Re: Pressure to introduce formula
My baby cried from 5 pm until she eventually went to sleep, anywhere from 11 pm to 1 a.m., every night from about 7 to 12 weeks. No one in my family had ever breastfed, so they were also pressuring me to use formula, and we had just weaned off supplements around that time. We were all convinced something was "wrong," because even the lactation consultant kept telling me she couldn't possibly be hungry and wanting to eat that much (although she told me to offer the breast anyway to "humor her"). So I'd finish nursing, she'd start screaming, and my family, if they were visiting, would act like I just didn't know what I was doing and they should help because she couldn't possibly be hungry. They'd walk her around, and when I'd say she still seemed hungry, they'd try to delay giving her back. Then they'd say, "If she's that hungry, then something's wrong." I now know that wasn't true, but the stress of thinking I was doing everything wrong was very bad for me and the baby.
We found Gripe Water to be a lifesaver on many occasions, but it didn't always work. We never knew why she was crying so much, and it just seemed like a tough time for her during those weeks. She wouldn't even nurse sometimes, and would latch, pull off, scream, kick -- we just had to try other ways to comfort her. Warm baths worked, but then it makes you want to stay in the bath forever as the crying starts up again right after. I now see that this is "normal," although very unpleasant. There's no guarantee you or your DH didn't cry like that as a baby. I think some moms just forget such things!
But my LO is an extremely happy and silly 18-month-old now, so it does not last and it is not an indication of your child's personality. Just try to stick it out and do what you can to keep everyone happy. When my family was visiting for a weekend and baby was like that, I essentially said, "It's her bad time starting now and she'll be screaming for a while. See you in the morning." Then I'd go upstairs with baby and keep her up there so my family could watch TV downstairs and do whatever they wanted. In the morning, baby would be in a better mood so they'd play with her then.
Mom to my sweet little "Pooper," born 10/12/11, and "Baby Brother," born 6/23/2014, and married to heavy metal husband. Working more than full-time, making healthy vegetarian meals for family, and trying to keep up with exercise routine.