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LO cries all the time when awake

uksteph11uksteph11 member
in Babies: 0 - 3 Months
Is anyone else struggling with their LO crying all the time?  My LO is 10 days old and he literally screams and cries for 95% of his awake time.  The only time he is awake and not crying is if he is nursing.  He is nearly impossible to console and if I am able to get him to calm down, it only last for approximately 10-15 minutes.  I have talked to my pediatrician about this and he said that LO has reflux and that I should change my diet and wait it out.  I drastically changed my diet a week ago but have not seen any noticeable improvements.  Just curious if anyone else is going through this and what they have tried or what has worked.  Here is what we have tried so far:  swaddling, white noise, pacifier, swing, bouncing, rocking, singing, driving around in the car, getting fresh air, moby carrier, and skin to skin.  I'm desperate for any suggestions.  It is making it very difficult to bond with my baby and I am really feeling like a failure as a mother.
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Re: LO cries all the time when awake

  • mfsunshine222mfsunshine222 member
    I know you prob. keep hearing this, but..."it will get better"!  It is stressful, but you must remember you are not doing anything wrong.  Newborns are cranky; and it is hard to bond when you are so stressed out.  My suggestion is to hold him while he is sleeping and soak up how cute and precious he is while he is quiet...LOL.
    Has your pediatrician done a weighed feeding?  Are you sure you are producing enough.  My son was the same way the first 6 weeks and it turned out that he was hungry and I had to supplement with formula; I saw an improvement in his mood immediately!  I also went through the diet change because they thought it was reflux and I think this ended up reducing my supply even more because I was basically scared to eat anything; my already limited calorie intake dropped even further.  You MUST MUST MUST eat so your baby will have food.
    Try to keep your chin up!
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  • ashiscuteashiscute member
    Did your pedi recommend medicine?  If your LO is that uncomfortable they should be willing to help him.  My DS has reflux and he started on Zantac at 2 weeks.  We didn't see an improvement and were referred to an ENT and GI.  He ended up being put on Prevacid and we finally saw an improvement around 3 months.  It was tough.  

    DS did best in either the moby or swaddled in the swing.  He did not sleep in the car/car seat or in pac n play or laying flat ever.  After each feeding he needed to be held for awhile to calm down.  

    Has he been gaining well?  Honestly, I would keep pressure on your pedi and if it doesn't seem like your LO is getting better than demand a referral to someone who can help.  
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  • poofwokpoofwok member
    OP, my son is just over 2 month old and has been dealing with reflux since the beginning aswell. When changing your diet, it can take up to 2 weeks to see any real improvement. If that still isnt good enough, talk to your prediatrician about maybe getting some zantac to help. Its working with DS, altough we've had to keep upping the dosage because his reflux is actually quite severe. As for other tricks, try keeping the baby in an upright position after each feeding for atleast 20 minutes and maybe try and to incline his mattress so that is head is higher up then his feet. I also try and burp him often during a feeding which helps. Good luck!
    *************
    First BFP: 12/16/13
    EDD: 08/23/14
    Baby BOY born: 08/29/14
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  • uksteph11uksteph11 member
    Thanks ladies for the support.  We have been seeing the pediatrician daily since our discharge from the hospital for daily weight checks.  LO lost 14% body weight, but has steadily been increasing since then.  I feel like he is still hungry after feedings, but both the pediatrician and lactation consultant think my milk production is good.  I am pumping an extra ounce after feedings and we are syringe feeding it to LO.  We haven't really talked about medication yet, but I may bring it up at my appointment today.  It is heart breaking to watch him be so upset and uncomfortable all day.
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  • poofwokpoofwok member
    Cluster feeding can also be a way of LO soothing himself from the reflux. Definitely try burping often.
    *************
    First BFP: 12/16/13
    EDD: 08/23/14
    Baby BOY born: 08/29/14
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  • FriskypuppysFriskypuppys member
    Weird that they want you to change your diet for reflux as from what I understood from my pedi, the reflux is a physical issue with the esophogus not due to what is being eaten.  I recommend getting a second opinion.
    My LO has reflux and is on prilosec and for a while was on Enfamil AR (which is for reflux, basically it's thin liquid going in and thickens in the tummy in an effort to keep from coming back up (it has rice starch in it)  This went on for a month and we were able to get him back on breast milk this last two months and he's now getting combo enfamil ar and breast milk.  (my supply tanked horribly when the dr's were all, let's try this, there's nothing like telling a mother that her baby won't drink her milk to slam the stress on her) 
    Does your LO act like he's trying to swallow food even though you aren't feeding him?  if so then he's refluxing.  Is he arching his back like he's uncomfortable?  Those were the two signs for us.

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  • Kat_BrideKat_Bride member
    I would ask the ped for some medicine.  My son had bad reflux and he went on Zantac.  It made a world of difference.
    Married 11-8-08
    DS born 12-10-10
    DD born 11-5-12
    Boy/girl twins arrived 10-10-14!
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  • kwitt22kwitt22 member
    How is he sleeping? My DD was pretty cranky too. (I know I may get flamed for this but it worked)... I started putting her on her stomach for naps. She slept a million times better and was much happier when awake. Although I always was in the same room with her when she napped, so I check and make sure she was okay. Also she never sleeps at night on her tummy. 
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
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  • Ivorytower2Ivorytower2 member
    I just mentioned this on another thread, by my DD cried like 95% of her awake time the first month or so. I felt like she hated the outside world and every time she woke up it just reminded her that she was outside and not in. A bit after 5 weeks it was like s complete 180 and now she's super happy smiley and interactive about 95% of the time. It will get better and then amazing, so just hang in there a bit longer and remember that you're doing a great job.
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  • uksteph11uksteph11 member
    Thank you everyone for your responses.  We have finally figured out what has been going on.  @mfsunshine222, you were right about having a weighed feeding.  Poor little guy was only getting about 1/2 ounce after nursing for 40 minutes.  We are now supplementing with pumped breast milk and formula when needed.  I have a much happier baby now!  Thank you for all of the advice everyone.  It is nice to hear from others who have gone through this before.
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