2 week old screams ALL night long...

Hello, I'm a new mom to a 2 week old baby boy, born via C-section.   I'm trying to recover and get the hang of caring for a new born.   The problem I am having is that my baby sleeps soooo deeply during the day, I have to wake him up to feed him every 4 hrs (I would like him to feed more but knows he needs it at least every 4 hrs).   It is almost impossible to wake him during the day and he doesn't wake up on his own.   Starting around 10pm, his eyes open, he is constantly looking around and starting to be fussy, feeding every 1.5-2 hrs.   However, by midnight, he is screaming and wants to feed non-stop.   His screaming (red in the face, choking from screaming so hard, kicking and thrashing around) lasts until 7-9am NON-STOP.   I WISH he would feed on average, even every 2 hrs during the night and sleep in between.   Many moms feel that having to wake up every two hours is nuts but I don't even get that much of a break.   It would be like heaven to even get 30 minutes of sleep at night.   I've tried everything.   He isn't gassy.  He doesn't have fevers.   The pediatrician says he is very healthy.   His stool looks normal.   No signs of actual distress.   I watched a video called "The Happiest Baby On The Block" which gives tips that really work.   But for my baby, when I try any of those tricks, it either doesn't work at all or it works for about a minute before he goes back to screaming.   I try to keep calm and sing to him, caress him, let him know that I am there and he is safe and loved, so that he isn't affected by any potential distress of my own.    Any suggestions?   I'm stuck in this baby vortex and my life is totally unraveling because of it!

[teko]

It is not normal for a baby to scream as you describe non stop all night long unless, there is something hurting or wrong. I would contact the doctor and let him know what you are going thru for starters, and secondly if the only time you can get some sleep is during the daytime until this gets worked out, then you need to try to do that. It sounds like more than having his days and nights mixed up to me, it could be colic or an allergy to the milk or a combination of the two. Whatever it is, it sounds painful for you and little baby and needs addressed. Do you have a family member that could watch the little one for a few hours so you could catch a break ? Holler from the rooftops if you have to until someone listens to you.

[margypops]

If you are breastfeeding check what you are eating and drinking , if you are eating anything that can upset him it will pass through your milk and create gas which can be painful in a small baby,the way you say he is trashing around tells me a pain in the tummy,  make sure you burp him well seems a bit young for colic, speak to the doctor to make sure all is well with him .good luck and congrats ,

[RockRose]

illelay,  it sounds like maybe he's not getting enough nutrition?  

Are you breastfeeding him?  I'm a total fan of breastfeeding,  but in rare instances the baby isn't getting what he needs and is screaming for food.  I just recently had an experience in my family where the baby nearly starved to death (really) due to lack of breast milk and no one saw it coming.

For perspective,  this has only been going on for two weeks of your life.   I know when you have a baby it seems like forever,  but this will pass within a blink of an eye and the "baby vortex" that is making your life totally unravel will be but a moment in time.

[RockRose]

ille,  I just read your profile where you are trying to schedule drinking coffee and wine around breastfeeding.  

Deep breath.  This is the time in your life where you COMPLETELY give yourself to someone else.  You give up sleep,  coffee,  wine,  to this baby.  I'm concerned about how upset you are that your schedule is off after just two weeks of mothering a newborn.

This is your baby's time,  and it's time for you to not give a thought to yourself.   As time goes on,  and you get less sleep because your baby is sick,  or your baby is 16 and driving and out all night,  you can expect sleepless nights and sacrifice.

[illelay]

Thank you all for your input.  I will address this with the doctor asap.  As soon as I got home from the hospital, I researched what foods might upset baby and I have been playing that by ear for now.   The last thing I want is for something I'm eating to cause my little angel any discomfort.   I have also incorporated instant gas relief drops for new borns, per my pediatrician's suggestion in case that could be part of the issue.  It is important to me that I not force any kind of schedule on my baby, letting him give me the ques for when he wants to eat, sleep, poop, etc... However, I will wake him up during the day if he is approaching 4 hours without feeding and no sign of waking up.   I'm a bit concerned about every little thing, being that this is all new to me and I want to do the best I can.   I check his diaper, burp him, change his positions for comfort, rock him, sing to him, but at night, it's non-stop which I felt was not normal.  If he gets gassy during the day,  or is hungry, or has a wet diaper, he doesn't get upset at all or just makes little slight sounds.   As soon as it gets late, he screams even if I cannot find anything that could be the issue.  I listen to his tummy and lately, he hasn't even had any gas.   He had no gas last night and screamed all night long.   As far as the wine or coffee, I was very nervous about having any so I wanted to find out every detail.   I only had some for my birthday 5 days ago.   All of my family live across the country but my mom did just fly in to help me, which I am very thankful for.   Thanks all!

[benjimom]

It is scary adn exhausting to be a new mom. I thought the first few weeks were really hard too.  YOu don't realize what it's like until you have a new baby.  Some babies sleep better than others.  I remember mine having issues and sometimes being up until the wee hours of morning, that was with the colic.  It ended around 3 months thankfully!!  Yes, I would wake him up and make him feed and he's probably got his days and nights mixed up. In time it will all work out.

Lack of sleep makes everything look bleek adn overwhelming.  Try to nap when you can and thankfully your mom is here!!  Don't feel like you have to entertain her.  

IS there a lactation consultant you can call from teh hospital? I had to call them a few times during the first few weeks and that helped.  Hang in there!!