Screaming: the soundtrack of my life

It seems as if all my boys do is scream, eat, scream, poop/pee, scream, sleep, and scream. I don't think they're colicky because the screaming doesn't last for 3 hrs at a time and I don't think they have reflux because there's no spitting up. And I don't THINK they're starving all day, they eat 3 oz. every 3 hrs around the clock. Is all of this screaming normal? It's such an ear piercing horrible sound! Good thing there's two of them or I would constantly think one had broken a bone or something. Is this just something I need to get used to?

 

I would say, it could be normal, but probably not. Have you tried mylicon for gas? When my girls have had bouts of this, occassionally, and I knew it wasn't related to their reflux or constipation issues, I've gone through all my options till one worked. I try mylicon first. Then bicycling legs, gripe water, rocking/shushing, singing (always works at least temporarily), tylenol, oragel, feeding more. I would definitely discuss this with the Ped to make sure it's nothing more serious. Good luck!

 

My firstborn was extremely colicky and refluxy and screamed constantly for the first 3 months. It was very hard to handle. My twins weren't colicky, but because there were two of them there was just a lot of noise. I think we twinmoms have to get used to it more than moms of singletons.

One thought I had when reading your post was: are you wearing your babies at all? If not, you might want to try getting a sling (or two) and putting your fussy baby in there to ride around with you for a while to calm down. During the newborn months we actually had two slings in action -- I'd wear the fussy baby and then when that baby calmed down or fell asleep I'd take the sling off (carefully, baby and all) and then put the other sling on to carry the 2nd baby. It was like playing musical babies some days but we got through it.

Another thought is, have you tried feeding the babies every 2-2.5 hours instead of 3? Mine still like to eat approx. every 2 hours during the days, especially if they're growth-spurting. I also find that they like to cluster feed during the witching hours of the early evening.

Good luck to you -- I know how it can grate on you, hearing your baby cry.

 

Hmmm..... A couple of ?'s. Does anything soothe them (ie. swing, bouncy seat)? Do they always finish their bottles? Is it all day or better at different times of the day? Do they take a paci? Are you BF'ing or formula feeding? Let me know and I'll let you know what I can come up with to help!!! PM me the answers if you want.

Carrie

 

Carrie,
Answers to your questions...


- As far as soothing... the swing never works, they only like it if they're already content when we put them in it (which is rare these days). The bouncer works sometimes but only for a few minutes. I also try taking them for walks in the stroller, putting them in the bjorn, rocking them, etc. Nothing works for more than a few minutes. The only time I can really soothe them (without feeding them) is when my husband gets home from work and he can hold one and I can hold one. So during the day when I'm by myself they're pretty much screaming any time they're awake.

- Yes, they always finish their bottle. They have 3 oz. every 3 hrs which I thought was enough but now I'm wondering if I should be giving them more.

- The dreaded pacifier (I have such a love hate relationship with that thing). The boys love their paci's and it definitely soothes them at times... but they can't hold onto it for more than a few seconds. I have to hold it in their mouths for them. They are "tongue tied" with a short frenulum that needs to be snipped so I'm wondering if that has anything to do with why they can't hold the paci. And we've tried 3 or 4 different kinds, they just pop right out as soon as they start sucking. So I find myself sitting with my fingers holding paci's in their mouths for hours at a time. Anything to stop the screaming.

- I'm formula feeding

- We also use mylicon at every feeding, and use Dr. Brown's bottles, and have them on Gentlease formula, and swaddle them with miracle blankets... but we still have screaming babies!!!

 

Do they haev any other reflux signs (screaming while eating, arching their back). My boys had reflux and were not major spitters. Spitting up does not have to be a symptom of reflux.

 

My boys were like this for awhile as well...turns out it was silent reflux. Mine rarely spit up but they did have lots of wet burps & fussiness after meals. It got much better once we started medication for reflux & I altered my diet (I'm BFing). I'd recommend calling your Ped.

As for the constant screaming, I remember it well. We still have some days like that but not often. There were times I'd have to take my 3yo into another room for a little while just to give us a break from the crying. Wearing them in a sling/wrap did work for us. Oh, and Gripe Water seemed to help some, too...we still keep a bottle around for those rough days. I hope things get better for you soon!

 

Maybe you can try feeding on demand rather than stick to a schedule. They may be hungry between feedings, which is perfectly normal. I used to be concerned about the same thing, but my sister gave me great advice. She said, when they cry 95% of the time it's because they are hungry, so just feed them. If feeding doesn't work, then you know they want something else.

There were times my babies just wanted to be held, so I'd swaddle them both and cuddle up with both of them on the bed so they could both be close to me. Sometimes I'd put a few drops of Mylicon on the paci to motivate them to suck on it harder so it wouldn't fall out.

Good luck!

 

I could have written this post. Mine are 3 weeks old and we also have the constant screaming. I have come to a couple of conclusions. My DS ALWAYS needs to be held and sometimes will only quiet down when being held. MY DD has some serious gastrointestinal upset and screams EVERY time she has a bowel movement. She also wimpers while passing gas and will wake herself up wimpering or crying with bowel discomfort. We are on Nutramagen formula (I breastfed for the first 3 weeks and just recently quit as I cannot tandem and they scream while waiting) and use Mylicon at every feeding. Mine also do not really enjoy any of the "toys" bouncies are out of the question and the swing is only good when already asleep or very close. They will not sleep in their pack n play and only really sleep well when propped up on boppies or in the swing. I think DD has reflux and DS is just wimpery. We also eat about 3 oz. every 3 hours. I have wasted more formula trying to give them more "thinking" they may be hungry when they only fall asleep after I make the second bottle.

I know this does not help any but I just wanted to say that I am alone with two screaming babies all day as well. Although, I will say the stroller and the car do calm them down. Singing helps as well.

Let me know if you find anything that works. What is gripe water?


Amy
Amy

 

Gripe water is a mixture of Ginger Extract & Fennel Extract that helps with gas, colic, fussiness, etc. Mylicon didn't help my babies' gas at all but the Gripe Water works wonders. It also really seems to soothe their reflux symptoms. Baby's Bliss brand works best for us - we get it at our local pharmacy. Whole Foods & most health foods stores carry it. BRU has some, too, but we didn't find that brand to be as effective. Our ped. has given us the okay to use it.