10 day old unsettled baby
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
Forum Description: Want help? Need support? Want tips? Men and women share advice and tips in this supportive community
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=24368
Printed Date: 06 July 2025 at 11:45am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: 10 day old unsettled baby
Posted By: Blankney94
Subject: 10 day old unsettled baby
Date Posted: 07 February 2009 at 9:46pm
|
Hi everyone - I would like to hear your experiences about your first days home from giving birth. Our baby Brooke was really cute and settled at the hospital and about 2-3 days at home afterward. Everyone said what relaxed parents we were and what a relaxed baby we had - and I was totally gaga and over the moon! In the last 3-4 days things have changed dramatically. Baby gets lots of wind and hiccups and is now very hard to settle to sleep after a feed. I am exclusively breastfeeding. I breastfeed and she ends up full of wind, so I burp and change nappy and then she wants another feed because the wind is gone. That feed sets off the whole burping routine again. It is now taking 2-2.5 hrs to complete a feed and get her to sleep. Firstly it was just evenings, but now it is any feed, day or night. She cries for long sessions at a time, and I can't work out what she wants, and I'm being driven up the wall! I have been very tearful in the last couple of days. I feel cheated because we had such an angel and now she has turned into a bit of a gremlin and to be honest I really don't think she is so cute anymore. I worry about how long her crying spells are going to go on for and if this is just for a few days or the beginning of something ongoing like colic. I'm also wondering if I have the baby blues (this is Day 10). I get tearful when she cries and also tearful when I'm discussing this with anyone. I don't think it is PND but more a feeling like PMT - maybe her crying sets off some hormones in me?
------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
|
Replies:
Posted By: Aprilfools
Date Posted: 07 February 2009 at 10:15pm
|
You have people staying with you as well don't you? If they're not being helpful then that won't help the way you feel. Stamp your foot at them and ask for help and give yourself at least half an hour to take a shower and feel human.
Harper had a couple of days where he was similar to what you're discribing although he wasn't constantly crying but very restless and couldn't seem to get comfortable. We just went with it and I do wander if the heat was actually getting to him and making him a bit frustrated as it was only during the day. I hope it gets better for you. Keep an eye on yourself and if you think you can't cope be sure to let someone know. |
Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 07 February 2009 at 10:30pm
|
Did you get the bit I posted on Facebook about the bath & bicycling her legs?
Here is a link that has some interesting reading on Colic. http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/Mosby_factsheets/infant_colic.html - Colic Link Hang in there chook.... ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com"> 
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: busyissy
Date Posted: 07 February 2009 at 10:39pm
|
Hi Sarah,
Congratulations on your wee girl, she is beautful. I just want to say first off don' t be so hard on yourself. Just under two weeks ago you had a baby and your body is still full of pregnancy hormones, you are sleep deprived and there is so much to learn about your baby and being a mum. And it's not easy! Babies are generally very well behaved in the first week or two as they are so exhausted from being born, its like a bit of a honeymoon, then reality hits and it is very hard! But if you continue to feel overwhelmed or very sad, and all of those other things then I would talk to your midwife about it. Little Brooke sounds exactly how Isobelle was when we bought her home. Its horrible isn't it to have them crying and not know what to do. Turns out that she has gastric reflux. Have you tried giving Brooke some Weleda Colic powder? We have found it to be very helpful in the past. You can get it from the chemist or Baby Factory. Get a little muchkin medicine dispenser dummy thing too and mix a little with a mix of boiled and cool boiled water. Give it to her before a feed and it should help her move her wind. With wind it can often be worse in the evening as they store it up over the day and end up with very sore tummies. Once the gas is in their intestine it is very painful and they have to fart it out, its a lot of work and very distressing for them. Does she cry when on her back? Does she get hiccups every feed and/or spill a lot? It could be that she is getting reflux. Reflux is very painful for them and can cause that constant crying, our little girl was diagnosed with reflux at about 10days old. Try raising the head end of her bed a bit, under the cot feet, not mattress tho. You might want to consider a dummy too. Not sure how you feel about dummies but they can be a life saver and if she does have reflux you will probably find that she will love it. If you do try one I recommed the NUK latex dummy, it is the easiest for them to latch on to and keep in their wee mouths. You could also have a look at the website http://www.cryingoverspiltmilk.co.nz - http://www.cryingoverspiltmilk.co.nz The other thing I would strongly suggest that you do is ask your midwife, or contact your local plunket office, for a referral to your local Family centre. Family centres are there to help you with feeding, sleeping issues, reflux and pnd. Another thing you could do is ask your partner to try to burp her. Men hold babies differently, straighter, and it helps them bring their wind up better. It will get better, just hang on in there. 
Edited for absolutely dreadful spelling mistakes! 
|
Posted By: BeLoved
Date Posted: 08 February 2009 at 7:57am
|
Hi Sarah
Your post reads exactly like myself and DD just a few weeks ago. We came home from hospital with a dream baby and that lasted approx 2.5 weeks, then it was like it all changed over night! I felt like my bonding with her took a huge step backwards and I cried all the time, I was on the phone to healthline crying even! After a terrible pregnancy with lots of complications everyone said you will have a dream baby, but no it felt like it was all going against me and I could do nothing to help her, anyway things did get better. Heres is a list of the things that worked for us and a bit of a timeline: - I tried gripe water it did not help - Ended up being told I had an overactive letdown - too much milk and too faster flow so I just fed on one side for each feed which meant DD got more hind milk and the flow slowed down which caused less wind plus less fore milk meant she did not get a sore tummy - It was really hard to wind DD so I followed the baby whisperer (sharlene poole) advice on winding - Started using infacol - you can get it from the supermarket and they only need to 0.2ml so its easy to get in before a feed. This stuff was like my best friend and DD's too. She burped really well most of the time. - We used the pram pushed back and forth over a bump (e.g. the vacumm cleaner cord or the like) to get her to sleep if she was beside herself - My MW suggested bouncing on a swiss ball with her which DH would do and this settled her as well - First doc visit they said colic but I was convinced it was reflux as the crying was throughout the day not just at night. Gave us gaviscon which did not work. - Also she had the hiccups alot and would be swallowing all the time even in her sleep which made me think reflux - Went to an osteo and had cranial done on DD this seemed to help a little - Elevated her cot - She has a dummy (NUK silicon one) and this is a life saver, can take awhile to get them to take it but once they do ti soothes them so much - Went back to doc as she was getting worse, the screaming was all day everyday, doc prescribed losec for reflux - After about 3 days on the losec we saw a definite improvement - Things like colimed, colic powder and other remedies can be great too if the work for your baby. DD is now 8.5 weeks old and she is an absolute delight, it felt like the longest 5 weeks at the time. I was so thinking I would give up BF but we got through it and DD just has a FF before bed. She has slept from 8 - 6 for the past 2 nights now and has finally started smiling and is happy when she is awake instead of screaming. Her cries have become a normal baby cry instead of painful scream. When everyone said to me she will get better around 6 weeks I thought how can I wait that long but they were kinda right. I felt so bad for wishing the time away so that we could get to 6 - 8 weeks and I worried I had PND but it did turn around and I can honestly say those hard weeks were totally worth it. There is a good article in the latest treasures mag about crying babies. Big hugs to you! Sorry for the long post but wanted you to know you are not the only one and things do improve. ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com"> 
|
Posted By: JoJames
Date Posted: 08 February 2009 at 9:27am
|
I had the exact same baby! MW was so impressed at how good he was and how well he slept then 3 weeks into it-crazy unsettled.
I won't repeat what people said, but we pretty much did what Heidis mum did, tho J doesn't have reflux, he just had a real sore stomach for the first 3 months. I definately got easier by 8 weeks and by 3 months he settled down so much he was like a new baby. I would second the swiss ball, that was the best thing we tried, DH could make him go to sleep everytime. And the osteo if you can afford it is always worth a try. And the dummy is great for wind. And keep her upright for at least 15 minutes after a feed, Feeding will get easier and shorter. And if she is really crying and beside herself run a hot bath (how hot you would have it) and lower her into it, it will relax her, or you cold just get into the bath with her and relax both of you. I promise it does get easier, and these weeks are only a short time in the long run. Good luck ------------- http://www.alterna-tickers.com"> 
|
Posted By: JoJames
Date Posted: 08 February 2009 at 9:30am
|
You should still be under your MW so make sure you kick everyone out of your house while she is there so you can have an open and honest discussion about how you are feeling. ------------- http://www.alterna-tickers.com">
|
Posted By: angel4
Date Posted: 08 February 2009 at 10:39am
|
The first 6weeks are hardest hun. Then you start to get a feel for your baby and what they need. Dont' be so hard on yourself. Makes sure you get some sleep if you can while bubs is sleeping. It will get better. She loves you more than anything else in the world - always remember that.
|
Posted By: WRXnKids
Date Posted: 08 February 2009 at 11:10am
|
The first weeks are definitely the hardest and there is light and the end of the tunnel. It could be as simple as a growth spurt (josh would get unsettled and feed more often during these) or it could be something you have eaten that causes wind or maybe just a small intolerance you could cut back on dairy or wheat and see if it makes a difference. Ring your midwife if it all gets too much she will be able to visit and give her opinion of what could be causing the unsettledness.
CUTE CUTE wee girl and congrats again. -------------   
|
Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 08 February 2009 at 11:10am
|
Sarah, sounds COMPLETELY normal. Yet another thing they dont tell ya huh? I am having that with James but it is getting better . Last night was an exception to that
Last night James screamed from 12.30 to 2.30 and fed off 4 boobs in that time (2x eac side...I dont have 4). I tried everything. I think he had an upset tummy as he did a massive poosplosion but was still upset. Lying him on his tummy across my knee helped and he also really likes having his bottom patted...quite firmly. I have found that gentle patting or rubbing isnt enough, you have to be reasonably firm. Usually when I start patting his bottom his eyes start to roll back and he drops off..only to wake as soon as I put him down.
Bicycling the legs works too. And lots of patience and shushing. Sometimes I think they just dont want us to put them down.
It does get better |
Posted By: FionaO
Date Posted: 08 February 2009 at 11:14am
|
Just wanted to offer big hugs really.
My experience very similar but for different reasons, the few days in hosiptal everyone was saying how cruisy he was, we got home and he slept through everything slept easily, and we had to wake to feed etc etc.... and I was sure it was all good. Then it all changed, we had real issues with wind (only realised when I saw an LC) and I really struggled when Dh went back to work, it took me a few weeks to really bond with him as he seemed like such hard work. We use gripe water, but all the products mentioned for wind are good, so give it a try and I agree about having a good honest chat - that really helps. My worst day i called an LC and just poured my heart out, I was terrified of PND as I had depression about 10 years ago and she was so nice and after that i felt a lot better and it was just baby blues So don't be hard on yourself, you are doing a fantastic job, it takes time and I promise its SO worth it. ------------- 
]  [/URL]
|
Posted By: Blankney94
Date Posted: 09 February 2009 at 11:31pm
|
hi guys typing this 1 handed while feeding. Sorry I haven't been on till now. saw a lact consultant today. she fine tuned my feeding to hopefully cut down on the wind. just want to thank everyone for their support first it means the world to me. My hormonal weeping stage seems to be over, and I am now managing not to get so emotional when Brooke cries. brooke was pretty good all day today and yesterday until we got to approx 9 pm on both nights. then meltdown time. not sure how long to leave her crying. she wont feed for very long either. Grr! She kept falling asleep at the breast tonight - I know all the tricks to keep her awake but they aren't enough. The hardest thing too is when I am trying to latch her, her hands constantly get into the way - like they want to be fed too. Anyway have tried several feeds and putting her back to bed, burping, nappy change etc, but she just won't settle. At least we had a good day though. Thanks for helping me to see the light at the end of the tunnel. We are working our way through solutions.... have tried colimed(doesn't seem to do much), gripe water (seems to improve things). I am going to try taking fennel on MW recommendation to reduce wind. About to try putting Brooke to sleep again - wish me luck! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 09 February 2009 at 11:59pm
|
Have you got her on a dummy? I've found my brillant & I was against putting a dummy in my kids mouth's! I've found it's helped with Cooper's wind.
Yeah what is with those hands! Funny how they really want food but stick a hand in the mouth instead! 
Have you tried wrapping her for her last feeds? Makes them like a stiff bundle so they are easier to position. But good on you for having a break through. I always said that learning to breast feed is much harder than anything else I've every had to learn. ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com">
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: Blankney94
Date Posted: 10 February 2009 at 12:50pm
|
Thanks Kel - yeah the breastfeeding thing is a lot more difficult than I imagined. Doesn't help that I was shown at least 3 different ways at the hospital. Tried the bicycling the legs last night. We are trying various methods. Think wee madam is getting better at sorting burps herself too. I also use the Sharlene Poole method. HeidisMum - I was on the Plunket Line crying too! Hey WRX - nice to hear from you again! Haven't tried a dummy yet but we have them in the cupboard - in case of emergency . Saffron - What is the colic powder - is it mixed with water and can be given in a syringe? Also does a baby have to be spilly to be considered refluxy? Mine doesn't get big spills but we have been getting up some whopper burps lately (followed by swallowing - but usually only night-time). She gets lots of hiccups - maybe every second feed. April - yes we did have DH's Dad staying with us. He was pretty good - I couldn't spend much time with him, but he didn't get in the way either. There was one time where DH took Dad out for the day and I had to send for rescue so they came back. I felt pretty bad, but that was on one of my really horrible days though. DH is very hands on, so I am lucky, but there are still some days where I don't even get to read the paper and I kinda don't feel human if I can't have 5 mins to myself. At the Lact Consultant yesterday I was told to de-latch Brooke if I noticed her latching wrong. Well I think the whole appt made her quite tired with all the practising and re-latching. So in the end she was getting 5-10 min breastfeeds for the rest of the day where she would doze off. I was left with no option really but to put her to sleep last night knowing she would be up again soon. She just wouldn't settle after 2 hrs, I finally gave her an EBM bottle and was able to get about 60 ml into her. Must have done the trick because eventually she slept. Sorry guys - a lot of waffle and venting - but it's so nice to have understanding people to talk to! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
|
And also I felt our bonding took a hit - but Brooke is giving me some smiles again now. But when it was hard I just didn't find her cutey cutey anymore and felt so guilty about that. The infacol stuff sounds good - esp the small dose.
Posted By: busyissy
Date Posted: 10 February 2009 at 3:36pm
|
Hi Sarah,
Im glad to hear that things have been improving a little bit. No, a baby doesn't have to be spilly to have reflux, that is called silent reflux. The acid still rises up the throat and burns and that causes them to cry. Does she cry after the hiccups and/or burps? Another sign is that reflux babies tend to be quite poor sleepers during the day only down for around 45mins at a time. The colic powder is a natural remedy, it has fennel, and chamomile in it and it is lactose based so babies love the taste. You mix 1/4tps with a tsp of warm water and give as a preventative before feeding. You could definately mix it up and syringe it in. You can get it from the chemist or baby factory. There are also some herbal nursing teas (for Mum) that you can drink to help baby with wind problems, they have the same sorts of ingrediants in them. Ive had friends who had great success with Infacol drops but Isobelle got very upset on them. The other one you could try is good old gripe water, just get it from the supermarket. It is fennel based too but tastes awful. Another thing I was told to do with Isobelle was to only let her feed for a minute or two then de-latch, burp, re-latch. Such a pain tho, I gave up on it because she would either just scream about having her meal taken away or not re-latch and then would have a terrible sleep. Its so hard to know if you are doing the right thing isn't it? Thats what I find the hardest about being a mum. And you can waffle as much as you want, thats whats so great about these forums there are so many supportive and knowledgable mums out there. I wish I had known about it when I had Dominic. |
Posted By: Blankney94
Date Posted: 10 February 2009 at 6:34pm
|
Thanks for your replies. Have gone and bought some Infacol for bubs and fennel tablets for me. Was wondering about that silent reflux thing - thanks for telling me Saffron. And yes Brooke is often upset with her burping and hiccups. Today Brooke is still doing the unsettled thing - usually doesn't happen in the day, so wonder what tonight will be like. She didn't really settle after her 1 pm lunch feed, ie 2-3 hours. When I got her up (4 pm) she was really screaming - not the typical 'I want a feed' cry, she breastfeed for only 5 mins before going out like a light and couldn't be woken for the rest of her feed. I put her back to bed and this time she has settled - but without a full meal. 1. She wants to be comforted by suckling. 2. She has acid at the back of her throat which is relieved by a short drink, and then she wants straight back to sleep. Maybe I'm just a few time Mum being over-reactive with my hypothesising. I'm sure things could be better for the wee girl though. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: busyissy
Date Posted: 10 February 2009 at 6:46pm
|
Unfortunately until they can tell us what is wrong it is a long guessing game! I think we all over think and hypothese about what is happening with our little ones. The thing is to trust your instincts, you know Brooke best, you spend all day with her and you know her cries, when things are right and when they are wrong. Do you know that you can ask your midwife to refer you to a pead? We saw one when Isobelle was 2 weeks old and it was free too.
Might be worth a shot, could give you some valuable answers or even just peace of mind. I hope tonight goes well
|
Posted By: BeLoved
Date Posted: 10 February 2009 at 6:55pm
|
Sarah - honestly what you say sounds so much like my experience, Heidis reflux is silent so no spilling. She just use to cry and cry all the time and in the end I just knew something was not right. For a few days it would be always crying in the afternoon/night and it progressively got worse & worse, to the point that I thought exactly what you said, things must be able to be better for the poor wee baby, i just knew that constant crying was not right, and thats why I went back to the doc & insisted they look more into it.
I honestly think once BF is established the dummy will do no harm and there are hundreds of babies who have had dummies and don't anymore, so don't worry about forming a habit. The dummy is a life saver sometimes if they are wanting to suck for comfort. I tried cutting our certain foods to the point I did not know what to eat! Now I eat what I want as it did not seem to make any difference after 2 weeks of no dairy. I have never experienced anything like not being able to comfort my baby, and I felt like everyone else could give her some comfort except me as I was so worked up about her crying I think I just made it worse for her (passing on my anxiety etc. to her) I felt like a complete failure. And also like I had been tricked in the beginning when everyone kept saying I had a dream baby. In our case once silent reflux was diagnosed and we tried the meds she really did turn a corner. The constant swallowing stopped, her burps and hiccups did not upset her anymore and she has just got happier & happier. Go with your instinct if you think there is something causing her crying and discomfort push it with your doc to look into it and help you to help her. My heart goes out to you, I know how distressing it is! Big Hugs for you & Brooke!!! edited for spelling ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com">
|
Posted By: WRXnKids
Date Posted: 10 February 2009 at 7:55pm
|
We were giving josh infacol and gripe water at different stages i think we found gripe water the better one. Have you tried raising one end of the cot? If you cant put something under the legs a book or rolled sheet under the mattress works it helped josh a bit. I highly recommend the dummy as well we were lucky he got sick with a cold at about 4mth and decided he didnt want it and never used it again but it was a life saver for settling him but i had to stop breastfeeding at 2 weeks so wasnt worried about it possibly affecting his latch.
I was also told an osteopath is a lifesaver and really helps unsettled babies but i never got round to booking an appointment When josh was that young he was like a robot every 3 hours he was hungry. He would wake be fed burped then changed and settle (take about an hour once fine tuned) and then sleep 2 hours then wake. Day and night you could almost set a watch to him. It was so exhausting but you get use to it and the sleeps do eventually get longer. If you ever get burnt out and are ready to lose the plot and have noone to help give me a text i can watch brooke if you just want a few minutes to yourself or even if you just want a chat and coffee (although josh is at the destroy/terrorize stage which might be more stressful) Dont worry i havent stopped stalking you on here yet hehehe i was hoping you would post so i could get my fix -------------
|
Posted By: Blankney94
Date Posted: 12 February 2009 at 11:08pm
|
Hi WRX - yes we have made one end of the cot higher by inserting a new base board and propping it up at one end. I haven't been able to find an Osteo - the only one in the ph book is not taking new clients. Do you know of any? Things are getting better and worse - if that is possible. I am learning to read Brooke's signals better so can respond better. But she has had three big upchucks in just over a 24 hr period. It's distressing to watch it all come up, and then you wonder whether to feed her again because by then she is overdue for her sleep. HeidisMum - two of Brooke's big spills have happened just after I have laid her down in her basinnet, even though I'd spent at least the previous 20 mins rocking, burping, walking her to try to get all the wind up. Sound familiar? Seeing MW tomorrow so will go over my concerns with her. Brooke is very settled on outings we have found out! From speaking to the other new Mums it seems some have much worse problems - one baby won't gain enough weight and stays awake all day then feeds 2 hrly at night! Another lady, her milk didn't even come in. So I should be grateful. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: WRXnKids
Date Posted: 13 February 2009 at 12:26pm
|
Sorry cant help with the osteo cos i never got organized enough to even ring the only 1.
Josh was a spilly baby and we would only feed him more if he seemed upset after a spill i think his problem was he didnt know when to stop and he ended up a formula baby so when we changed brands he got better. Its funny how hard it is i know heaps of people who had it way worse than me but i still struggled. Just remember its hard for everyone in the beggining and anyone who says its easy has to be lying. But there is light at the end of the tunnel - they get mobile and trash your house making you wish they were back at that little stage again hahaha -------------
|
Posted By: scribe
Date Posted: 14 February 2009 at 9:46pm
|
Your story sounds just like mine. I just wanted to say, make sure you trust your instincts because if you think there is something wrong there usually is - a mother knows best. I had a strong inkling that Clara had reflux, but everyone tells you wind and colic and 'it's just a stage, the first few months are the hardest' and we (DH and I) felt like we were failing cos we couldn't get her to stop crying, and I particularly felt like a failure when I couldn't get her to feed properly. I was definitely bordering on PND, some days I couldn't stop crying and couldn't eat.
Even though I was fairly sure it was reflux (my nephews had had it so I knew the signs), we tried everything else (gripe water, winding for half an hour, dairy-free diet, upright feeding etc) because I really didn't want to go down the drug route. My midwife kept saying it was wind, but I had very supportive GP and she encouraged me to try Gaviscon (it helped, but imade her very constipated) and then ranitidine - and we've never looked back. She's still not an easy baby, but what a difference it made! And now that she's sitting and eating solids we may be able to take her off the drugs soon. I'm not saying that Brooke has reflux, it's just that it sounds like she has some of the symptoms - unsettledness, particularly evenings (acid is worst at night) - but also at random times of the day too (which rules out colic); hiccups; not feeding very well - and Clara was also better with EBM from a bottle than from the breast. Clara wasn't spilly in the early days either (but boy did she make up for it later on!) Remember to look after yourself too, leave your partner to look after Brooke and take a long bath or get out for a walk or a drive alone. For the settling to sleep - we bought a hammock for that reason, it's the best thing we ever bought! Great for refluxy babies. The baby carrier was great for keeping her upright and doing chores around the house. Also, I found cutting out cow's milk helped as well. Yoghurt is easier digested than straight milk, but if you are just eating it for the probiotics, you can buy probiotic powder from the chiller section of a health food store and add it to EBM. And make sure you pop a calcium tablet (although I am a fine one to talk, I always forget to take mine!) Hugs
|
Posted By: Blankney94
Date Posted: 15 February 2009 at 12:34pm
|
Thanks anakk for your reply. The symptoms are changing day by day. I think Brooke has silent reflux, but like you said, MW is just taking a wait and see approach, "could be wind/colic" etc blah blah blah. I think she is more concerned that Brooke is putting on weight (which she is) but MW is not here in the middle of the night to see what is happening. What's happening now...... Brooke usually starts getting symptoms at 4.30 pm onwards and sometimes we are still trying to get her to bed all the way through tea time. Middle of the night feeds usually take 2 hrs to turn around. She makes it pretty obvious that she doesn't like lying down and this includes nappy changes. We spend over an hour burping/walking/settling her after feeding. She will cluster feed within a feeding too - I think this is for two reasons - wind up = more room in tummy, and she wants the acid in her throat washed down. She got the symptoms this morning too! Brooke does a lot of burp swallowing in her bassinet - she has that curdy stuff in her mouth and her breath smells like baby sick - eewww! She hasn't had many actually spills but I'm sure the partly digested milk is coming up the back of her throat. This whole thing is upsetting her feeding/sleeping patterns. ie if Brooke is fed at 9 am, we may have just settled her by 11.30 am. In theory her next feed is 12 ish - but she's only just gone to sleep! So we let her have a decent sleep, but then she is more hungry. Another thing that is happening now is Brooke is waking, demanding a feed, feeds for a short time and nods off at the boob. It's like she only wants a milk top up so she can continue with her sleep. (Not sure if you can burp a baby either once it's asleep? Still getting lots of hiccups too - and these bother her, I think. I am going to get a second opinion from my family GP tomorrow - and if she tells me to wait and see/ride it out..... ------------- http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: Blankney94
Date Posted: 15 February 2009 at 12:37pm
|
Oh and I've tried Infracol (made her spill), gripe water (possibly helps but I think Brooke likes it because it is diluted with cool boiled water), we've raised the basinnet up, I'm trying a dairy-free diet ------------- http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: busyissy
Date Posted: 15 February 2009 at 1:25pm
|
Hi Sarah,
I think you need to stop being polite with your midwife, if you think that Brooke has silent reflux then insist on being referred to a pead or just go straight to your doctor to talk about it. The longer that reflux is left untreated the worse it is going to get and the more likely it is that Brooke will end up with health problems from it. Not to mention that she is in pain and it makes you miserable. Midwives and plunket nurses are obsessed with the weight thing and it is very important but it is not the only important part of looking after a baby. The other thing about midwives is that they are trained to deal with the normal and healthy functions of the body, that is what makes them so great during labor, whereas doctors are trained to deal with the sick, things that aren't right (makes them terrible for childbirth!). You need to do what is right for you and your baby, you have tried a lot of things now and if you think they aren't making a big enough difference and you want to try some of the medications available then stand your ground with your midwife or go to your doctor. Sorry! that sounds so forceful but I remember being a mum for the first time and I was really hesitant and it didn't do me or Dommy any favours. I think you have been really strong and are doing an amazing job, it is so hard. Just trust yourself and your instincts.
|
Posted By: Blankney94
Date Posted: 15 February 2009 at 4:31pm
|
Thanks Saffron for your support - sometimes I think it's just me being a neurotic first time Mum.... but in the middle of the night reality hits! It's not nice to give Brooke a feed at 3 am and still be trying to settle her as the rooster is crowing and the sun is coming up! We've just taken madam on her first pram ride not in the capsule - we raised the bed in the pram slightly so she was comfy. She's been given a top up feed and put down for her 4 pm sleep..... so far she's staying and not a wimper! Cross fingers. With a bit of real sleep in the bassinet she might start staying awake for her feeds.
------------- http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: busyissy
Date Posted: 15 February 2009 at 6:33pm
|
I know that feeling! When they are being quite and things are going well you sometimes wonder if you imagined it...until they do it again that is.
From what I know about sleep issue and reflux it sounds as if (because of the reflux) she is getting into a bad pattern of being too hungry to sleep properly and then too tired to feed properly. Brooke will probably start snacking and ultimately it could affect your milk supply. She is still very little though and if the reflux is address you may find that her sleeping and feeding just comes right by itself. |
Posted By: Blankney94
Date Posted: 15 February 2009 at 9:10pm
|
Hmm yes that is my biggest fear - a baby that snacks - I'll be a dairy cow at the whim of a little baby! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: scribe
Date Posted: 16 February 2009 at 8:20pm
|
Sarah, I hope you had some success with your doctor today?
Because the more you say, the more it sounds like reflux. That burp swallowing you mentioned - it sounds like the noise that the Plunket nurse pointed out, that Clara was making, that indicates reflux. Like I said in my earlier post, please trust your instincts. I was the same - particularly as the MW, like yours, would visit and be all enthusiastic about how much weight she was putting on - 'she's doing so well!' she'd say. But I knew better. And Saffron is right, if it is reflux it needs to be treated. If not it can lead to problems later on, all that acid (that you can smell) is not good for her developing body, for her nose, throat and ears. I really doubted myself but once we got her treated, and the coughing and the hiccups and of course the non-stop screaming periods went away, I knew that my instincts were right. (And yet some people still don't believe me that it's not wind!  )
|
Posted By: Blankney94
Date Posted: 17 February 2009 at 9:16pm
|
Well we took bubs to the doctor and we were prescribed to try Infant Gaviscon. I first tried it yesterday - what an immediate difference! Brooke had her feed, got her Gaviscon, and didn't scream or bring her knees up at the nappy change. She had big burps which were easy to bring up. We even had time for play, then off to bed without a wimper! Unfortunately that was a one-off. She didn't want to sleep last night and we had to resort to bringing out the emergency dummy for the first time. As soon as she was "plugged in" she was out like a light. Tried the same thing for the next sleep and the dummy fell out after about 20 mins so she cried and I replaced it. Great - I can see a pattern developing there. Today Brooke has learnt how to spit out her medicine ------------- http://lilypie.com">
|
and is being a bit difficult to settle. Not sure if it's a side-effect of the Gaviscon - maybe there's a 'settling in' period, or maybe Brooke is going through a growth spurt - she's so changeable lately as it is! Posted By: busyissy
Date Posted: 18 February 2009 at 1:24pm
|
You do have to persist for a few days to see if the Gaviscon is going to work for Brooke. Often it is not enough on its own and I found that if constipated Isobelle.
Do you syringe it in or use a muchkin? We found the muchkin worked better for gaviscon. When we were at the family centre for Isobelle's reflux the women who writes the crying overspiltmilk website was there. She explained that infants gaviscon is actually more effective given before a feed rather than after it. She has been talking to the gaviscon representative and he admitted that is the case but the packaging won't be changed to show this for a while because of it being an internation brand, it takes a long time. If anything I found it useful to give before Isobelle's feed because she was too full to take it after. If it is not working go back to the doctor and ask for a paed referral, I might be wrong here but I'm sure that the reflux has to be diagnosed by a paed before the doctor can prescribe omprazole of ranitadine. |
Posted By: Blankney94
Date Posted: 19 February 2009 at 10:35pm
|
thanks saffron. yes i've found the gav still works when I give it before changing bf sides. might continue that. the burping and farting have settled a little but now missy has a case of thrush and I think this is making feeding horrible for her! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: busyissy
Date Posted: 20 February 2009 at 1:10pm
| Oh poor thing! its always one thing or another isn't it? I hope the thrush clears up soon. |
Posted By: Blankney94
Date Posted: 27 February 2009 at 9:49pm
|
Hi guys - it's back again! Today I am absolutely a broken woman - I never knew a baby could work me into such a state. Mind you it's not her fault and she's obviously uncomfortable. She was abolutely unconsolable for about 5 hrs today and yesterday and I tried everything I could think of to settle her. I could hear her from 50 metres away when I went outside (for some sanity). Feel like crap because both times Brooke has had problems in the last couple of days, she has settled within half an hour of DH coming home! I feel I could be eating something that Brooke is reacting to, but have no idea where to start in order to look at my diet. Most of the time I find myself grabbing easy food / junk because I'm just not getting enough time - bit of a catch 22. I am very tempted to start formula feeding but at the same time am aware this could open a bigger can of worms. Sorry to vent. Just feeling a bit down at the moment and feel like I am quickly loosing my confidence. If one more visitor smiles at Brooke and says "oh she has wind" I am going to throttle them - like I don't already f'n know that!!! Grrr ------------- http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: BeLoved
Date Posted: 27 February 2009 at 10:12pm
|
Sarah - Just wanted to send you some hugs and let you know that I have so been there. Heidi is nearly 3 months old and we still have our bad days sometimes, plus DH is away a lot so that just makes the bad days worse. But the one bit of advice that a lot of people gave me and I finally listened to is to just "go with it!" relax and do whatever it takes to settle them, I find just me being relaxed and not letting it get to me makes a lot of difference for me obviously but for her even more. They are so in tune with you that I think they take on our emotions and it becomes a vicious cycle of you both making each other more upset, thats why I think when DH or anyone else holds them it seems to settle them. For me it is now that I seem to be the only one who makes her relax which can be really hard too!
Hang in there! And yes I found the heat really made Heidi worse, when we had the hottest day in Auckland since 1872!!!!! I thought I was going to lose my mind! My little chant I say to myself sometimes is "Relax, be patient, consistent and confident" and sometimes when I say that to myself I have to laugh and think YEAH RIGHT! ( I probably sound so crazy with all the talking to myself i do) Take care! ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com">
|
Posted By: scribe
Date Posted: 28 February 2009 at 11:46am
|
The fact that the Gaviscon made a difference confirms that it must be reflux that is bothering Brooke, but from the sound of her symptoms she needs more than Gaviscon. We started with Gaviscon and that did make a noticeable difference, but then she got constipated (a very common side effect from Gaviscon) and that made her miserable - plus it is just a pain to get into a BF baby before every feed. I would go back to the doctor and ask to try ranitidine, they only need a little bit twice a day, so it is much easier to get in than Gaviscon and doesn't stuff them up. It can be prescribed by your GP, but if you need anything stronger (ie. Losec) you'll need to see a paed.
Re: diet, I found that cutting cow's milk out of my diet made a huge difference - 50% of babies with reflux also have a cow's milk allergy. It is hard work in the beginning, but you soon get used to it. Oh and I totally understand about visitors and wind - my grandmother STILL goes on about wind, and how all her babies were windy blah blah, I really am going to blow my top one of these days! |
Posted By: Blankney94
Date Posted: 01 March 2009 at 9:35pm
|
Hey thanks guys - we have had a couple of good days - just Brooke a bit unsettled and not wanting to sleep as much, esp during the day. I think she might be having a growth spurt, or maybe coming out of the newborn sleeping habits. No serious reflux issues since Thursday. It's doing my head in, because the symptoms are only occasional but when they do appear they are certainly not mild. So I'm not sure whether to pursue more treatment or not. The whole episode from Thursday left me feeling incredibly emotional inside and today is the first day I've perked up. It sounds horrible but I really wanted to avoid Brooke for a while. Looking back - Thursday was the day I got cranial/spinal therapy done on Brooke to try to get to the bottom of these problems. The guy said she might be a bit unsettled for a couple of days - he wasn't kidding! We find it quite easy now to get the Gaviscon into Brooke - we put the dose in a bottle with a little expressed milk..... but lately there are just too many bottles being put in her mouth for my liking - I want her to be a BF baby afterall. Not sure if she is constipated or not - she spends a lot more time straining these days but the results are still reasonably soft/liquid. I need to try the removing dairy thing - gosh I love my choccy milk, dairy food yoghurt etc - but this time I will try harder! It will be worth it for Brooke if it works! I'm also going to try putting her on infant probiotics. Apparently CS babies miss the natural internal flora that natural born babies somehow get. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 01 March 2009 at 10:31pm
|
Hey Sarah, hang in there chick...you are doing a great job!
Try changing from Chocy milk to another flavour, apparently choc plays havoc, so do onions & tomatoes. Then cutting out dairy....doesn't leave us much does it! ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com">
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: busyissy
Date Posted: 02 March 2009 at 7:38pm
|
Hi Sarah,
Ahh you poor thing, it sounds like its been quite rough the last few days. Isobelle was just like that too. she would cry for 5 hours straight and finally I'd ask DH to come home and she would settle within minutes of him taking her. It was just because he was calm and I was all worked up but it just felt like she didn't want me. Doesn't sound like Brooke is constipated, it would be dry and crumbly if she was but the gaviscon thickens everything up and makes it a bit more work to push out. If you go off dairy be careful about soy products, a lot of babies that have a milk protein allergy are also allergic to soy milk. And don't bother with goats milk, not only does it taste disgusting it has the same protein as cow's milk. Its a good idea to keep a food diary and see what you are eating and what might effect her. But be careful not to starve yourself! Good luck with everything! |
Posted By: Blankney94
Date Posted: 03 March 2009 at 11:05pm
|
Back again - sitting here in bed with Taz (cat) who is very clingy lately! Brooke and I went to the cranial man again yesterday - and right on cue she was grumpy again after that. And right on cue DH arrived home after a sh!tty afternoon and Miss B decides once again to settle within 5 mins of him arriving home! Went to the docs today. Brooke screamed the place down and I got a bit tearful. Brooke has been hunching up her legs and pushing and pulling at the nipple while breastfeeding. She demonstrated this to the nurse, but then fed perfectly for the doctor (in a different room). It made me think about what chair / bed I am BF from. Brooke is very, very windy lately - but the doc thought it wasn't the Gaviscon causing it. Usually I do some of my feeding reclining in bed. Have done a couple of feeds today in a hard backed kitchen chair - no windy problems (only a minor bit of reflux and the Gav fixed it)! DH has just given Brooke a huge evening feed after me BF her too, and no gas and no complaining coming from Miss B's bedroom re settling The doc thought the reason for Brooke's wind is me having an underactive letdown caused by me being stressed/anxious.... well that just made me feel a whole lot more anxious! Bought some probiotics for Brooke today - will see what happens and if they help. Meant to have another cranial appt tomorrow - but think I will try and get out of it as she is always so grumpy afterwards. Sorry this message is all over the place - just so happy that we might get a decent sleep tonight! Also I have started plotting Brooke's sleeps and unsettled periods on a little time chart - that's the girly swat in me - trying very hard to find rhyme and reason out of all this. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: busyissy
Date Posted: 04 March 2009 at 1:02pm
|
Hi Brooke,
I hope you got that good sleep you were hoping for. Isn't that always the way that they behave beautifully for the doctor! That pushing and pulling thing they do on the breast indicates a supply problem. She is frustrated at not getting the milk quickly enough and not getting enough of it. You might want to try some lactation drops (natural remedy for natropath, think some chemist have them too) or a breastfeeding herbal tea to help stimulate your milk production. You can get the teas from health food shops. The doctor is probably on to something with the stress being the main factor though. Just wondering if it might be useful to go to a family centre? They could help you with the feeding postures and wind, teach you some reflux baby breastfeeding techniques etc. |
Posted By: Blankney94
Date Posted: 06 March 2009 at 9:53pm
|
Hi guys - have got the feeding sorted a lot better I reckon. Have given up dairy products and now feed from a proper chair rather than in bed or slouched on the couch. I visited a lactation consultant who watched a feed and recommended that the doctor was best ignored and that Brooke was feeding perfectly. We are still using Gaviscon a little, but don't need it near as much now. We don't notice those sicky smells on baby's breath so often now, and Brooke's burps come up reasonably easy, though some still come up about 20 mins after she has been put in her basinnet. The problem now is SLEEP! Can you guys tell me - when your baby was about 5 weeks old, what was the turn around time from start of feed to baby back alseep? For us it's about 1.5 hrs to 2 hrs and I think this is a bit of a problem (esp when I wake for a 4.30am feeding and by the time I get back to bed the sun is coming up! Today Mum took Brooke off my hands for the afternoon - bliss! I got about 3 hrs sleep!
------------- http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: Blankney94
Date Posted: 06 March 2009 at 9:59pm
|
BTW I enquired about the Family Centre, Saffron. Here in Invercargill we have one, but due to finances it is no longer staffed by nurses. It is a place to drop in and feed or change baby but that is about it. I wish someone could come and observe what we are doing here re the sleeping thing - it would have been good to get some pointers. Apparently when the FC was going here women would arrive at 9 am and stay all day getting their baby's routines sorted and getting advice - and they could also catch up on sleep. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: busyissy
Date Posted: 07 March 2009 at 12:58pm
|
That is what our family centre is like. What a shame it isn't running like that any more. I feel so sad for all the invercargill mums, it is such a great resource.
To me is sounds like Brooke is overtired and that is why she can't sleep. Babies are the opposite of us the less they sleep during the day the less they sleep at night. At 5 weeks old she should only be up for an hour at a time, that includes the feed, nappy changes, play or bath time. Really she should be having more like 18-20 hours sleep in a 24 hour period. You definately don't want to create a habit of walking, rocking or driving her to sleep but in the meantime if it means you can get her sleeping back on track then it might be worth doing one of those things to get her down quickly. She should be up for an hour, down for two, that gives you your 3hour feeding pattern. Also, if she is happy in her cot, not crying for any reason, and her eyes are open don't feel bad or worry about leaving her like that. Eventually she will drift off to sleep. There are some really great books out there too. I haven't personally read many but have heard others mention them in the forums and my friend had great success with the Baby whisperer. Have a look at thesleepstore.co.nz too. http://www.thesleepstore.co.nz - Linky |
Posted By: Blankney94
Date Posted: 07 March 2009 at 9:46pm
|
Hi Saffron - actually managed to turn around two feeds last night in an hour each! Tried some new settling techniques - typically new settling techniques are good for only a couple of days. Brooke woke at 1.30 am whereas usually she would wake at 4.30 am. I think we are starting a growth spurt here. Either that, or Brooke got stuck getting into a new sleep cycle. The good thing though was Brooke woke again for a feed at 6 am and then went back to sleep allowing me to wake at 9 am and have "free time" till she woke up around 10 am. She gets more sleep this way so wonder what tonight will bring. Have been keeping a chart of Brooke's feedings, activity time, sleep etc cos all the days blend into one! Is interesting the patterns popping up. Our "witching hour" is 6.30 pm to 9.30 pm. The night hours are the most reliable for sleeping and the afternoons and evenings are the worst. Gosh I wish we could turn around a feed consistently in under an hour. I would get so much more sleep (and so would Brooke!). I have been referred to Plunket now that Brooke is almost 6 wks and the new Plunket Nurse sounds like she is quite pro-active and willing to spend the effort to help me with advice - so that is good. I don't play with Brooke at all at night - feed under dimmed lights etc, and during the day she only gets about 10 mins of tummy time / play per a wakening. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: WRXnKids
Date Posted: 08 March 2009 at 8:45am
|
Hey glad things are starting to get better!!! It gets easier!!!
Dunno if you saw it or not but on good morning a few days back a lady was on with a newborn showing her settling technique. After baby is swaddled lie her on her side in the cot and hold a hand on her arm and start patting her bum firmly with the other hand until she falls asleep. Gives the feeling they had in your tummy when your walking and she said its really good for resettling a baby that wakes but shouldnt be needing a feed or change. -------------
|
Posted By: busyissy
Date Posted: 08 March 2009 at 12:19pm
|
Hey that's fantastic! Sounds like you might be turning a corner. You are doing so well it is not easy with a new baby, especially your first and especially when they have reflux. Sounds like you are doing all the right things.
With Issy we always aimed for that 1 hour up period but with a reflux baby it doesn't always work out. Mind you if you can do it most of the time I think you will find it makes a big difference. Its great that you are giving her tummy time but 10 minutes per up time is quite a lot. Do you find her quite unsettled afterwards? Or harder to put down to sleep after tummy time? I find that Issy is really unsettled after being on her tummy as it compresses her stomach and makes her reflux that much worse. Instead of tummy time on the floor we do tummy time on our tummies, while we are sitting up but reclined slightly backwards. She also spends a lot of time in the bouncinette and now she can hold her head up strongly we are putting her in the jolly jumper too. I know plunket advise to do tummy time but personally I don't think they need it until the can roll over. It might be worth doing a wee experiment, especially in the afternoon as you say that is her most unsettled time, and try leaving the tummy time out and see if it makes a difference. I'm really glad to hear that you have a good plunket nurse. We got a good one too, very practical, and it makes all the difference. |
Posted By: Blankney94
Date Posted: 08 March 2009 at 6:28pm
|
Hi Saffron - about the tummy time - Brooke spends most of it on her back kicking and then I turn her over and she does about 2 mins on her tummy before she's had enough. We only do that about once a day, otherwise she gets tummy to tummy time with us, or just some talk time with us. Today I noticed big yawns straight after her feed, so it was straight to bed and she went out like a light! Well I can say what a difference the dairy free diet is making - huge! We have a different baby! No more reflux, just the odd burp here and there but not bunged up now that we are reducing the Gaviscon. Is funny now Brooke is suddenly waking at 1.30am instead of 4.30am, then again at 6am-ish - but it means when I wake up around 8am I get some 'baby free' time to have a shower/breaky etc. The change of waking times might be due to a growth spurt or due to my change in diet maybe? For the last two nights I've had two feeds each night, and have managed to turn around all feeds in an hour each time - previously unheard of! No more screaming matches at 4.30am! We still have the "witching hour" between 6.30-9.30pm where she resists sleeping, but instead of screaming she just sits with DH and burbles. I'm nervous about the jabs at the end of the week! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
|
I don't want Brooke to be in pain and also she is so settled now, I'm afraid of doing anything to disturb it.Posted By: Blankney94
Date Posted: 08 March 2009 at 6:34pm
|
Oh WRX - I saw the Baby Whisperer lady on that morning on TV! It was funny cos Brooke was just having a tanty at that moment. I went straight through and tried the shush/pat technique and it worked in 5 mins flat! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: busyissy
Date Posted: 09 March 2009 at 12:49pm
|
That's wonderful Sarah, I'm so glad you have found a solution. Isn't blissful to have a happy baby?
Issy usually wakes just once a night but every now and then (like last night) wakes twice or three times. I usually put it down to a growth spurt. Ooo horrible I loathe jab time! It's okay if you are breastfeeding. Time your jab appointment for a feed time and then make sure she is feeding before they inject her, she will scream but then suckle like mad, apparently it helps reduce the pain. And if she is uncomfortable later on in the day a bit of pamol will do the trick, get the nurse to arrange a script for you at the doctors that way its free. We have to go in for Isobelle's 3mth lot this week and she is bottle feed now so I don't know how she is going to cope or me 
|
Posted By: Blankney94
Date Posted: 09 March 2009 at 11:18pm
|
Hehe I spoke too soon - got a bit of reflux again last night. So racked my brain - I didn't think the Easter bun I ate was too risky - but checked the labelling today and says milk solids and skim milk powder. Also I ate some macaroni pasta without thinking. I can't believe how much easier Brooke is to settle to sleep. I'm not getting my patience sorely tested every time I try to get her down to sleep. I'm still trying to increase Brooke's sleep hours. I've been keeping a chart of her eating, feeding, sleeping activities etc and her sleep averages only 11-14 hrs per 24 hr period. The Plunket nurse said not to worry. I think if I can get Brooke to sleep during the witching hour 6.30 pm - 9.30 pm then that will be where we can pick up some extra sleep and she will also be more settled after the 9.30pm feed. Saffron - I've timed Brooke's injections for a Friday morning. That way if she gets cranky then I have DH with me all weekend to help, and if she has a bad reaction then I still have all day to check. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: busyissy
Date Posted: 10 March 2009 at 7:37pm
|
Thats a good idea, all the best for Friday
|
Posted By: Blankney94
Date Posted: 13 March 2009 at 2:30pm
|
Yay the injections were just fine. How did your bub go Saffron? Brooke is taking only an hour to turn around during the night feeds now. Gosh such a difference. Glad I got this all sorted out before the 6 wk growth spurt (which is happening now). I think the reflux the other night was because Brooke was downing so much milk on the first day of the growth spurt. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: busyissy
Date Posted: 13 March 2009 at 6:49pm
|
I'm so glad you things are going better for you. I can't believe how fast those weeks have gone! Before you know it she will be 12 weeks old.
Issy is very unsettled today. I've put the jabs off because she has a bit of a cold and some bad nappy rash. We are going in for them next Thursday. I'm going to see the doctor at the same time and demand she get put on the granules rather than the suspension as she has learnt to spit. All day today I have had explosions of omprezole suspension in my face, needless to say her reflux has been terrible today.
Oh well tomorrows another day and hopefully a better one. Glad the vaccinations went well for Brooke. I think you are doing fanstasically! 
|