Baby moaning/whining at night

yellow hen

Our 3 wk old has started this thing of moaning and writhing about when we put him down for a nap. He does it in his sleep as well as awake. We've tried winding him to no avail. He is mainly breastfed with the exception of a bottle of fornula before bedtime. I googled this and found lots of people saying its normal but I don't think so, he founds like he's in pain. I wonder if it could be the fornula or the type of bottle? I'm bf at the moment and gave him a drop of infacol to see if it helps. Has anyone else had a similar experience?

dublinlady

My daughter was a moaner as well
We had planned on keeping her in our room for 6 months and ended up putting her in her own at 4 because of this!! She used to be so loud!! We had to turn the sensitivity right down on the baby monitor or shed drive us mad! She grew out of it tho - she did have tummy troubles but I also think she used to just do it as a self soothing technique!
Either way we found no way to stop it other than moving her.. If this next baby is the same we'll prob move her alot earlier!

yellow hen

Thanks girls. When both your kids were doing it, were they wriggling away too? He wriggles, kicks the feet....he looks so uncomfortable.

Ps... Since he took the infacol this morning he's been asleep but I've heard at least two VERY squidgy runny poos.... Not looking forward to this nappy!

seamus

Don't worry it is normal

At his age, it's probably wind/colic. You can try burp him, but that can wake him up too. Usually a moaning session for us would culminate in a few big farts, and then she'd settle again. We always found sticking a soother in would help as sucking on the soother would let her really put some effort into farting

It's started happening again now at 5 months, but that's cos she's teething. Again though, the soother is the lifesaver. No idea how people live(d) without them.

dublinlady

yellow hen wrote: »

Thanks girls. When both your kids were doing it, were they wriggling away too? He wriggles, kicks the feet....he looks so uncomfortable.

Ps... Since he took the infacol this morning he's been asleep but I've heard at least two VERY squidgy runny poos.... Not looking forward to this nappy!

Yeah we used infacol all the time til about 16 weeks! She used to wriggle also - seemed unsettled but it went on so long we became sure it wasn't bothering her as she would wake content & rested! We found the soother good too - took it off her one day at five months & never gave it back... Because we're mean & I have a thing against them - but they did help her alot at the start and meant she wasn't always looking to be breast fed when she wasn't hungry ! Total life saver!

yellow hen

Poor mite is definitely in pAin. He falls asleep tilted on my arms but when i put him into Moses he wakes himself crying. He's just miserable. Think I'll pass on the formula and bottle tonight and stick to boob and infacol. Fingers crossed we all get some sleep tonight. I'm shattered

How Strange

It sounds like colic yellow hen. There's not much you can do except infacol/gripe water, the tiger in the tree hold, bicycle legs and perhaps keep him upright as much as possible.

It's really awful to see them like that but they do grow out of it.

Do you have a fast let down and/or an oversupply of milk? These can contribute to colic. A fast let down is where the milk comes out with force so the baby is gulping back a lot at the start of the feed.

My son had colic and I found out afterwards that mr oversupply and fast let down definitely made it worse.

yellow hen

How Strange wrote: »

It sounds like colic yellow hen. There's not much you can do except infacol/gripe water, the tiger in the tree hold, bicycle legs and perhaps keep him upright as much as possible.

It's really awful to see them like that but they do grow out of it.

Do you have a fast let down and/or an oversupply of milk? These can contribute to colic. A fast let down is where the milk comes out with force so the baby is gulping back a lot at the start of the feed.

My son had colic and I found out afterwards that mr oversupply and fast let down definitely made it worse.

Thanks how strange... I could possibly have a fast letdown I think. Is there anything i can if I have? Would the colic make him puke back some of the milk?

How Strange

Maybe try letting the initial spray of milk go into a towel or something by hand expressing. Then when the milk isn't spraying out latch your son on. It's worth a try! Yes the colic could make him pukey too.

Feeding lying down is also good for a fast letdown as he's not getting the full force of the milk.

dublinlady

yellow hen wrote: »

Thanks how strange... I could possibly have a fast letdown I think. Is there anything i can if I have? Would the colic make him puke back some of the milk?

My little one used to puke a bit after every feed I think some babies just do struggle . I hope u get some rest u poor thing as how strange says - and while its seems little consolation now -time seemsmtombenthe best healer - I remember thinking at 14 weeks my little one had turned a corner. It's very difficult tho. But I do think breast milk is easier to digest than formula so ur doing great and all u can do. Do try get ur OH to give an expressed bottle at night at some stage so that u can get 5-6 hrs straight sleep - it was the only way I survived - otherwise I was in tears!!!

How Strange

Oh my god, I can still remember the horror of those evenings. I don't think I'll ever fully forget! But it does pass and one evening you'll realise he's quiet and content. Most of us have been there and survived and even wanted to do it all again!! So time and selective amnesia are great things! You're doing a great job.

yellow hen

Oh girls I'm at the end of my together. He has been screaming in pain fr the last two hours. He's fed changed and I've been winding him for an hour. I cannot console him. I've sd to ung my husband o come home from work. I'm so worried there's something wrong with him. Plus his little face has come up in a pimply rash today. I feel so desperate for help now

LilMrsDahamsta

Poor you! Don't worry about the pimples anyway; baby acne is totally normal and goes away on its own in a couple of months. My fella got it almost as soon as he was born, and tis nearly gone at 7 weeks.

More immediately, have you tried a bath to calm him down? Or sometimes I find taking mine out for a walk, even if they are roaring initially, works wonders. And getting into the bath with him or walking might also help you to cope with all of this. Best of luck!

yellow hen

I'll try the bath when OH gets home. I couldn't handle him wriggling on my own. He's falling asleep in my arms now. I've been giving him infacol so far,.... Is it any good? I have gripe water but he's too young for it still. He has noticeably less dirty nappies too so I think he might be constipated. I've tried doing bicycle with his legs but he is so rigid it's near impossible

elaney

I had the same with my little one yellow hen its hard going. You could try massaging the top of his head in a circular motion I don't know how this works my mil thought me this . If you can get gripe water its brilliant from 1 month my brother in law got it for me up the North. Best of luck.

SupaDupaFly

yellow hen wrote: »

Oh girls I'm at the end of my together. He has been screaming in pain fr the last two hours. He's fed changed and I've been winding him for an hour. I cannot console him. I've sd to ung my husband o come home from work. I'm so worried there's something wrong with him. Plus his little face has come up in a pimply rash today. I feel so desperate for help now

Yellowhen it sounds like cows milk protein allergy or lactose intolerance. Google it. Hope he feels better soon. Poor baba! X

belcampprisoner

http://babyparenting.about.com/od/sleeping/a/sleepingbaby.htm

How Strange

Ah yellow hen, it really sounds like colic. It always starts in the late afternoon/early evening. Try the tiger hold; it may give him a chance to get some wind up. Just try keeping him upright in whatever position you can as it will help ease the wind.

Unfortunately there's nothing you can do really. It's nothing to do with being breast or formula fed. Some babies get it and others don't. My son did and it was a very tough first few weeks.

Don't worry about the pimples. Someone told me that breastfed babies get them a lot because they get the mothers hormones in the milk. Not sure if it's true or not but my son went through phases of being covered in them.

yellow hen

Thanks everyone....he's asleep now but due a feed shortly so I expect to go through the whole charade again!

How strange, I think I'm going to need to put you on speed-dial, you've been so helpful on everything!

CaraMay

SupaDupaFly wrote: »

Yellowhen it sounds like cows milk protein allergy or lactose intolerance. Google it. Hope he feels better soon. Poor baba! X

It does. We had the same problem. Go to doctor and ask for advice. If it is that then its better to know sooner than later.

Try baby massage and raising the crib a small bit. Wonder if baby has a touch of reflux... Get advice and dont leave it to chance

How Strange

Any time yellow hen!

yellow hen

CaraMay wrote: »

It does. We had the same problem. Go to doctor and ask for advice. If it is that then its better to know sooner than later.

Try baby massage and raising the crib a small bit. Wonder if baby has a touch of reflux... Get advice and dont leave it to chance

All doctors closed now until Tuesday not sure what the story with the Coombe is.... i know we can go back until he is 6 weeks old but would they entertain us? I'm not sure we can deal with this for another 4 days

CaraMay

My heart breaks for you. Try cutting dairy and spicy foods out of your own diet as you are breast feeding plus keep baby away from milk based formula and see how it goes. Wind baby over your shoulder and with legs stretched and very gently. Feed as upright as possible and hold upright for half hour after feeding.

Obviously we don't know if its reflux or lactose intolerance but its worth trying these things to see if there is any improvement.

We used to put brown sugar in boiled and cooled water to help with constipation.

Are you waking him to feed him? I would let him sleep as long as he wants.

How Strange

yellow hen if in doubt go back to the coombe.

yellow hen

How Strange wrote: »

yellow hen if in doubt go back to the coombe.

@cara may, no I don't wake him. Although everything I have read today says I should feed him small amounts more often. He fell asleep on the boob there a while ago and I hadn't the heart to be winding him. I'm sure I'll pay for it later!! We're going to see how we get on tonight and if he's as bad or worse we'll go to the coombe tomorrow. I'll let you know. Thanks for the advice girls, I'd be lost without boards!

Suucee

Ive no advise just hope he's bit better next time and u get some rest. My lo was collicky (bottle fed) and it was horrible sometimes with the endless crying. And like yourself had to call oh home from work. I found a tiny bit gripe water pretty good but did give my lo d runs but as your lo so young that doesnt help. Hope he's doing better later. X x

CaraMay

How did you get on last night op?

zenno

The only thing that would work for me as my mother said when i wouldn't stop whining was a suder dipped in Irish whiskey, she said it worked a charm always. Now i'm an alco. go figure.

CaraMay

zenno wrote: »

The only thing that would work for me as my mother said when i wouldn't stop whining was a suder dipped in Irish whiskey, she said it worked a charm always. Now i'm an alco. go figure.

Zenno when you have a baby who won't stop crying you would literally try anything and whiskey is not baby friendly. Op don't try that.

zenno

CaraMay wrote: »

Zenno when you have a baby who won't stop frying you would literally try anything and whiskey is not baby friendly. Op don't try that.

It was a joke my dear friend. But believe it or not my mother did tell me this one day and i was even shocked.

Don't give them anything sweet before they go for a sleep, that's the magic number. Stick on coast to coast am for them little fellers at bed-time and they will be asleep snoring five minutes into it.

Frying is not the way either i must say.

yellow hen

CaraMay wrote: »

How did you get on last night op?

He was ok for his first two feeds but from 4am this morning it's been a disaster. He didn't want to settle in Moses and I think it's because lying was hurting him. He's asleep now but something just isn't right right him. His poo was a bit green last night too... It's usually mustard yellow. It's all so stressful... I'm just exhausted today.

CaraMay

Go with your gut op. ring crumlin and get their advice on what to do. Is your. Doctor open?

How Strange

Green poo is a sign of oversupply/fast let down. I looked up the womanly art of breastfeeding and for colic it recommends feeding on demand instead of trying to stick to a 2-3 hour schedule. That way the baby isn't getting worked up between feeds and is getting all the milk including the heavier fattier milk. Feeding to a schedule with colicky babies and fast let down means they're getting the full force of the lighter milk.

It also says a little feed when the baby is particularly fussy may help get their wind up.

Other than that it's 'contact, carry, walk and talk' so keep him upright as much as possible. You know what is like yourself to be on your back if you've got a sore tummy...not very nice. If you have a baby carrier or sling use it. If not see if you can borrow one. Try doing things with him in his fussy time even if it's going for a drive in the car or going to supermarket to buy bread. Anything at all to distract him.

A bath may also give him some relief.
It's so exhausting when you're in the thick of it.

Of course if in doubt go back to the coombe but unfortunately I think you have a baby prone to colic.

How Strange

yellow hen, where are you based? I'm in Dublin 10 and I could loan you my ergo carrier for a couple of weeks for you to try it out and decide whether you like it enough to buy your own.

It might give you and your baby some relief from the wind/colic too over the next few days.9

I'm around all day today and tomorrow.

yellow hen

How Strange wrote: »

yellow hen, where are you based? I'm in Dublin 10 and I could loan you my ergo carrier for a couple of weeks for you to try it out and decide whether you like it enough to buy your own.

It might give you and your baby some relief from the wind/colic too over the next few days.9

I'm around all day today and tomorrow.

Hi how strange, that is so so kind of you. Are you sure you could spare it? A few days with it would be brilliant. I'm actually near you, just in d12. I'll pm you when this man has finished feeding

How Strange

Yes of course. Pm me and I'll give you my number.

yellow hen

The child is inconsolable and my husband and I are at breaking point. We're going to bring him to the Coombe to be sure there's nothing else wrong. Does anyone knw where we need to go? I can't get through to them.

How Strange

Ring them and ask. There is a paediatric clinic but you may have to go to the a&e first.

How Strange

Sorry saw you can't get through. Just go to the a&e in the main waiting area when you come in through the doors.

CaraMay

Best of luck.

Suucee

Hope he's ok.

yellow hen

We went back and got seen by a paediatric doctor. She spent a long time examining him and was happy that he was healthy. As we suspected, he hasn't got colic but more likely it's reflux. They told us to do everything we're already doing and we're to give him baby gaviscon before each feed. He was his worst ever tonight and cried inconsolably for almost 2 hours. OH and I going to sleep seperately tonight as we're no use to each other at the mo with exhaustion. I am do tired and upset with it all now. Say a prayer the gaviscon gives some relief. Has anyone used it before?

Ps... Thanks for all the advice x

CaraMay

Ok reflux I know too well sadly- 15 months later. My earlier advice stands - cut out spicy food if you are feeding him. Eliminate dairy, onions, tomatoes, garlic etc. hold him up when feeding and for a while after. Raise the cot / crib and buy a reflux wedge for future use. Don't ever lay him down flat even to change his nappy. Don't use a swing.

Don't give baby normal formula as it could be lactose intolerance too. My fella is still on nutramigen. Get formal appt with paediatrician asap to try to get a firm diagnosis. Gaviscon didn't work for us but does for others.

Small feeds and often and wind gently. Above all, while you may be tired etc any discomfort you feel is minuscule compared to what your baby is experiencing. I know you dont feel in good form now but your baby needs you now more than ever. You can do it.

Get yourself a very good consultant (and dietician) and don't listen to anyone else. We wasted months listening to rubbish advice from know it alls. If gaviscon doesn't help matters in a couple of days go back and keep going back til you get help.

SupaDupaFly

yellow hen wrote: »

We went back and got seen by a paediatric doctor. She spent a long time examining him and was happy that he was healthy. As we suspected, he hasn't got colic but more likely it's reflux. They told us to do everything we're already doing and we're to give him baby gaviscon before each feed. He was his worst ever tonight and cried inconsolably for almost 2 hours. OH and I going to sleep seperately tonight as we're no use to each other at the mo with exhaustion. I am do tired and upset with it all now. Say a prayer the gaviscon gives some relief. Has anyone used it before?

Ps... Thanks for all the advice x

Fingers crossed tonight is a better night for you all yellow hen. Poor little baby, its heartbreaking when you know they are suffering.

We went through the exact same process you have. Went to a+e, saw a paediatrician. Got diagnosed silent reflux, prescribed infant gaviscon. It did nothing but constipate baby. Ended up back in a+e a week later. Got put on zantac. Small improvement.

Spent 400 euro on 'famous, osteopath, got told baby had a twisted diaphragm. Complete lies. No help! Spoke to my cousin who is paed nurse. She said come into hospital. Insist on stool sample. Low and behold came back positive for lactose intolerance.

Two days after starting nutramigen we had a different baby. No screaming, no pain, no refusal of bottle. No reflux!

Its really worth a shot to get baby tested. If my cousin hadn't told me about stool sample, I never would have got him tested!

I really hope things improve for you and baby. Just remember things will get better, its hard to imagine when your going through hell, but it will.

I can't recommend trying nutramigen enough. Fingers crossed for you. Sorry about long post, heart just goes out to you and baby suffering like that xx

CaraMay

I agree about nutramigen. You can buy it over the counter in boots. Worth a try. My fella is on zoton as Zantac didn't work. Op don't take no for an answer. We wasted 5 months by trusting a crap doctor. Go for the best you can find.

Btw they can't test for lactose intolerance unless the baby has consumed lactose.... You need to talk to them about that.

Op I know I sound factual but we have lived every hour with lactose intolerance and reflux for 15 months but you will get through it. Get a good consultant straight away. It's money we'll spent.

Oh and use dr Browne bottles. Nothing else compares. Go up a teet size if you are putting gaviscon in the feed. If you would like to chat tomorrow pm me.

Queen-Mise

yellow hen wrote: »

@cara may, no I don't wake him. Although everything I have read today says I should feed him small amounts more often. He fell asleep on the boob there a while ago and I hadn't the heart to be winding him. I'm sure I'll pay for it later!! We're going to see how we get on tonight and if he's as bad or worse we'll go to the coombe tomorrow. I'll let you know. Thanks for the advice girls, I'd be lost without boards!

Oh missus - you have to get the wind up. I know you are waking them up, but the baby will sleep for longer and be more relaxed/comfortable once it is up.

I'd agree with Caramay, go with the Dr Browne ones.

I looked after the twin of your baby over Xmas for ten days. It was hellish at times. Infacol was fantastic - it made it easy to get the wind up. I'd get the wind up in a minute or two, whereas without the Infacol it might take an hour or two with the baby roaring crying:eek:

I only ever used one technique for getting the wind up, I'd sit the baby on my knee. One hand under the chin to keep the head up, and the other on the back... Make sure the back is straight - so the wind can come straight up. You can bounce knee slightly, but that is it.
You can always check if they have wind, if you relax your hold, the baby should nearly 'collapse' downwards - hard to explain. If there is wind, they won't fold down.

SaucySue

So sorry you're going through this yellow hen. Our girl is 10 weeks and also suffering from silent reflux. We had about 7 weeks of screaming for hours every night - from about 9pm til 1am - then it spread to during day too. We initially thought it was colic (I still think she prob has colic as well as shes very difficult to wind) so got gripe water and infacol. Infacol did nothing, gripe water she hated and seemed to make her worse. Eventually took her to gp and were told it was reflux - she has hiccips all the time, sneezes all the time though has no cold, and swallows loads even hours after a feed while making faces as if tasting something bad. As I'm breastfeeding and she wont take bottle at all, and doc could see how bad she was,she skipped gaviscon and went straight to zantac. First few days on it were brilliant, slept sooo much better day and night and very little screaming. After few days though went bit worse again so doc upped her dose, again better for while then back. I got her probiotic drops then and also took her to craniosacral therapist and she was much much better up until yesterday and bad again last night and today but nowhere near as bad as before.

So I would recommend getting to doc as soon as you can, do give gaviscon a go but if theres no change then push them to give you something else. I got biogaia probiotic drops online from UK and I do find her much easier to wind since but if Infacol works for you then great. We put books under back legs of crib so her head is raised and she sleeps maybe 4 to 5 hrs now before waking for feed tho often wont resettle after this. Daytime naps are still hit and miss with her but often I can nurse her back to sleep in bed and we might both sleep for another hour or hour and half if I have white noise app playing on my phone (works best for her if I play it quite loud). Also I feed on demand as someone else mentioned. It is tough -especially as she wont etake bottle of expressed milk - she feeds maybe every 1.5 to 2 hrs,mor

CaraMay

The only thing I will add is that there is lactose in all baby probiotics (i could find) so ensure baby has no issue with lactose before starting probiotics.

SaucySue

More often in evening when cluster feeding but it hekps her so its worth it. Cant really say if craniosacral helped as only went once but may try again if next few days are bad.

Reflux is tough especially as you can't have an end date in mind as with colic,but for us anyway it has gotten so so much better over last few weeks with things I mentioned, albeit with few blips in road. I basically survive the week waiting for weekend when hubby is off so I can sleep in a bit past 5 or 6 am and with him taking bottle hopefully things will be better for you,and giving aby meds should be easier too.

Sorry this is way too long and rambly and shes asleep now at last so I better take advantage and join her. Hope things get better for you and him now very soon

SaucySue

CaraMay wrote: »

The only thing I will add is that there is lactose in all baby probiotics (i could find) so ensure baby has no issue with lactose before starting probiotics.

I didnt know that actually. With ours gp reckoned shes probably not intolerant as her nappies are normal,but think that was just in relation to dairy in my diet as she said nappies wouls be green and explosive if problems there

cyning

I only had mild reflux here compared to some but with the baby gaviscon don't panic if you get weird looking poop: it can get quite chalky in consistency and if they get too much fore milk you can get a green chalky poo! It doesn't happen all babies but can happen If you have difficulties giving it in bottle either a medicine syringe, or I know the first few times I used the medicine soother to get her used to the taste. It tends to clump so when you make it in the bottle shake the bottle vigorously and that used work for me. It did help C alot

Constipation can worsen, so lots of tummy time, leg cycling and look up YouTube videos of baby massage for their tummy.

Make sure you get some rest too: I know that is so so hard when you are breastfeeding but just feed and let oh look after babs for awhile. A sling literally saved my life because I couldn't lie her flat without heart wrenching crying. I wouldn't be without one now. Make sure you keep eating and drinking plenty too.

It does get easier I really hope the gaviscon helps