Feel Like I'm Drowning

This may end up just being a vent, but at least I know you'll understand. My little guys are 8 weeks old and were born at 36 weeks. One has severe colic and is crying/screaming if he's awake. Really the only time he's content is for about 25 minutes in the morning after his first feed. The rest of the day is spent in on/off screaming - swings and bouncy seats don't work at all. He also won't sleep in the car seat or stroller; he wakes up screaming as soon as we stop moving or come inside the house. He also doesn't sleep well during the day; really only napping if I hold him upright on my chest (which means I get nothing done during the rare moments of sleep).

Meanwhile, his brother spits up about 20 times a day with some of these being projectile out the nose and mouth. He sleeps good at night, but rarely sleeps during the day for more than 20-30 minutes at a time.

i have an older son who had no issues with sleep or colic like this, so I'm at a total loss. We do the white noise and swaddling already.

I just feel so overwhelmed since most days I have a screaming or sleeping baby on me from 7 AM until 11PM after the dream feed. Not to mention the guilt I feel when I can't hold my other little guy as much because his brother is screaming the loudest.

Thanks for letting me vent.

Laura

 

Huge :hug: 's. You are right in the thick of it with the colic, hopefully it will start to improve over the next few weeks. It's so exhausting to have unhappy babies! Do you have anyone who can look after them, even for half an hour, so you can just go for a walk, or the grocery store, or just breathe for a few minutes? And have you talked to your doctor about the spitting? It could possibly be reflux & medicine could help. :hug:

 

Definitely talk to your pedi about reflux. Also one thing that consistlly soothes my colicky boy is swaddling him up, putting him in a bouncy seat in a dark bathroom, and turning on the tub water full blast. The one time it didn't work too good was when I didn't swaddle him. He's usually asleep in minutes, and we leave him in there for like an hour! We turn on whirlpool jets when tub is full and turn off water. It's worked for us 4 out of the last 5 nights.

Good luck! I know it's rough

 

I only had a few weeks of this sort of struggle (and didn't have an older child to also care for), but what worked for me was to wear one baby. I had a Maya wrap and I would stick the fussier twin in and shift him to one side. This left my hands free to pick up the other one if I needed to.

As for the puking, is he in pain? Ryan has been a puker since day one and no reflux treatment has worked. But because he's not in pain and is gaining weight I've decided it's really just a laundry issue.

Good luck!

 

I'm sorry you are having a hard time :hug: It is a challenging time for sure!!

I agree asking your pedi about refulx, our pedi put one of our girls on reflux medicine pretty early on (I think it was called Axid? I could be wrong though...) and it helped SO much. Also keeping them somewhat upright after every feeding :good:

I remember all too well how it was to be in survivor mode ~ hang in there ~ things WILL get better ~ come here to vent anytime :grouphug:

 

:hug: That sounds pretty stressful. What are you swaddling with? Have you tried Miracle Blankets? Those really made a difference for me.

 

:cry: Oh I remember those day. I have no miracle cure, except time. I promise it will get better. Hang in there!

 

:hug: Laura! I was in the same boat 3 years ago. It's exhausting! Are they on formula? If so, have you tried switching to something that is not milk-based? Are they on reflux meds?