Need some advice - First time mom

My son will be 3 weeks tomorrow. The past 4-5 days he has had trouble sleeping.

He will sleep for maybe 20 minutes than wake up in hysterics crying. This will go on all day long until the early evening. At that point he will sleep for a couple of hours. The only thing that will calm him if me holding him. So I just sit all day long with him in my arms. My back hurts so bad, I'm beyond exhausted because this happens during the night hours as well.

When he is in hysterics he gets bright red and his entire body clenches up. His eyes get all wide eye like it hurts or something is so intense, than when it passes he relaxes again.

I've tried everything to get him to sleep longer but nothing works.

He is so tired that he has bags under his eyes.

I'm calling the Dr. tomorrow morning because I think he may be colic.

Any BTDT colic moms that can give me some advice or help me pinpoint the signs of colic a bit more?

I'm desperate

ETA: I give him mylicon; iit is hit or miss as to whether it works.

We have him on Similac Sensitive - he has been on that since day one home from the hospital.

Also, he poops every 3-4 days. Is this normal?

Message edited 9/30/2010 8:42:53 PM.

Re: Need some advice - First time mom

sounds like acid reflux to me (which is what they now refer to as colic) after he eats, keep him upright for 20 min. Keep the head of his crib or bassinet raised, if you're BF watch what you eat. He may need a small dose of Zantac

I went throught his big time with my daugher!!!! FM me if yoiu need any more support, xo

Re: Need some advice - First time mom

My DS did this too around 3 weeks old (he is 6 weeks now). It lasted about a week. He was also very gassy around this time and we ended up switching his formula a week later (which definately helped). Have you tried giving mylicon?

Thinking back, my DD was the same way around 3 weeks old too. My thought is that their digestive systems are going through alot of changes so quickly that somewhere around 3 or 4 weeks, they become uncomfortable.

That's just my opinion of course.

Re: Need some advice - First time mom

This is normal - most babies start to have issues around 2 weeks. It will be okay!

First of all, if you have time, please read either The Happiest Baby on the Block or healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child - both will give you amazing pointers.

You must, must learned the 5 "S"s


Swaddle
Side
Shush
Swing
Suck

in that order.

You should absolutely swaddle your baby TIGHTLY to get him to not flail his arms and wake himself up. It also mimics the womb and will make him feel secure.

Side = prevents baby from feeling that falling sensation we get as we are about to fall asleep.

Shush = loud white noise mimics noise in the womb

Swinging = soothes baby to sleep

Suck = try to get baby to take a pacifier, which also helps them learn to self-soothe.

I promise, do these things, and he will be SO much better.

ETA: Almost every baby goes through this, including both of my own. DS only needed the swaddle to soothe him. DD needed all 5 of the S's. Neither had colic, reflux, or a milk allergy. It's just the baby "waking up," realizing they are out of the womb, and being freaked out

Try these things, be consistent, and then, if they don't work, ask your ped about reflux.

Message edited 9/30/2010 8:41:05 PM.

Re: Need some advice - First time mom

Posted by headoverheels

This is normal - most babies start to have issues around 2 weeks. It will be okay!

First of all, if you have time, please read either The Happiest Baby on the Block or healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child - both will give you amazing pointers.

You must, must learned the 5 "S"s


Swaddle
Side
Shush
Swing
Suck

in that order.

You should absolutely swaddle your baby TIGHTLY to get him to not flail his arms and wake himself up. It also mimics the womb and will make him feel secure.

Side = prevents baby from feeling that falling sensation we get as we are about to fall asleep.

Shush = loud white noise mimics noise in the womb

Swinging = soothes baby to sleep

Suck = try to get baby to take a pacifier, which also helps them learn to self-soothe.

I promise, do these things, and he will be SO much better.

ETA: Almost every baby goes through this, including both of my own. DS only needed the swaddle to soothe him. DD needed all 5 of the S's. Neither had colic, reflux, or a milk allergy. It's just the baby "waking up," realizing they are out of the womb, and being freaked out

Try these things, be consistent, and then, if they don't work, ask your ped about reflux.

Re: Need some advice - First time mom

Posted by headoverheels

This is normal - most babies start to have issues around 2 weeks. It will be okay!

First of all, if you have time, please read either The Happiest Baby on the Block or healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child - both will give you amazing pointers.

You must, must learned the 5 "S"s


Swaddle
Side
Shush
Swing
Suck

in that order.

You should absolutely swaddle your baby TIGHTLY to get him to not flail his arms and wake himself up. It also mimics the womb and will make him feel secure.

Side = prevents baby from feeling that falling sensation we get as we are about to fall asleep.

Shush = loud white noise mimics noise in the womb

Swinging = soothes baby to sleep

Suck = try to get baby to take a pacifier, which also helps them learn to self-soothe.

I promise, do these things, and he will be SO much better.

ETA: Almost every baby goes through this, including both of my own. DS only needed the swaddle to soothe him. DD needed all 5 of the S's. Neither had colic, reflux, or a milk allergy. It's just the baby "waking up," realizing they are out of the womb, and being freaked out

Try these things, be consistent, and then, if they don't work, ask your ped about reflux.

Message edited 9/30/2010 8:47:42 PM.

Re: Need some advice - First time mom

Re: Need some advice - First time mom

I'm going to agree and repeat a little of what LB said, its awesome advice, and add some links for reference

Happiest Baby on the Block Method (its on DVD too)
Swaddle
Side
Swing
Shush
Suck (a paci)

some real person on youtube doing it

Re: Need some advice - First time mom

It sounds like he may have reflux and a dairy allergy. I would ask the ped to do the stool test to see if there's any blood. Hope it gets better soon!


ETA: The pooping every 3-4 days is what is making me think dairy allergy.

Message edited 9/30/2010 9:40:37 PM.