Newborn Questions - 5 week old with some troubles

veryvera wrote: Hi Ladies,
My name is Vera -- first time mom -- 5 weeker and tons of questions

My daughther has these episodes that last for almost 2 hours where she is totally out of control. She cannot get happy or relaxed. If I give her the bottle she will take it like a savage and stop crying but then after a minute or so its like she remembers that she was upset and she starts crying again. It becomes a cycle - she drinks and stops and then starts crying. Sometimes she will even drink and cry at the same time... its confusing to me because I know she is cring because she is hungry --- then why wont she stop once she gets the milk?

Also -- my daughter sleeps all day all night. She gets up to feed every three hours and stays up for about an hour or so (with the exception of the occasional fit) -- I have friends who have children that stay up ALL day and I just cant understand that. What are your children sleeoping like?

One more -- if you have other children -- when did they start sleeping through the night? My daughter HAS to get up every three hours -- its lke clockwork.

Tamatha replied: First, let me say Welcome Vera!

I, too, have a 5 week old, and he sleeps most of the day, as well. I'm not sure what to tell you about the fits, as Trey is pretty laid back unless he's hungry, but it sounds maybe a little like colic?! Have you talked to your pediatrician about it? Trey is my first, and he is up every 3-4 hours to eat, day or night. Some nights he's even up every hour--like last night... LOL

Good luck, and you've stumbled onto a great bunch of ladies with spectacular wisdom and compassion.

MommyToAshley replied: Hello and Welcome!

My daughter slept most of the time when she was that age as well, getting up every 2-3 hours to eat. I think it's pretty normal.

As for the fits, I agree it sounds like colic. Or, it could be gas?

Another thought, some babies find motion comforting... have you tried a swing or one of those baby seats that vibrate? You might try swaddling her too, that may help.

I hope you figure something out. But, if you don't find anything that works, I agree, I'd talk to the ped.

Sarah&Mackenzie replied: Maybe your baby has gas. Have you tried gas drops? Mackenzie had bad gas when she was little and I had to end up changing her formula. As for sleeping all night Mackenzie started doing that at about 2-2 1/2 months. We would put a little rice cereal in her bottle and that would hold her over until the morning. Hope everything gets better and welcome.

mummy2girls replied:
Could be colic. My dd didnt have that but one of my friends had a very severe colic baby and he cried all the time everyday...he could have mild colic...

As for sleeping all day at 5 weeks.. that is perfectly normal for a baby at that age. Jenna slept all the time and just woke to eat and maby stay up for about an hour to socialize..LOL

And as for sleeping throuigh the night.. it all depends on the child. My dd slept through the night(well 7 hours at a time) when she was 3 months old. She started sleeping 12 hours staraight after 10 months of age. But ive seen kids sleep through the night right from the start. but i also knwo kids at age 4 and still nto sleeping through the night. So it all depends on the childL:)

The swing helped my dd when she had gas fits...

amynicole21 replied: My dd still sleeps most of the day and she's 12 weeks old.

Sounds to me like colic. It usually starts at around 3 weeks of age. Have you tried gripe water or mylicon drops? I would give them a shot. Also, look into the book called "happiest baby on the block" for great tips. Some things that are listed are the "S" techniques

1) swaddle
2) shush (make the shhhh shhhh noise - sounds like the womb)
3) sway (babies love to move, so sway them back and forth)
4) stomach (maybe, can't remember the title for that one?) Lay baby on her tummy over your forearm so she's facing the ground - they LOVE this!

I think there's one more, but I can't remember it...

Good luck - I hope you find something that works!

PS, my first dd didn't sleep through the night until she was over 2 years old

kellibellisdillybear replied: I agree with the gas suggestions.. my son and I were in the worst cycle for quite awhile. I didn't realize how much he needed to burp, so I didn't burp him, then he'd quit eating, I'd lay him down , ten minutes later, he'd be crying again, so I'd think he was hungry......it was horrible. Get the gas drops, give it to him every time he eats or goes down, but no more than every two hours.

If it is colic, supposedly it has to be at least three hours long, three times a day, for three weeks to be "official". I thought my son had colic, but ped said no, just "colic-y" He just always wanted to be with someone. You could try co-sleeping if he eats so much in the night, it can just be a hard habit to break!

Anyway, good luck!

angelhair replied: i would talk to the doctor. my dd at three weeks had the same smptoms and she/my doctor suggested holly could have some acid reflux and pescribed zanax. my dd arched her back during feedings, cryed at times when feeding and seemed uncomfortable lying down. sometimes she would cry and cry. do not be afraid to ask your doctor questions. how is your babys wieght gain love dee

A&A'smommy replied: Welcome!!!

The sleeping all day and all night is normal!! The crying could be gas, colic or acid reflux I would consult your pediatrician... Amynicole had some good advice!

madmom04242004 replied: Vera- I think I have an answer for you. My pediatrician told me to read The Happiest baby on the Block. It was great, I don't like to read, but I made myself because I knew he would ask me about it! Anyhow, I'll give you the short version. Swaddle her tightly when she is mad, make sure she can't get her arms out, safety pin the blanket so she cannot loosen it, then rock her, kinda hard! It's not child abuse as long as her body and head are moving in the same direction!!!!! Make a really loud SSHH sound, hold her on her side up against your abdomen. If she takes a pacifier give it to her. It may take a few minutes, but be persistent. I swear by that book, literally, my daughter started sleeping through the night the very 1st day i started using what the book said...she was seven weeks old. And no, she wasn't just a good baby, up until then she had me up every hour or hour and a half! Hope it works! Traci

~Roo'sMama~ replied:
my 6 week old son does this when he either has to burp or has gas. I usually burp him and then try feeding him again and if he keeps doing it I try scrunching his legs up to his tummy or bicycling his legs, and give him some gas drops. After a few minutes he's better and will eat w/o crying. HTH I know how frustrating it is!
by the way!

edited for spelling.

moped replied: Jack was very colicky!

We swaddled until he was 9 months old tight!!!!!

Walked, car rides, gas drops in his bottle sometimes, ther eis really nothing to stop it - they will grow out of it by about 4 months - all the other advice is great!

It will get better and better!!!!!!!!!!!

Welcome!

veryvera replied: Wow
thanks for all the replies!!

I took many of your advice and called doc. Went in to see him and it turns out she was allergic to the formula she was on (foudn microscopic blood in her stool) AND she might have acid reflux.

So I am now on Alimentum and giving her Zantax or Zantac twice a day --- and it works wonders!! She no longer has these fits and I cant believe how quickly she responded to everything. She absolutely HATES the medicine -- almost gags but once its in her body she is golden.

Thanks a lot ladies!
Vera

moped replied: That is great - I am so glad