Struggling.. failing miserably.. don't know what to do or how to feel anymore :(

Spendless

Having got a nearly 11yo who still thinks sleep is optional, I don't envy you. I remember these being advertised when mine was little, though I've never used them myself. just in case it's any help.
http://www.cry-sis.org.uk/

And do you have anyone who could watch children during the day, so you can get some sleep?

Devontrish

I am not sure whether this is at all useful, but both my boys were like this, both fed really badly and cried all the time. The common link between them was that they were forceps delivery, and this has now been linked with poor eating and a generally unhappy child. I wish I had known at the time, as the answer is quite simple really...a bit of head massage to free up the pressure in their head. I do belive that you can get reffered by a gp to someone who does this proffesionally. I st6ruggled with both of them and never found out until way after they were babies.
Also, my youngest son had a milk protein allergy, which has only just been diagnosed at 9 yrs old!!!! I was poisoning him for all those years!!!
I would highly reccommend a bit of massage therapy for your little one, use a bit of baby oil, and just gently massage all over his body. This will give you and him the chance to be relaxed together, and help you to see that its not all bad. I would also suggest that you go along to your GP for yourself, it is highly likely that all of the exhaustion etc is contributing to the baby blues. A little bit of medication now could benefit you (and I don't often say things like that!), as well as a bit of pampering for yourself. Just remember that it is OK to feel at your whits end...you are an amazing mother, and although it doesn't seem like it now, it does get better!!! My boys are 20 and 10 now!!!

Edit...having just read your more recent post, it sounds like it could be a milk protein allergy??? Possibly try soya baby milk??? I wish I had!

SingleMumOf2_3

Spendless I have bookmarked the page and will give them a ring once I have had some sleep for advice.

Baby was delivered by head massage.. I had a lovely nursery nurse who came round every week when he was around 3 months old who taught me baby massage.. but she told me to never ever touch his head. As someone has mentioned head massage at the time and I remember asking about it. She said that touching a babys head can bring back memories of birth and cause distress.. so with him being forcepts delivery I have left well alone as the last thing I wanted was him to be even more unhappy.

I have no one to take him in the day.. but he is now at dads for 2 nights so that I can catch up on rest. I may moan about their dad alot.. but I would be stuck without him right now.

kjmtidea

Sorry I am in a hurry so have only skimmed over the thread but just wanted to say that your little one sounds exactly like my youngest. I have 4 boys, my youngest is 3 1/2 now and i've always called him the worlds most miserable child, he started crying when he was born and he still hasn't stopped. He had reflux for the first year of his life and then luckily he grew out of it, he just cried and cried and never stopped.

It was depressing and I was absolutely knackered, the one thing I wish I had tried was cranial, I have heard wonders about it and I still kick myself now for not trying it. The crazy thing is, I had a home water birth with him, it was the most relaxing, peaceful birth ever so clearly that makes no difference!

Devontrish

http://www.craniosacraltherapy-gentlehealing.co.uk/CST--For-Babies.html gives information about what i was talking about...possibly wrong for calling it a massage!!!

patchwork_cat

SingleMumOf2 wrote: »

Spendless I have bookmarked the page and will give them a ring once I have had some sleep for advice.

Baby was delivered by head massage.. I had a lovely nursery nurse who came round every week when he was around 3 months old who taught me baby massage.. but she told me to never ever touch his head. As someone has mentioned head massage at the time and I remember asking about it. She said that touching a babys head can bring back memories of birth and cause distress.. so with him being forcepts delivery I have left well alone as the last thing I wanted was him to be even more unhappy.

I have no one to take him in the day.. but he is now at dads for 2 nights so that I can catch up on rest. I may moan about their dad alot.. but I would be stuck without him right now.

He is a forceps baby. It sounded like something abdominal, but like the previous poster I have heard again and again about cranial osteopathy for forceps babies. Look into this I have heard it is like a miracle.

It is a specialist treatment that needs doing by a specialist, I don't know if it is available on the NHS, try asking your PCT.

Spendless

I've heard about it too. My son sufferred 'trauma' to the head, by starting to come down the birth canal and getting stuck, because it was discovered I am the wrong shape to deliver naturally and ended up with a c-section (this is very basic terms as I'm unsure of the medical ones) and I always found him hard work/demanding/unsettled. I read about cranial oesteopath when he was several years old, but it's definately something I'd have looked into if I'd known sooner.

patchwork_cat

http://www.netmums.com/coffeehouse/advice-support-40/birth-trauma-support-601/431341-cranial-osteopathy-after-forceps-delivery.html discussed here. This baby sounds just like yours, except the raw throat.

barbiedoll

I don't think that you can get cranial oesteopathy for babies on the NHS but some of my mums have tried it and it was around £30 for the first consultation and £15 for any further treatments if necessary (London prices, may be cheaper elsewhere?) It has been very popular with mums that I have spoken to but do make sure that the therapist is qualified, maybe ask your H/V if she knows of anyone in your area? (Although some medical people tend to think that this is a "quack" remedy so you may not get much help from her)

Forceps babies can be cranky, the theory is that the malleable bones in their skull get pushed out of place during the forceps procedure. The oesteopath can gently massage the bones back into place and this can relieve any pain that the baby may be suffering. I know that you don't have much spare cash, would Dad help you with the cost?

If the Gaviscon doesn't appear to be working, the oesteopathy may be worth a try. You do have my sympathies, I hope you find a solution soon.

carefullycautious

Has the doctor checked that your little boy does not have a hernia.(He needs his testicles checked for this)

Consistent crying can cause this.

It can lead to a strangulated hernia within the testicles if left untreated.

He needs a thorough examination I am appalled that your doctor does not seem to be doing anything.

I would be requesting a second opinion and demanding to see a paediatrician. No baby should be crying like this.