Heartbreaking Crying

My 3wk old DD has just started to have long periods of crying. The first episode was heartbreaking. She suddenly started to cry quite hard and it sounded like she was just so miserable and it was loud, her face was all scrunched up and getting really red. This crying went on for about 1 hour. I decided it must be gas and she settled after several farts. Two days later, the same thing happened, and she eventually settled after maybe 1.5 hours. And the next day (today) she has been fussing all day. In the morning I was breastfeeding her, and she started to not latch.. her mouth was forming the perfect shape, but she kept treating my nipple like she was eating ice-cream, if you can imagine what I mean? And she was crying, but I soothed her and put her to sleep, and then evening came and the inconsolable crying began again, but now I think it's not gas. Throughout all her feeds today, after a while of feeding, she'd start with the ice-cream thing and get really fussy. She basically didn't sleep at all since that morning nap. Has this happened to anyone else?

This has happened to me before. Did you feel the milk letdown, maybe your DD is trying to get the letdown to bring on your milk and that is why she is fussing at the boob

Hi mistyschell I am not a mum (yet) but I know that seeing a chiropractor can help as my chiropractor adjusts heaps of new born babies, toddles, kids etc and they respond really well and it's very safe, maybe call the Chiropractic Association and ask them who works with babies in your area? If you still think it's wind or even colic I have heard that you can soak a tsp of fennel seeds in boiling water than drink it and the settling benefits of the fennel will come through your breast milk to your baby. Goodluck

:hug: its heartbreaking when they get like this and you cannot console them, not to mention frustrating too :hug:

Sounds to me like she may be going through a development leap also called "wonder weeks" look it up no doubt it will put some things into perspective though it won't help with the crying.

For the crying there is no one cure its just a process of elimination - bum change, offer boob, burp, cuddles, movement, boredom, put down, pick up or maybe all of the above :lol:

DD went through this as well and we thought it was reflux, we tired infacol, mylanta, braurers colic relief but eventually she was not as bothered by the gas bubbles :dunno:

:hug: its so hard to know what to do but remember she is experiencing so many new things that we as adults take for granted, it must be scary for her when the world as she knows it keeps changing as she develops. Just keep doing what you are doing, you are a FANTASTIC mummy this phase will pass i promise.

Nae x x x

:hug: It is so hard in the early weeks.

I remember this happening with my DD and I rang my midwife and she said to me "she's just a baby hon". I was crushed at the time, but I realise now, its just what some babies do. Its just a shock though isn't it? Especially if, like me, you hadn't really heard your baby cry before
DD went through a phase from about 3-9 weeks where she cried like that every day for over an hour. Usually at around 9pm. We just called it the "arsenic" or witching hour and tried to comfort her as best as we could. Do you have a fitball? I used to hold DD upright and bounce her for comfort. It helped a lot. Then one day, it magically stopped!

I love your icecream description. I remember that so well. DD would almost pant at my nipple! I never did figure out why, but I used to wonder if she wasn't actually hungry, just wanting comfort (especially if I had only just fed her). Its around this age they start needing some more help to go to sleep. Do you have a sling? It was a lifesaver for us! If bub gets fussy, just pop her in the sling and go for a walk. The fresh air seemed to help us both.

:hug: you're doing a great job!!!

It is awful having bubs crying, it just pulls at your heart strings. But it sounds to me like it is completely normal.

The average newborn baby can cry from 2 to 3 hours a day and its considered normal. Coliky babies will cry continuous for more than three hours at a time, usually in the evening. Also be aware of reflux and silent reflux, look up the symptons so you know what they are.

They generally just need lots of cuddles and love, try find a comfortable quite, dark, low stimulation part of the house and just sit with her until she calms down. They will also sense your emotions so however hard it feels try to remember its normal and stay as relaxed as possible. Try closing your eyes and singing to her, it may feel silly to begin with but the sound of your voice will be soothing.