I Have Not Slept Properly For 9 Months - Baby Sleeping and passing wind
by Kelly
(Val d'Isere France)
Hi Please can you help me.
Ever since my little baby girl Liberty was born she has had trouble with her belly.
The doctors just said it was colic but she is 9 months now and is still the same. She wakes up to 5 times a night and is in real pain, then she passes wind during the 1 to 1 hours of screaming and then goes straight back to sleep once the wind has gone.
Also if she needs to poo she is up all night in pain until she has been.
It is very upsetting when she is in so much pain i try moving her legs up and down so to get the belly working and this does help but now she is bigger it is harder as she is like a stiff board resisting being moved.
She is normally up and down from when she goes to bed until about 2am and sometimes up to 4am. She is then normally up again about 6ish and up about 7.30/8am so we normally only get at the most 2/3 hours of sleep inbetween the screaming.
Her poo changes sometimes it is hard and sometimes it is runny there is no consistency. What should it be like at 9 months? She is normally ok in the day time but recently has stopped eating in the day it is a real job of get a few mouthfuls in. The doctor has given us gaviscon. The last couple of weeks she has been sick as well so this has not helped. please help us.
Comments for
I Have Not Slept Properly For 9 Months - Baby Sleeping and passing wind
You describe a very exhausting situation! Your daughter obviously does not have colic; that would have been gone by now.
Why is she getting gaviscon; does she have reflux? From what I know (I am not a doctor!), gaviscon is mainly given to babies for severe acid reflux, which is when they throw up very much. Does she? Gaviscon is also know to cause swelling of the stomach and possibly constipation, and could actually worsen your baby's problem. If you are not sure why her doctor gave it to her, make sure you ask!
I wonder, has she been checked for lactose intolerance and/or milk allergy? A lot of the symptoms you describe is common for babies with that.
I think you need to get a second opinion from another pediatrician immediately. Crying, gas and pain to such extent is not normal for a 9 month old. Also, that her poo varies between runny and hard is an indication that she might have some sort of intolerance or allergy.
I really hope you get it sorted out soon. Don't stop bugging the doctors!
Please let me know about your progress,
Paula
Jun 25, 2009
Troubled little Tummies by: Anonymous
As a result of recurring urinary tract infections, my 5.5 month old baby boy has been on antibiotics for half of his short life. While he needs them in order to prevent another hospitalization, they have caused him very severe tummy trouble, much like you describe. He basically was just not sleeping. I would hear his belly rumbling and he would wriggle and writhe in pain all night (though thankfully, he seemed to tolerate the pain enough not to scream or cry) and would sleep some nights only 10 minutes at a time, finding brief relief when I did 'bicycle legs' and got the wind out of him.
I cannot comment on the poo situation with your 9 month old, and I know our situation is different, but so much of what you speak of resonates with me, in terms of our experience, so I would like to share what has helped us.
1. A complete overhaul of diet. I do strongly think that my baby has food allergies or intolerance and it sounds as if yours may as well. I would definitely consult a doctor or nutritionist before drastically changing your diet (if you are breastfeeding) or the baby's, but I think it has helped us. As I am exclusively breastfeeding, I did a strict elimination diet. I have found that when I eat a lot of sugar, wheat or any amount of dairy my baby has an awful night's sleep. It has been two months of being very strict, but it has helped A LOT. Even small amounts of caffeine and alcohol are also culprits. Sugar is a surprisingly big factor.
2. Probiotics. There are drops for babies called "Biogaia" that you can put on your nipple, if you breastfeed. If you do breastfeed, you should take them too - a very good strain, not just cheap drugstore ones. They help good bacteria to flourish in your tummy and you will safely pass the benefits onto baby.
3. Changing sleep position. If you can catch your baby at the first signs of becoming uncomfortable, perhaps you could try switching her sleeping position to the left side. I know babies are to be put down on their backs, but if she is older she can roll over anyway, so...
4. Our baby has the stiff legged resistance to 'bicycle legs' now, too. Now I help him get the wind out by lifting just the right leg up and in against the stomach. Always works.
5. Well-steeped Chamomile tea before bed. For you, of course... once again, if you are breastfeeding.
Good luck...
Oct 28, 2009
me too!!!! by: danielle
My baby is nine months as well and erything u describe with ur baby happens to mine. I work and am exhausted from no sleep since he was born in January! Doctors did an x ray and ruled out gerd but found a varicose vein on his esophagus I don't know if this relates to the crying while passing wind\poop though. He sees a cardio vascular specialist next. He also was switch to good start soy formula to try and take care of any intolerance or allergy but nothing helps! Other than the symptems he expresses while doing those bodily functions he is overall a happy baby so I stay on my doctor to refer me to different specialist based off of whatever research I do online about his symptoms. She gave him zantac twice a day 1.5ml but I discontinued that after there were no gerd symptoms. I still don't know what is wrong but I pray and will do the same for you and your baby as well. Keep me posted please if u discover the cause of this irritation with our babies which is not colic in my opinion.
Nov 10, 2009
Here's what is working for us... by: Anonymous
I have a 3 month old with very similar symptoms. I complained to his pediatrician very early on and after a rectal exam, she diagnosed him as having anal spasms. Basically instead of baring down when he has to go (or when he has gas), he clinches, causing very painful belly issues for him. She has me using a dilator on him to help "train" his body. It is helping. He is also on Nutramigen (formula) for a milk protein intolerance and Zantac for reflux. I have noticed a HUGE difference since starting the Nutramigen and using the dilator. Still not where I'd like him to be with his sleeping (he too writhes in pain before passing gas and does not sleep for long stretches at all), but not nearly as horrible as it was at first.
Nov 19, 2009
My son has terrible wind pains during the night at 9 months old by: Julie
I had almost given up hope of finding advice or anyone else in this same situation.
My son is 9 months old next week and has had this trapped wind pain since being a few weeks old, back then I mentioned to the Health Visitor and Doctor, both mentioned Colic ( which from the symptoms I knew of Colic, I really didn't agree) and they said the pain will pass as baby reaches 12 weeks!
This came and went and no better, he goes to sleep well, early evening by 7pm, but his pain did start in the early hours of the morning, where he seemed to be not only wriggling in pain but also straining as if trying to push out gas, he could do this whilst still trying to sleep but woudl evetually wake in cries, this has continued, right through him starting solids at 6 months, he was also exclusively breastfed and I thought it was maybe my milk, I changed my diet, I rotated his food incase of allergies. No change.
He had a 2 week spell of constipation at around 6 months/Starting solids and was prescribed Lactulose to soften the stools, that worked fior the hard stools, but the wind pain continued.
We were referred to the hospital in September of this year (2009)and they examined him,( felt tummy, checked anus for fissures, all ok) they were happy that he was a good weight and eats well, which he does, so were not concerned about lack of sleep/pain and said it will fade when he reaches 10 months, which I can't see either, if anything, some nights seem worse than they did 3 months ago, where he now wakes with the pain as early as 10.00pm. He can go back off to sleep for an hour maybe 2 but sometimes he can wake every 15 minutes ( he doesn't always fully wake up, but crying out in pain).
He is such a happy baby during the day and he does nap well most days ( a morning and afternoon nap of an hour to an hour and half each) he either copes well because he's distracted or because he can release the gas, I don't know, h ejust seems to be in more pain after being lay down and asleep for a while. I just know neither of us have had good sleep and I just feel so sorry for him, so I can totally understand where you are coming from!!
I stopped breastfeeding when he reached 8 months, just 3 weeks ago and was hoping that would help, but still no better, it's a shame as you just get used to this being a daily thing, but it shouldn't be and after several doctors apointments ( with 3 different Doctors) all of them not seeing this as anything serious/to worry about, a hopsital appt with a specialist paeditrician, I am kind of at a loose end as to what I can do to ease my sons pain?? Luckily I am taking a year out of work, but due back in Feb, so only a few more months to hopefully correct this otherwise I'm going to be useless when I have to work and think!!
Good to luck to everyone and their babies, lets hope we find a solution to this soon x
