[BethR]

I could have kept this semi on topic with a heading like, "baby hates jogging with me" but I figured you guys wouldn't mind. I need the help of LIT parents - particularly new ones or any with good memories. Eli is 6 weeks old tomorrow. Up until last week we thanked our lucky stars at how low maintenance and flexible he was. Then starting Sun or Mon, nothing pleases him - least of all us! You'd think I was sticking hot pikers in his eyes to feed him, change a diaper, take him on a stroll - pretty much if he's awake, he's not happy. I'm exaggerating a little - he likes the bath (but hates to get out, be dried off, etc, etc). I'm speculating it could be 1 or both of 2 things - a developmental / growth spurt (he is nursing constantly and starting to do new things like better head control, ficusing on our faces); and/or caffeine that I'm drinking. I have 2-3 cups a day (increased in the last few weeks since, well I have a newborn and have to find energy somewhere when naps aren't possible). A lactation consultant told me that amount of coffee shouldn't affect my breast milk, but I've heard some babies are more sensitive to it.<br><br>
Any advice? Or just tell me it will end (sooner rather than later). I want my sweet, pleasant baby back. I shouldn't complain too much - he's nowhere near the 4 hour a day avg for infant crying - God bless those parents. Don't know how they do it.<br><br>
Thanks guys. Gotta go - Eli is crying and needs to be fed again!!

 

[Zdoc]

<p>I would ask a few other questions first before coming up with a diagnosis.</p>
<p>How is he during the feedings ?  Fussy, wriggly, or happy.</p>
<p>How are his BMs.  Have they changed at all.</p>
<p>Does his fussiness correlate to anything you are eating (I often have moms keep a diary of what they've eaten in the few hours before nursing to see if any relation).</p>
<p>Is he spitty</p>
<p>When during the day is he most fussy.  When are his good times, if any.</p>
<p>How is his growth</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This is most likely a normal colicky phase, but I'd want to know the above answers before a certain diagnosis.</p>
<p>By the way, this is very common, and I tell all of my parents that 1-2 months is the WORST age for temperment.</p>

 

[Yo Sake]

<p>I have no good suggestions/advice, just want to say hang in there mommy (I know it is easy to say).  This will not last forever, that I can guarantee.  Do you have a baby backpacker or front packer thingie?  If he doesn't like to be in a stroller (can't see you), he may like to be close to you - I know it is hot to carry him like that and walk ouside.  But fresh air may help.  I used to do a baby-mommy aerbobics carrying my baby in the front carrier.  Yeah it is funny to the outside world. </p>
<p>BTW, it is great to have a Pediatritian in house!  </p>

 

[jroden]

<p>Maybe he's hungry.  Try some formula, we found our first just wasn't getting enough to eat and the combination of some milk sometimes and some formula sometimes made him very easy for me to take him places by myself.  It also was the "knockout punch" before bed.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Best thing for a fussy baby is to get a coffee, then read the truck trader in the walmart parking lot with the air conditioner on.</p>

 

[mrscoby78]

<p>It sounds pretty normal to me too.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>My kiddo went through it up until 4 mo.  He started to get better then....and even more so at 6 mo.</p>
<p> </p>

 

[LeftRightRepeat]

<p>I am SOOOO glad my kids are past this stage.</p>

 

[AdCo]

<br><br><div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>LeftRightRepeat</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/69332/ot-help-with-fussy-baby#post_1930873"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p>I am SOOOO glad my kids are past this stage.</p>
</div>
</div>
<p><br>
That's about as helpful as my saying "I'm glad I can put my dog in a create "  Good to see more of you LRR  </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Sorry, Beth, I hear it gets better  </p>

 

[SpartyGirl]

<p>Beth - it does get better.  6 weeks old was around the time that G freaked on us and started screaming for hours at a time...it was most likely colic for us and it eventually passed (huge help, sorry!).  G also had a growth spurt around the same time and was nursing a ton.  Hang in there and make sure to trade 'shifts' with Matt.  It's important during the crying fits that each of you gets a little quiet time.</p>

 

[BethR]

Thanks guys (especially you LRR!). Zdoc thanks for you questions. Growth is good - 1.5 lbs since birth 6 weeks ago after initial 10 oz loss). Ped saw him Monday for his 2nd hep B shot and confirmed everything looks good. He's nursing every 3-4 hours at least but cluster feeds a couple of times a day. Poops and pees LOTS (at least once every hr or two). So he's definitely getting enough to eat.<br><br><br><br>
My diet? The caffeine concerned me, so I'm giving that up. Otherwise pretty standard - fruits, veges, nuts, chicken, eggs, cheese mostly with occasional chips, cookies, hamburgers, etc. He is squirmy part way through nursing. Worst fussy times are evening and morning.<br><br><br><br>
Alicia, other mom friends have confirmed this too - just something they are going through.

 

[MBannon]

<br><br><div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>LeftRightRepeat</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/69332/ot-help-with-fussy-baby#post_1930873"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p>I am SOOOO glad my kids are past this stage.</p>
</div>
</div>
<p><br><br>
Amen.</p>

 

[snigglefritz]

<p>I went through this with my son. Turned out he had reflux.  Does he spit up a lot?  Jack would throw up huge amounts after every feeding. I tracked my diet, tried giving up dairy for 2 weeks and everything else.  Eventually we put him on Zantac and it did the trick.  Hang in there.  He could just be crying because he can.  I am convinced babies are born 3 months too soon.  They have so much developing left to do when they are born that the first 3 months are tough.  It's funny, I know we had a tough couple of months in the beginning but my husband and I realized we can't remember any of the details.  I think you must get exhaustion induced amnesia so that you actually consider having another kid  </p>
<p> </p>
<p>It will get better.  It seems that around 3 months babies start to get things sorted out.</p>

 

[BethR]

Yes, that 3 month milestone that everyone hangs out as hope for a pleasant baby again. At least there is (hopefully) a light at the end of the tunnel! Again, I feel badly complaining - I've heard terrible stories of colic and months of incessant crying. I'm thankful that Matt and I are both home all summer so we can tag team. It just came on so suddenly this week it took us by surprise. Oh, and forgot to add, he spits up occasionally, but not once a day even. Thanks again for all the comments - if it's not a problem to be solved, it's helpful to hear that everyone goes through it (I knew that, but nice to have reassurance).

 

[Zdoc]

<p>All sounds good.</p>
<p>One of the things I would rule out is reflux.  this really doesn't sound like reflux based on your history.</p>
<p>Reflux is one condition that I feel is way overdiagnosed.  A good study a few years ago took a bunch of babies diagnosed with reflux clinically and did a pH probe (where a tube is snaked down the esophogus and acid is measured).  this used to be, and still is, the gold standard for reflux.  Only ~ 10% had it. He really doesn't sound refluxy.  The fact that he can have good feeds is reassurring, and does hint against reflux.</p>
<p>Growth is good...I am assuming he is up 1.5 lbs from birth wt.  Or is he up 1.5 lbs since the 10 oz wt loss ?  Because 24 oz wt gain at 42 days of age is a bit on the lower side, but 34 oz in 42 days is a bit more reassuring.  Check that out.   It doesn't sound like he needs more food, because this doesn't sound like hunger.  Are you producing milk well, do you feel full (sorry for being so personal). It doesn't sound like constipation. Also, make sure that he has a negative stool guiac to rule out a milk-protein intolerence (although this is unlikely since he has been fine until now and it should show up at ~ 3 weeks of age)</p>
<p>Is this a food issue ?  The only way to really know is to keep a symptom/food diary and look for any correlation.  usually none, and by the time you have tracked this and found none, the problem resolves.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I believe this is really colic.  What is colic ?? Colic is periods of unexplained fussiness that occur in the 4-8 week time frame.  I tell my patients that it is a result of an immature nervous system (so that every daily activity results in overstimulation).  I agrre with the above comment that babies are born 3 mo too early.  I tell moms that this is the "missing 4th trimester"</p>
<p> </p>
<p>So, patience, calmness, and tincature of time.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>By the way LRR, I know all about your kids current stage !!</p>

 

[4boysmom]

<p>Hang in there!!!  If I remember correctly, at 6wks they are starting to take in their environment.  They can get overstimulated and don't know what to do.  Nothing really that you can do.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Son1 was the worst.  Often I'd put him in the stroller and go for a walk.  Not sure if it really fixed anything but a) I got a workout b) he'd eventually fall asleep but c) most important crying outside is not nearly as bad as inside!</p>

 

[BethR]

Thanks again guys! Zdoc, yes on the weight gain (7 lbs 5 oz at birth, down to 6pm 9 oz and now 9 lbs 1 oz. Thanks for your expert opinion.<br><br>
L4BM - that's exactly what I've done twice this week - take care of everything I can then let him cry in the stroller for a bit - eventually he sleeps and you're right, wailing doesn't sound as loud outside!

 

[hobey]

Hang in there Beth! Coming in a bit too late to give advice since others have already covered it nicely. This too shall pass.