HELP!!!! 5 week old baby wont stop screaming and i think its gas!?

Question

i know thats what babies do but it seems like he is in pain. i have him on formula thats supposed to help with gas but it doesnt seem to work. the only way to get him to stop is cradle him and dance/walk around the house but the sec i stop he screams again and im a single mom all by myself and i think i might lose my mind. i tried gas med and gripe water and nothing seems to work whats really weird is at night he is good but at 8 am it goes down hill and doesnt stop till late at night! what else can i do? and i just started him on the new formula how long does it take to work?

Answer 1

It cud be tummy cramps and his body getting ust to the new milk so u might have 2 bear it for a wee bit longer.....

U cud try maybe a nice warm bath mite settle him try also souting music n comforting cuddle

try rubbing/messaging his tummy...

If not try phonong ur mid wife for advice....

I so admire u ding it on ur own n realise how hard it wud be, i have a partner n have even found it hard good on u bt dont stress as baby picks up on it as well

Answer 2

shove him/her back on breast milk.  are you winding him/her properly? the gripe water etc should work.  maybe you're feeding too much.

Answer 3

Are you burping him enough?

Answer 4

maybe he has poopy in his pants.

Answer 5

Try every possible way of burping him.  Over your shoulder, on your knee, sitting him up, laying down and pumping his legs...

Make sure you're doing it every 4-5 minutes during feeding too - don't just feed for 15-20 minutes, then burp afterwards.

Answer 6

UUUHHMM.....Why are you on Yahoo Answers you need to take that baby to the Dr....

Answer 7

Have you called your Dr?  I would call the dr. Also Your baby may be hungry and need more then you're feeding him. If he's fed, burped, changed and loved, then baby's do Cry. it normal for them to cry but to scream all day is not normal, I would definately call your Dr. Have you tried using a pacifier?  Also Mylicon drops are good for a Gassy Baby.    The Good News is usually by 2 1/2 -3 months, they start getting into a normal routine and will calm down.  Hang in there.. You're NOT the only mother going thru this. My daughter is having the same problem.  Also If you've changed his formula recently, Give it 2 -3 days to see if it helps. But NEVER change his formula without talking to the Dr First. Babies bellies can't handle all the changes. Also the water you're using could cause his belly problems, If its tap water, Make sure you're boiling the water and NEVER give the baby COLD Formula. Warm it a bit but make sure to test it so its not too hot.  Also Fennel Seed Tea helps calm their bellies also But again talk to your Dr First.  

Answer 8

When I was a kid I hated being put down as well, I cried every time I was put down bu there was nothing wrong it was just the fact I loved being near my mum. and like you my mum was a single mum too. So maybe it's the same thing happening to you.

Like one of the commenter said if you are worried then go to your doc or phone a mid wife and ask for some help and advice on whats going on. However you said you have him on a formula to help ease gas, how long have you had him on it? Maybe it's just taking a bit of time to work.

But if you are worried on need reassurance do go to them mid wife or docs. Sorry if this isn't much help.  

Answer 9

try swaddling him tightly.  If you have a heating pad, put him on it or sit him in a car seat on top of the dryer.  sounds to me like he has colic.

Answer 10

If it is gas what you can try is taking his legs and gently push his knees up to his chest.  Keep doing this a few times and then let him rest.  He should let out some gas if that's what it is.  

On the other hand if it's just that he wants to be held I would suggest investing in a sling.  Mine is like this right now she'll be 6 wks on sat. and I am seriously considering it so I don't go insane.  Oh wow go figure she's crying again  - gotta go.  good luck.

Answer 11

My son is 4 weeks old.. And since the day he was born he has had gas problems... you said you've tried gas meds and gripe water.. But have you tried Mylicon... It's a certain gas relief med... It helped alot on my son... Also does he have trouble making poopie diapers? If so... try putting a teaspoon of Karo syrup in his bottle... It helped my son... Hope you find the answer soon... I understand completly how you feel.. Good luck..... Also if you are bathing him at night try during the day... It might soothe him...

Answer 12

First, I'm sorry so many smart@sses answered!  That's the last thing you need right now!

My daughter used to get gas REALLY bad at that age.  Her tummy would look really bloated and when I would pat her belly it sounded like I was patting a balloon!  The only thing that ever worked for her was to lay her on her back and do some exercises to try to get her to pass gas.  I would push her knees against her tummy then straighten her legs back out.  I'd do this several times then I'd try bicycling her legs for a bit, then go back to the knees to tummy.  Usually after a few mins she would pass gas.  Sometimes it didn't seem like much, but she would calm down then so it definately helped.  The gas drops never worked.  They are only good for getting gas out of the tummy (they help it coagulate into one bubble so they can burp) but it doesn't get the gas out of the intestines, and that's what really hurts.  This won't work right away every time, so I would also lay her across my lap on her tummy and pat her butt.  The gentle pressure on her tummy can help get the gas out.  Also, rubbing his tummy (in a clockwise motion) will help get the gas moving.

My daughter is breastfed and I tried changing things I ate and it never helped.  It seemed to just magically get better sometime before she was 3 months old, so I wouldn't bother switching formulas anymore if he's already on one that's supposed to help with gas.  That would probably just hurt his tummy and make him even more upset.

Try doing these things and I'm sure you'll be able to get him to pass gas.  Hope this helps!

Answer 13

Get your baby to the doctor right away. If the baby is in pain, then there's no time to be playing guessing games online. If you can't afford healthcare, apply for Medicaid ASAP.

Answer 14

don't change formulas, keep the one you have just be constant with the schedule, EVERY 3 HOURS! not before not after and keep a constant amount too. after that burp him. if he doesn't change go to the doctors but i work for a pediatrician and the best thing for you to do is to keep a constant schedule.

http://kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_n...

Answer 15

If it's not gas...

When our baby did the same thing we were told that if you put your baby in a room and close the door (without danger to the baby) and leave the room and after time she will stop crying. She did stop after about 15 min. As soon as I entered the room she started crying again until I picked her up. This went on back and forth, each time getting better. After two days of putting her in her room and letting her cry, she stopped. From that day on she never cried when we put her to bed.

Hope that helps.

Answer 16

Yes ma'am, I think the Doctor would be a good idea.

It's not normal.

Answer 17

I got some drops from GNC that really worked wonders.  They were heartburn/gas drops.  Consult his doctor to see about chaning formulas again.  My kids had to try several before we found the one that was best for them, but they all responded well to Isomil.  You are going through what most new moms do, it is temporary, but it is really hard to go through.  Good luck.

Answer 18

Try a heat pad on the lowest setting. Put a recieving blanket between him and the pad and watch for dehydration. My son had the same problem. Otherwise get to a doc!

Answer 19

pull his finger. he'll let out the gas

Answer 20

we have infacol here - one drop before each meal.  I'd also change his formula - a lot of peole say enfamil is great for avoiding colic.  you might need to just shop around.  Also put some books under one end of his crib or buy a baby recliner seat big enough for him to sleep in so his head is tilted upwards to help relieve wind.  As said many times: make sure you are burping him after meals and during if necessary.  Lastly: please go to your doctor because he may have a hernia which would be very painful.  

Answer 21

till it sets in i would just continue doing what your doing.. maybe try burping him/or her sorry not sure what it is.. good luck

Answer 22

It sounds like your baby might be colicky.  I had this problem with my youngest.  It's stressful, but leave your hair intact. I promise, before you know it your baby will get over it.  

First, call your pediatrician.  There could be something else wrong, you never know.  I doubt it, but just to be sure he'll probably want to see the baby.  That's what I did, just to have my doctor tell me she's just colicky.  I was like, "ok, a relief but now what?!"

I bought a front carrier for her and it worked wonders! It made my life easier too.  I was able to move about and get the things done around the house (I had 6 yr old and a husband who needed me too).  She would usually end up falling asleep once i started walking around or doing things.  Sometimes her screaming grew increasingly worse in the evenings.  So I would turn on some mellow music and dance around with my younger one while the baby was in my arms or the carrier.  I also had a vibrating bouncy chair for her, which I loved because I was able to put her in that on the bathroom floor while I took a shower.  It lasted a few weeks but it got easier.  You'll start to realize things that work for your son, he'll start to get used to life outside the womb better, and you'll also grow more patient.  It's hard at first, especially if you're alone.  See if you can call a friend or relative to come over just to help you out for a little while.   Maybe take a nap, or just take a few minutes to yourself.  

Good luck!

Answer 23

GO TO A DR.

Answer 24

WELL THEN IT'S  NOT GAS ..YOU MIGHT WANT TO TAKE HIM IN TO SEE THE DR'S ASAP ..YOU REALY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT MIGHT BE

Answer 25

AWWWWWW 5 WEEKS?!!? A LITTLE BABY!!! AND YOUR A SINGLE MOTHER!??! THAT SUUUUUUUUX!!!! IM SURE U HATE IT RIGHT NOW, BUT LATER WHEN HE GROWS UP, YOUR GONNA MISS HIM CRYING SO MUCH LOL, I REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW TO HELP U, SORRY BUT, GOOD LUCK!!!!

Answer 26

Poor mummy and poor baby. I can only imagine how you're feeling. I have days where I count the hours until my bf comes home from work to take over.

Anyway, I went thought the same problems with my little boy around that age and it turned out he had infant reflux.

See if your baby has any of these symptoms:

Reflux occurs often in normal infants. More than half of all babies experience reflux in the first 3 months of life. Reflux can become a more serious concern in some infants, when medical attention is needed, and knowing the symptoms of chronic reflux is important.

Common infant GERD symptoms are:

Frequent spitting up or vomiting

Irritability when feeding

Refusing food or eating only small amounts

Arching the back while feeding

When babies are experiencing abdominal pain or discomfort, they will often arch their backs or draw up their legs.

"Wet" burps

When a baby has a "wet" burp, a small amount of liquid is regurgitated as he burps.

Frequent hiccups

Frequent coughing

Poor sleep habits with frequent waking

My son had some of the symptomes, but when I took him to the docs and we got Zantac (best add it to his bottle as it tastes foul and he probably won't take it) he already felt better after 1 or 2 days.

For now: Give him a nice soothing bath. This way you can collect your senses and he is feeling good for while, so you can actually spend some nice together.

Meanwhile: Hang in there and be careful not to do anything you'll regret later out of despair. Maybe you can call a friend or a family member to come and help out for a few hours?

Lots and lots of good luck. I really hope you'll find a solution very soon.

Answer 27

Sounds like your baby is a colic baby my son was the same way and his doctor gave me some meds that helped alot but i cant remember what it was called sorry but my advice to you is talk with his doctor

Answer 28

Consult your pediatrition...but I recently asked mine about a switch in formula and she said it takes 1-2 weeks to take effect.  

Answer 29

When you burp your baby try burping him a little lower on the back and faster.  Also I think the best formula is a soy based.  When I finished breast feeding my 3 girls I had them all three on a soy based.  

Answer 30

Ask you pediatrician if you can give him prune juice with his formula to help with any lower GI blockage.  Lay your baby down on his back and lift his legs up towards his head gently and repetitively - can help to put enough pressure on the GI to push some gas out.  Burp him frequently.  Hang in there Mommy - it's realllly realllly hard I know.  Calling his pediatrician and asking for ideas always is recommended and should be your first choice for information regarding your baby.

Answer 31

WHAT FORMULA ARE YOU CURRENTLY USING? ANYWAYS THE DOCTOR SAY 5 TO 6 WEEKS OLD IS WHEN COLIC STARTS AND 12 WEEKS IS THE MAGIC NUMBER FOR NO MORE COLIC.. AND IT DEFINATLY COLIC IF IT IS THE SAME TIME EVERYDAY.. MY DOCTOR RECCOMENDED USING THE MYLICON DROPS AND HOLD HIM FACING THE OTHER WAY ON YOUR HIP, ARM ACROSS HIS TUMMY AND BOUNCE..YOU CAN PAT HIS BACK ALSO WHILE IN THIS POSITION..HANG IN THERE.. ONE DAY IT WILL GO AWAY LIKE MAGIC