[Frogga78]

DD is 19wks (10wks corrected). We are are having those creaming sessions that last for sooo long. Yesterday's was approx 6 hours from 3.30 to 9.30pm. There was even a feed in there which will usually settle her down. Nothing worked!!!
How do you make it through those times? What do you do to save your sanity?
Any ideas will be greatly appreciated!

[JustBeige]

Earplugs.
and a sling

I used to shove earplugs in, stick her in the sling and do some housework / prepare dinner.

I found the earplugs minimised the screaming and the sling and me being active helped with the rocking motion to get her to calm down.

[Jenflea]

more feeds?
Does she have reflux? 6 hours seems excessive to me. I would expect maybe 2 or 3.

[economist99]

My baby did that for 10 hr a day for 2 months until I found out my milk supply was about half, and she was less than birth weight - ie starving! I should have switched to formula faster.
An unsettled baby may be sick, cod/hot, unswaddled, hungry, lonely or just fretful...

[bluecardigans]

Totally agree with the sling and earplugs. You can still see that they are crying, but you are able to remain much calmer which in turn calms the baby.

It is all about trial and error though, so just a couple if options that worked for us was the automatic cradle/swing and also having a bath together.

[elmo_mum]

with ds i fina bath helps as well

could be wind or hungry

[~~HappyMummy~~]

You could also try a walk in the pram (fresh air and a change of scenery will help you both) or a warm bath.

Agree with the sling suggestions too. Baby will be happier closer to mum.

[Sweet like a lem...]

That's a long time to cry. Poor bub and poor you! Cuddle her as much as she needs it, check for all obvious causes of distress and if she doesn't settle see your GP asap.

[SnazzySass]

I went to the shops from after lunch until DP got home then I handed him over for a few hours. If I couldn’t get out I sat in our rocking chair and sang which calmed both of us. The singing forced me to breathe slowly and reduced my tension and that in turned helped DS to calm down. I also put the TV on a silly sit com that made me laugh and that helped us both calm down too. When it all got too much I put DS on his mat by the window and sat in the kitchen for a bit where I couldn’t hear him. At the time it made me feel guilty but it honestly saved his life on some occasions. If you go out and feel like everyone is staring and judging, know that they aren’t. Most people are remembering when they were there themselves and are actually looking at you with compassion.

[Phascogale]

There's probably more going on than just an unsettled baby.

Has she got good weight gains and lots of wet nappies - if lots of wet nappies (at least 5 a day) then it's not the amount of milk she's getting? Is she breastfed or formula fed? If formula fed is she getting a tummy ache to the type of formula you are using? If breastfed is it a reaction to a protein you are eating ie cow's milk (also very relevant to formula as most people use cow's milk based ones)? Weight gains can be poor with this (ie damage to the gut so not absorbing nutrients) but number of wet nappies is generally okay if the amount of milk going in is fine. Are there any other symptoms ie mucous in poos or blood?

Could it be reflux? This can also be related to something like a cow's milk protein intolerance as babies with 'simple' reflux are usually happy chuckers. Medications can help but if reflux is caused by something else it's only treating symptoms and not the cause. But this is something to discuss with a doctor.

One of my kids would start the day off okay but progressively get worse during the day. This was food related. The theory was that the more she ate during the day the worse her tummy got and when she slept at night (and didn't feed) her tummy would settle and it was a viscous cycle.

I'd start by speaking to your MCHN or GP. You need someone that will listen to you if you do feel there is something not right and keep asking till you get someone to help you.