u/anonmom1201

Hi all,

My LO is 4 months old. Been dairy free for 1.5 months, soy free for three weeks, beef free for 2 weeks, and tree nuts free for about a week due to blood and mucus in stool, trouble with bowel movements, gassiness and trouble with sleep because of these symptoms. Blood in stool is seemingly gone (at least to the naked eye) but he continues to arch his back and struggle all night, up every 1.5-3 hours. Been dealing with these symptoms since he was 6 weeks old. I've only had a long stretch once (5 hours) that feels like a total fluke. I'm just so tired, and I have already had to extend my self funded maternity leave for an because going back to work with extreme brain fog and exhaustion feels total unfair and unethical to my clients (as a therapist), and I'm also terrified of running out of money.

I guess im asking when sleep improved for others with elimination diets? Is there something that doctors can offer little ones to help with gas or passing stool in the interim? Pediatrician was not very helpful to be honest.

My 4 month old has only slept for a 6 hour stretch once ever, usually he's up every 2 hours due to gastro pain (dx of cmpa cut out dairy a month ago and soy a week and a half ago, pediatrician referral in due to family history of significant gastrointestinal illnesses). He fights naps with everything he has and it often takes me 45-60 minutes to try and put him down, and he will not nap without motion (being bounced in the bouncer, driving, in the stroller) meaning I cannot nap. If I breastfeed him to sleep, hell maybe sleep for 10 mins because he struggled to sleep lying down. I don't know what to do anymore. I am so tired and so dysregulated the only way to cope is to literally smack myself in the face or head as hard as I can. I don't know if it's postpartum rage or exasperated ADHD or both. The fucked up thing is I'm a therapist, I know the skills. I just can't access. I know the smacking is bad, I know the function of it is grounding, but I am so freaking tired it's the only thing I can do in the moment to cope when I'm so dysregulated and he won't nap. It's not my babys fault and i don't want to break down at him. It's not fair to him, he's doing his best and it's his first time doing all this too. I love him more than anything, so I channel this anger at myself. My previous outlet was exercise and running, but my physio says my core is still too weak to run and I barely get any time to exercise with having to rock him during all naps.

My partner has chronic health issues meaning his energy is already limited and a 3 hour work commute. He did one night once, and then had to take the day off work because he was so tired and couldn't do the drive. We can't do that because he's the sole income right now.

I don't know what I'm asking or if this is just a vent. I'm sorry if this is the wrong place to put this.

Edit: spelling and grammar errors