Normal newborn behavior?

[MollyNorwood]

Hi Girls
First time mother here, bubs is only 11 days old. We absolutely love her to bits she is our little angel yet her screaming for no apparent reason is driving us a little crazy!
We will change her, feed her, bath her, hold and rock her, try to settle her etc etc and she will have blocks of time where she will just continue to scream blue murder.
Today as well as yesterday for example she spent a decent 3 hours just screaming/crying and NOTHING we did would stop her. Eventually I think she just over exhausted herself and she fell asleep. Its so hard when she does this at night time.
We have tested her thyroid and had a Dr check her out and he says she is perfectly healthy and there is nothing wrong with her.
I guess I just want to know- is this normal behavior?
Thanks!

 

[Literati_Love]

My guess is that she is overtired? Newborns are often not even awake for an hour at a time. This is around the age my DD started screaming for hours as well. It ended up being an overtiredness issue. Can't say that's for sure your problem but that would be my guess! Experiment with wake time windows to see when she will go to sleep easily without a fuss. Also I recommend swaddling and white noise if you haven't already tried.

 

[Zeri]

It sounds like colic - bouts of crying for about 3 hours or more every day (usually at the same time each day)- usually related to wind, intestinal cramps and/or other newborn digestive issues. The LO's are usually inconsolable and arch their backs, kick out, scream/cry etc. Colic is quite normal in newborns. Both my children did this starting from abt 2 wks old or so - DS's colic time was 4-7 am each morning, which was extra rough for my sleep deprived self! I had read that colic eases up at 3 mths and that was true for my LO's. No more colic here. It's hard dealing with it, though. Gripe water helped.

 

[mummytobe_93]

It could just be normal behaviour. But it could be something, colic, reflux or maybe lactose/cows milk intolerance. If it persists I'd see a doctor for more tests.
My daughter never really cried as a new born unless she was hungry but all babies are different x

 

[MollyNorwood]

thanks girls. Last night we actually had a good night with her but that was after she spent ALL DAY screaming on and off. We think its colic more than anything else, just sometimes she works herself into a state where she will also get over tired because she can't/won't sleep.
We were going to try gripe water but the lady at the pharmacy said they can't have that until about 1 month old.
What's everybody's experience with paediatricians if any?

 

[Harley Quinn]

Definitely normal! They even give you a DVD about it (they call it PURPLE crying) every time you have a baby here in my province.

It's hard to say what, if anything, causes it. Could be reflux or a lactose/dairy intolerance as mentioned. I've heard some babies stop their crying bouts after seeing a chiropractor (if they get out of alignment during birth).

I know it can be very frustrating to feel like you can't sooth your baby even though you've tried everything! Know that it is okay to set baby down somewhere safe and go take a breather for a few minutes if you need to! Sometimes calming yourself down can be the best thing for baby.

Hang in there! It will get better.

 

[wish4baby]

My daughter had (has) reflux...she loved being upright, on my chest, in her woven wrap. I'd walk & bounce her and it'd really soothe her.

 

[ButterCup17]

I think it's normal. My ds would scream every night around 7pm for about 2 hours in the beginning. Nothing would help him and it was the same time every night. It won't last forever. Just make sure ur OH helps u out so u dont go crazy trying to settle lo!