colic/reflux

Jodi0804 · #1 January 12th, 2010, 12:59 PM

Well I think we have a colic baby on our hands... the first 2 weeks my lo was fine. Since the 2 week mark till now he is like a different baby and it seems to be getting worse. He cried 75% of the time he is awake/not eating and is very hard to console. He clenches his fists, kicks his legs, turns red faced, and his belly gets hard. He will also not sleep laying flat. We have tried 2 different sleep positioners and he slides down from kicking so much. We also bought a crib wedge and put it under the mattress and when he got up for his 4am feeding he was horizonital!! We've tried gripe water and it seems to help a little but its to the point where he only napped 3 hours today (he usually naps about 6 hours). Everytime we put him down he is awake again and we tried bouncer chair, swing, boppy, crib, nothing works. Gwen I know you have dealt with colic, any ideas if this is what it is? Anyone else?

I'm also thinking reflux could be a problem. I mentioned it to the pedi and they just said yeah could be heartburn and that was it. He has had a few projectile vomit episodes (although I know all babies have these) and I was thinking that may be why he likes to sleep elevated. We just feel so bad for him, he seems so unhappy. Sorry this got so long, its just so hard to deal with seeing him like this and its quite exhausting, I was counting mintues till DH got home today!

*Mommy2Camden* · #2 January 12th, 2010, 02:12 PM

Poor little guy (and poor mommy, I'm sure it's been really hard on you) I don't know anything about colic/reflux but I hope it get's better soon. I know you said you tried gripe water, but here are a few links I found. Baby Colic, Causes and Treatment

Colic In Newborns

Lyz · #3 January 12th, 2010, 04:19 PM

aww Jodi. that has to be rough!! My girlfriend had a colicky baby and he practically lived in his baby bjorn until he hit 3 months. We do have trouble with Bella and gas/constipation so I can relate to the crying baby with a belly ache. We use Gentle Nature's Tummy Soothers and it really helps. It has chamomile in it to help calm her belly (we get it at our local drug store). We also have a tummy wrap that you heat in the microwave for 20 seconds and then wrap around their belly. It has lavender in it and after a few minutes, it helps calm her.

Have you tried carrying him around in this position? Bella LOVES it!! Hold him face down -- with your hand under his belly and his head on your forearm -- may soothe him. The pressure on his tummy can help relieve uncomfortable gas. picture

do you swaddle? that might help. Best of luck, dear. Remember, you need a break from a colicky baby so pass him off to your DH when he gets home so you can go take a hot shower in peace!!

Lauren S · #4 January 13th, 2010, 04:55 AM

So sorry he's becoming so high maintenance. I hope you find some tricks that work for you guys soon.

stlgirl · #5 January 13th, 2010, 05:57 AM

ChristinaR · #6 January 13th, 2010, 06:45 AM

Hugs Jodi!!!

I don't know much about colic but it sounds like it could be a combination of gas and reflux. I thought that when a baby gets gas his stomach will get really hard like you mentioned.

Have you tried gas drops? When Brevan gets gas we rub his back for awhile and give him some infant gas x and it seems to help.

He could also be going through a growth spurt. Brevan was really cranky all last week and was feeding like crazy and I think the extra formula was giving him gas which in turn made him more miserable.

I really hope he isn't colicky. Let us know what your pedi says.

MarinaAndCharlie'sMommy · #7 January 13th, 2010, 07:34 AM

KCMomma · #8 January 13th, 2010, 08:34 AM

OMG Jodi, I'm so sorry I just now saw this. I could have written your post 100%!!! I so understand every little thing you are feeling and yes, to me it sounds exactly like colic AND acid reflux. Does he make hard swallowing sounds too? That's what Paige was doing and how we figured out it was reflux. We went through 3 different meds...UGH no fun at all and I'm soooo unbelievalby sorry you have to deal with this. I wouldn't wish a colicky baby on my worst enemy. Please please please vent to me any time you need!

Seriously - Paige slept in her car seat in front of the bathroom with the exhaust fan on for the 1st 2 months of her life. Sounds crazy, but it worked soooo well for us! When she would get super fussy we would wrap her in the Miracle Blanket (which again I absolutely swear by) turn her on her side place her on our knees (literally while we sat on the toilet (closed of course)

)) and rocked her back and forth while "shushing" her in her ear! This would usually calm her, not always, but usually. That's why we decided to have her sleep in the car seat in front of it...when she would wake in the middle of the night we would just go and rock the car seat.

None absolutely NONE of those drops or other over the counter meds worked for us. Definitely give them a try, they may work, but don't get your hopes up too much.

Again, the Miracle Blanket saved us sometimes! At first, it looks like a straight jacket, but it really calmed her down.

Also, starting around 3pm (or when we got home from work) we would immediately put her in the baby bijorn and just walk around the house with her, up and down the stairs and all around the house. Maybe that's how I lost the weight

But this seemed to helped with our sanity.

Literally, there were times when I had to put her in her crib and walk away, screaming and crying myself! Don't feel bad (even though you will) There's nothing you can do but try to just get through it. We started noticing a difference around 4 months. I know a lot of peopel say 3 months, but it didn't happen for us until the 4 month mark. Now we are completely med free for any reflux problems and she is the happiest baby!

She's still a bit high maintenance...but she's a girl!!!

hang in there sweetie...it's sooo hard and I totally understand. PM me or send me a message on FB.

amazing_love · #9 January 13th, 2010, 11:25 AM

I don't know much about this but wanted to send some

your way!

karenwalter · #10 January 13th, 2010, 11:37 AM

I am so sorry you are going through this It sounds miserable. I don't have any experience with this but the NICU nurses recommend skin to skin contact holding the baby tightly with his belly to your body for colic. Apparently they like the pressure on their bellies. Don't know if it will work but it's worth a try. Sending you some major hugs....

KCMomma · #11 January 13th, 2010, 11:43 AM

Oh yes, Karen, I forgot about that too! My friend who also had a colicky baby, said sometimes she would get in the bathtub and hold him to her chest and that would calm him down! Or I've known people to sit them in a bucket type container with water and somehow that helps too. Good thinking Karen!

Heatherjfitz · #12 January 13th, 2010, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCMomma

OMG Jodi, I'm so sorry I just now saw this. I could have written your post 100%!!! I so understand every little thing you are feeling and yes, to me it sounds exactly like colic AND acid reflux. Does he make hard swallowing sounds too? That's what Paige was doing and how we figured out it was reflux. We went through 3 different meds...UGH no fun at all and I'm soooo unbelievalby sorry you have to deal with this. I wouldn't wish a colicky baby on my worst enemy. Please please please vent to me any time you need!

Seriously - Paige slept in her car seat in front of the bathroom with the exhaust fan on for the 1st 2 months of her life. Sounds crazy, but it worked soooo well for us! When she would get super fussy we would wrap her in the Miracle Blanket (which again I absolutely swear by) turn her on her side place her on our knees (literally while we sat on the toilet (closed of course)

)) and rocked her back and forth while "shushing" her in her ear! This would usually calm her, not always, but usually. That's why we decided to have her sleep in the car seat in front of it...when she would wake in the middle of the night we would just go and rock the car seat.

None absolutely NONE of those drops or other over the counter meds worked for us. Definitely give them a try, they may work, but don't get your hopes up too much.

Again, the Miracle Blanket saved us sometimes! At first, it looks like a straight jacket, but it really calmed her down.

Also, starting around 3pm (or when we got home from work) we would immediately put her in the baby bijorn and just walk around the house with her, up and down the stairs and all around the house. Maybe that's how I lost the weight

But this seemed to helped with our sanity.

Literally, there were times when I had to put her in her crib and walk away, screaming and crying myself! Don't feel bad (even though you will) There's nothing you can do but try to just get through it. We started noticing a difference around 4 months. I know a lot of peopel say 3 months, but it didn't happen for us until the 4 month mark. Now we are completely med free for any reflux problems and she is the happiest baby!

She's still a bit high maintenance...but she's a girl!!!

hang in there sweetie...it's sooo hard and I totally understand. PM me or send me a message on FB.

Ditto this whole message!

Isabella had horrible reflux/colic and it was exhausting for both of us! Her colic faded at 4-5 months, but she still has reflux and spits up after every bottle and she's almost 1!! The good news is that around 3-4 months things get easier. (not easy...LOL). Once her colic went away she slept through the night, even with the reflux. Just remember that you are doing everything you can, lots of us mommies had to go through it too, ITS NOTHING YOU ARE DOING WRONG, and if all else fails WALK AWAY FOR 2 mins and cry/catch your breath/whatever! I SO feel for you, it really is so hard to watch your little one suffer.

I'd try to put her on a acid relflux med and see if it helps. None of the over-the-counter stuff will help. I tried it all! And WHITE NOISE!! I have a sound soother in the nursery that plays "Rain" all night. It helps a ton! Also the shushing in the ear. Sounds crazy but it works!

Good luck! KUP!

KCMomma · #13 January 13th, 2010, 05:26 PM

OMG I forgot about the "white noise" She takes the best naps even still today while I play an hour long CD of a vaccum cleaner! Seriously! A friend of mine found it on itunes and burned it! It rocks...seriously!!

KCMomma · #14 January 18th, 2010, 10:12 AM

Jodi, how are things???

Jodi0804 · #15 January 18th, 2010, 10:39 AM

Things are ok. I posted the other day but it was when the boards crashed!!

Anyways, you ladies rock. All of your input really does mean a lot. He has been a little bit better. Still has his screaming spells but I think we are just getting used to them and getting better at calming him a little. Luckily once we get him down for the night it is usually over. He has slept from 8:30 - 2 two nights now and then goes back down for 3 hours and then 2 hours, which helps. I was feeling overwhelmed and tired before too. I think the hardest thing for me was knowing it wasn't me and that we were doing everything we could for him! I ordered a baby bjorn and think that will help too. He still hasnt taken a bottle, but I'm going to call the lc at my pedi's office and see if they can help. Again thanks for everyones support and ideas!!