Need opinions- long!

I know I have posted all these issues in bits and pieces before but I need opinions. I want to now if this is normal baby stuff or not.

Katie is 5 weeks old and cries a lot, sometimes she is easily comforted and sometimes she cries for hours, mostly late at night. Last night she cried from 10:30 to 1:30 almost non stop. She finally fell asleep and dh put her down in her bassinet, she lasted 10 minutes then woke up screaming, I picked her up again and held her upright and she fell back asleep almost right away. I had to sleep holding her again on the couch all night. She slept from 2- 5ish, ate, and we went back to sleep at 6:30 and she slept till about 9:30 (again with me holding her on the couch).
I think maybe she doesn't like laying on her back, but when she sleeps with me she is laying down on her back with just her head propped on my arm usually.
We did prop up the bassinet matress so it is kind of on an inclne, but she won't sleep in it (or in the crib).
She also cries a lot during the day, mostly after she eats. She spits up often, a lot of times she starts spitting up when I put her on her back to change her. She seems to feel better when she spits up, she usually isn't crying when she is spitting up. But sometimes she eats and goes to sleep no problem. Other times she cries while she is eating. I don't think what we are feeding her is an issue, up until yesterday she was still getting 90% breast milk. We have not seen any difference if her bottle is breast milk or formula.
Usually, if she is awake she is crying.
The only place she will sleep for any extended period of time is in her swing (or in our arms).
Is this normal?
I am sorry for babbling- I am tired!!

Re: Need opinions- long!

Sounds to me like she may have acid reflux - symptoms are spitting up, crying while eating, and general fussiness. She probably cries when laying on her back because that aggravates the reflux. Reflux babies should be placed in an upright position for at least 30 minutes after eating - should help with the spitting up. Talk to Monkeybride and Jcndd - they both put their babies on medication because of it, and from what I understand, it really helped. Alex had some of those issues the first 12 weeks as well, and I think she had some reflux issues, but not to the degree that needed intervention. All babies have reflux, just some have it worse than others, and most grow out of it on their own. Do some research, and maybe try some of the self-help remedies and if doesn't get better, I would suggest talking to your ped about it.

Re: Need opinions- long!

I agree with Bxgell - sounds like maybe its AR - or it could be that she is a colicky baby.

I would talk to your ped.

In addition def. read the happiest baby on the block - it deals a lot with colic babies.

Re: Need opinions- long!

Just wanted to add that most babies go through a fussy period, usually at night (it's called the "witching hour"). In the first couple of months Alex would cry and fuss from about 7pm-11pm. Some days she would go at it all day. For us, it was gas. I could feel the rumbling in her tummy. Some things that helped were to do bicycles with her legs, or hold her in the superman position (head in your hand, legs towards your elbow, facing down with tummy against your forearm). We also let her sleep on her side, which helped with the gas). There are many theories behind the fussiness (gas, immaturity, overstimulation, etc), but just so you know, it's entirely normal. Draining, exhausting and worriesome, but totally normal. It usually peaks at about 6 weeks and then starts getting better, and it usually disappears around 12 weeks... I saw a difference in Alex at around 9 weeks... though she's back at it again lately, I think due to teething/growth spurts and gas. Hang in there... talk to your pediatrician, and know that there IS a light at the end of the tunnel!

Message edited 1/6/2006 11:56:18 AM.

Re: Need opinions- long!

I would say that the formula or something you are eating could be causing this too. The only times Molly ever threw up was during the first 4 weeks I needed to supplement with formula...once I went 100% BM she had no problems.
AR is a big possiblity too.
I would speak to the ped and ask to see a ped gastro.

Re: Need opinions- long!

This totally sounds like my early days with Miranda and her ACID REFLUX. I would definitely talk to your ped about this.

Re: Need opinions- long!

I feel your pain! (i just read your other post too). My son had colic for three months. Fm if you need any support. Our witching hour (we used to call happy hour was 9:30- 11:30. He finally stopped around 12-13weeks. We switched to Enfamil Nutramigen, he used to cry after every feeding. HE WAS MISERABLE ALL THE TIME! Our swing helped us alot, as did the tv, for some reason it used to distract him. We tried everything. Every thing worked sometimes and sometimes nothing. It too shall pass by unfortunately only time will help. Now at 4 1/2 months he still fusses but not like he used to.

Re: Need opinions- long!

Posted by aja

I feel your pain! (i just read your other post too). My son had colic for three months. Fm if you need any support. Our witching hour (we used to call happy hour was 9:30- 11:30. He finally stopped around 12-13weeks. We switched to Enfamil Nutramigen, he used to cry after every feeding. HE WAS MISERABLE ALL THE TIME! Our swing helped us alot, as did the tv, for some reason it used to distract him. We tried everything. Every thing worked sometimes and sometimes nothing. It too shall pass by unfortunately only time will help. Now at 4 1/2 months he still fusses but not like he used to.