomit after every feed... I said yes to all.

Then he asked if I pump and my output, which is 3 oz a side if LO hasn't just eaten.

I had been giving LO both sides, so 6 oz at least, and his tummy is still only 3 oz big. No wonder he's been so upset! Feeding him more is most certainly not the answer. I'm glad I went to the pediatrician and the on staff lactation consultant is coming to my house tomorrow (I guess in truth later today.)

@trebekastan‌ sounds like we have a similar concern - good luck figuring out your exact situation.

@AmyG*‌ this seems contrary to your advice. Probably there's a reason doctors don't diagnose over the internet.

amom2four · October 2014

My LC says typically one breast per feeding is enough because the babies need the foremilk and hind milk balance to be correct and to let the baby feed as long as they need on one side, burp and if they wake and need more, offer the same side if it is within a short amount of time, I think she even said like an hour but I could be wrong.

I usually only offer one side per feeding and typically pump a combined 3 1/2-4 oz at most. One side gives a little more than the other. Once he falls asleep and unlatches on his own, I burp him and most of the time that's all he wants. Today he wasn't going to take side one again and I offered the second side. When he was done I got puked on. Big. And that was really the first spit up he's had. We've had some dribbles but it was definitely over feeding that caused that cranky spitting episode.

Sounds like your doc and LC have their fingers on the issue and are doing a good job helping you. GL!

jg1011 · October 2014

@mrsdanielleM2010‌ Glad you worked it out. Hope LC helped today. My LO is a gassy little guy....laying him over my legs helps. Def learned less formula is better...but it's tough bc he still gives hunger cues. I now prepare 4.5 ounce bottles. He typically eats 3.5-4 ounces and occasionally will take the full 4.5. I am just trying to take his lead.

bumpuser10199668 · October 2014

JFC @amyg* never shuts up? I can't even read half the threads anymore cuz I have to scroll through her novel.

Ahlome08 · October 2014

CarmAlarm said:
JFC @amyg* never shuts up? I can't even read half the threads anymore cuz I have to scroll through her novel.

I don't mind the long threads, myself-gives me something to do during MOTN feedings.

peanutbuttervibes · October 2014

Idk, I take all the advice I can get! She might have long responses but if I can find one useful thing out of it, I'm ok with it! It is kinda weird she came out of nowhere though...

trebekastan · October 2014

AmyG* said:

mrsdanielleM2010 said:

Update: went to pediatrician today. He asked about a long streak of symptoms- fighting the latch, clicking noise while nursing, resisting sleep, spit up or vomit after every feed... I said yes to all.

Then he asked if I pump and my output, which is 3 oz a side if LO hasn't just eaten.

I had been giving LO both sides, so 6 oz at least, and his tummy is still only 3 oz big. No wonder he's been so upset! Feeding him more is most certainly not the answer. I'm glad I went to the pediatrician and the on staff lactation consultant is coming to my house tomorrow (I guess in truth later today.)

@trebekastan‌ sounds like we have a similar concern - good luck figuring out your exact situation.

@AmyG*‌ this seems contrary to your advice. Probably there's a reason doctors don't diagnose over the internet.

I'm just a mom with lots of experience trying to help.
I don't see or know everything.
I can only give answers based on the info given.
I don't diagnose anything.
I make suggestions which you can take or leave.

Your op didn't say anything that made me think oversupply or reflux. Glad your dr was able to help you out with your issues. Let us know what other suggestions your LC has as many other moms seem to have the same problems.

I stated an obvious thing--it is easy to overlook when you are in the middle of it--most of the time if baby is extra cranky and they are 3 weeks old it's probably the 3 week growth spurt. if it's the growth spurt, even if you just fed the baby and nothing else is working, the best advice is to feed the baby again. This should settle in 3-5 days and if it doesn't, then it's likely to be something else.

I mentioned trying other things first before feeding baby again, as well as to add in extra burping and to feed primarily on one side to get more hindmilk.

Feeding primarily on one side per feeding is the first step to deal with oversupply. so if you followed that advice of mine it would help not make things worse. Some moms move to block feeding when they have serious oversupply.

We are worried about low supply and sore nips so we recommend feeding on both sides--which makes our body think we have twins. We are mammals and no other mammal switches sides at all. Oversupply is usually a problem right after 1 week, 3 week and 6 week growth spurts--that's also a common time when baby may show signs of diary intolerance and get a mspi diagnosis. When there is just to much milk going into baby, adding in a lot of dairy in mom's diet can make baby's symptoms worse. If you are pumping in addition to nursing that can contribute to oversupply issues.

If baby takes in more oz than they need, they may spit up the excess, or their stomach stretches out and they don't spit up much but gain weight at a really really high rate.

They may pull off when let down happens and milk may spray out fast. This is overactive let down which usually comes with oversupply but you can have one without the other. Unlatch baby and let the really hard fast flow go into a towel or cup and relatch when the supply slows. Baby may clamp down on the nipple causing nipple trauma as they try to control the flow. Clicking is baby moving their tongue and losing suction --can make for very sore nips and causes baby to take in a lot of air and be extra gassy. Nurse with baby's head higher than the breast so gravity doesn't speed the flow and cause baby to choke more often. Side lying, football and laid back nursing are common positions that help slow the flow so baby doesn't take in more air.

Good luck! Hope baby feels better soon!

When you go from board to board giving medical sounding advice people assume you are an expert. The point is you never asked PP any additional questions, just told her to eat more. I have the same issues as PP but if I had listened to you and fed more my issues would get worse. You brand yourself as an expert and people call on you as such. It's dangerous if you aren't and don't get all the info before "diagnosing" people.

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