Hi, ds is 3.5 weeks old, and has been to a GI specialist for reflux. He started prilosec 2 days ago. I have written about him before, but have had no improvement so I thought I would provide more info and see if I can please get some help. I feel like I am messing everything up and am considering stopping bf b/c of the stress.
I am using the previous post to answer these questions
How old is your child? 3.5 weeks
What’s his/her daily routine? on 3 hour EASY, eats at approximatley 7, 10, 1, 4, 6, and 8
What’s nap routine? 1.5 to 2 hour naps every 3 hours
How long are naps? 1.5 to 2 hours
What's bedtime routine? Time? 8pm, bf
Do you bottle or breastfed?? both (bottle sometimes at night)
How much? or how long? 15 to 30 minutes at the breast, 1 to 4 ounces of formula. there is a lot of crying with feeding due to reflux
If breastfed.. one side or both?? (at each feed) one side
How many wakes per night? 4 to 5
What’s your LO like when waking at night? How long is he/she up? starts with a cough-like sound, quickly elevates to cry, rooting and hysterical if not fed. Then will feed for a few minutes and fall back asleep. Then will sleep for 1.5 hours and back up with the same thing
When you go to him/her is she fussing or crying? Or is it a mantra cry? crying!
What have you tried to settle?? pat/sh in crib, pat/sh while holding, pacifier, but won't take the paci
What do you do for A time and how long is it? mostly diaper and usually is asleep by 1 hour after waking
Are there developmental issues such as teething or milestones? no
Have you introduced cereal? Why, how much, and how many times a day? (for LO’s under 6 months) no
Do they have a prop? If so what is it? no, well maybe bf
Do they have a lovie? no
Okay, so the situation is that ds has reflux. He has alot of discomfort when feeding, choking, etc. He is mostly bf although we are giving him formula at night sometimes so I can get some sleep. He does pretty well with the 3 hour EASY during the day and usually will make it to 1.5 hours for his naps. Sometimes they are only 45 minutes, but often I can get him back to sleep. He pretty much eats and then we change a diaper and then he is yawning so awake time is very short. We take him up to his room, close the shades, turn on white noise and pat/ sh with him over the shoulder, put him in his crib and pat/ sh until he is asleep. We try to put him in awake. He is on his belly at the advice of the GI specialist, so no swaddle. He does not take a paci.
He usually has 4 naps a day, although sometimes we are able to cluster feed him if he breaks the last nap into 2 catnaps. I don't wake him to cluster feed b/c he does not feed well if I do that.
It seems that by the end of the day, he is feeding for a shorter period of time, so that by the time he goes to bed, he only eats for about 10 minutes. He is usually in bed by 8 and sometimes is back up in 1.5 hours, sometimes he can make it to a df. He takes 2 to 3 ounces for a df. From then on, he is up every 1.5 hours almost to the minute. He starts with a cough and grunting, we try to pat, sh in the crib, then pick him up if need be, then he is hysterical. He will not settle. We try for 20 minutes sometimes, but he is rooting, and screaming. If we feed him, he often will eat 1 ounce or less if he is getting a bottle or will bf for 5 minutes (sometimes less) and then fall into a deep sleep that I can't wake him up from. The cycle continues all night.
So, I think he is snacking and waking for some reason other then hunger (pain, comfort). I know by feeding him, we are making matters so much worse, but I just don't know what to do. He is inconsolable when he wakes and the only way we have been able to get him back to sleep is to feed him. How long can we let him cry if we are holding him and trying to soothe him? What else can we do to soothe him?
Please, help me if you can. I am very stressed about this and am getting no sleep and have a 21 month old at home to take care of too! Thank you so much
Kim