|
Post by newbiemom on Sept 12, 2011 22:42:44 GMT -5
I wanted to follow up on my previous post and hopefully give hope to those who are dealing with a colicky baby. My baby is now 4 1/2 months old and he is a completely new baby. The peak of his colic was at about 10 weeks when I first posted. This was my breaking point when I finally accepted that he had colic, in addition to acid reflux. After about 12 weeks, I started to notice a very gradual improvement in his all day screaming, although it did not get noticeably better until about 16 weeks. Little by little, he would smile more and more, and now he is the most precious baby. Although he is still fussy and needs a lot of attention, the teachers at daycare say he is "such a happy baby," which is such a shock to me after going through 3 months of colic hell.
He is currently on Enfamil Nutramigen, gas drops with every feeding, and Prevacid 15mg once a day. My baby still has reflux and spits up quite a bit, but the projectile vomiting has only recently started getting better. Although he is still fidgety after most of his feedings, he no longer screams his head off after feeding. I do have to say that it did take almost a month to start noticing any improvement from the formula and Prevacid. Zantac had not worked for us, as we noticed him getting worse on it also. He is not sleeping through the night yet, but I only have to get up once in the middle of the night for a feeding, which is not that bad compared to staying up all night with a screaming baby.
To Meghan, I too did not imagine spending my maternity leave with a colicky baby, but looking back, I do miss staying at home with him. I think it made me stronger as a parent because if you can get through that, you can get through anything. It truly does get better. For us, it was when he started getting interested in everything going on around him and wanting to sit up (supported) to look at everything going on. I was nervous about having him go to daycare with all of his issues (reflux and colic), but he has done amazing and I am so grateful for the care and attention he gets at daycare. Hang in there!
|
|
|
Post by nicksmom on Sept 20, 2011 9:47:51 GMT -5
I am so glad to have found this site. I wish there were more meet up support groups for moms/babies with colic but i guess its hard to sit around with a bunch of screaming babies.
I'm a new mom of an otherwise very healthy 1 month old boy with colic so i have no idea yet when this will end as we're still in the throws of it. I can however comment on a few things that work for us. My LO has never been a 'happy' baby but really started to be colicky around 10 days old. We tried switching formula, first to Similac Sensitive which did not work and now the pediatrician put us on Nutramigen. We've only been on Nutramigen for 24hrs but it seems to give him A LOT less gas which is great so i'm hopeful. Sucking really helps to calm him down. Not necessarily a pacifier but my index finger. When he's really fussy i give him my finger and in 5 minutes or less he seems to calm down albeit temporarily. Also helpful is swaddling. Not a new concept but it has really made a world of difference for him in regards to sleeping at night. It's a must. Another life saver has been his fisher price rocker. He loves being rocked and this is where he seems to sleep best so we put him in it at night and we can sometimes get a full 4 hrs out of him!
I was soo depressed at first when i realized my baby was not like the others. The constant crying and inconsolable behavior is soul destroying. You bring this beautiful baby home and all you want to do is love and feed him and their response is devastating. Mothers of colicky babies should get medals. The stress we deal with is incredible. I like to think it only makes us stronger/better parents.
|
|
|
Post by New mom on Oct 4, 2011 9:33:16 GMT -5
I'm not a colic survivor yet. Well, I survived last night, but I know we have a long way to go. My little guy is almost 3 weeks, and last night was the worst so far (4:30 - 11:00 pm ) Here are some things that help me... I had the chance to sit and talk with an empty-nester. I saw her looking at her children who were grown and married and was reminded that I'm not always going to have Owen with me. And shoot, its really only been 3 weeks. thats not a long time. soon he'll be walking, pottying on the big toilet instead of his pants, weaning from mommy to take on other food.... graduating high school... moving out... When I first heard it could take up to 4 months or more to get over I just went limp, like I didn't know if I could take it another day let alone 4 months... but really 4 months compared to 18 years isn't so bad. and I'm sure when he's older he'll be doing stuff that will give me grey hair in other kinds of ways. I don't like that I can't comfort him... but I don't want to be mad at him, or take this time for granted. I saw a sign with a picture of a baby and it said " I'm doing the best I can, sometimes I just need to cry" I know he would rather not be crying just as much as I would rather him not be crying. The next thing I do is pray. Jesus said, "come to me all you who are weary and heavy burdened and I WILL GIVE YOU REST." ( I'm so weary) Another promise is to "be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus our Lord" Last night I was just crying and praying during the colic episode and just like that, I got a second wind. I just prayed that God would give me His peace to help me get through it and not be mad with Owen. and boom. I was able to last a few more hours with a smile. Honestly, I hadn't had any sleep... I was hungry... I needed to change the laundry that had been sitting at our apartment laundry mat for over 4 hours... my house was a wreck... my husband was at work... and all I could do is hold and nurse Owen. I was about to loose it, and then like a gentle breeze coming over me I had peace. I'm so blessed to know the true God who is living and active in my life. "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength" Don't loose heart moms. "This too will pass".
|
|
|
Post by jenbrooke on Oct 10, 2011 21:22:03 GMT -5
I just read the previous posts and as much pain as I am in right now, there is some comfort in knowing that I am not alone in this. My daughter is 4 mos and as colicky as ever. And most of the time I believe it is a result of something I am doing to her. Maybe I'm not eating the right foods (I'm breastfeeding), or I'm not burping her the right way, or not stimulating her the right way, or maybe she's allergic to something, has reflux, the list is ENDLESS. And each day, ther is another doubt and more guilt in my abilities as a mother. When I hear her scream, my heart breaks. I can truly feel it breaking. And her screams are filled with such rage and pain! Is the anger and intensity in the screaming something that most colicky babies experience? Because I am feeling more alone each day. More guilt. More incapable as a mother. It's becoming more and more difficult to believe that my daughter could be well some day and that her current state is not permanent. I keep wondering if I have ruined her life somehow...
Thanks for listening, Jen
|
|
|
Post by newbiemom on Oct 13, 2011 8:20:16 GMT -5
Jen, as hard as it is to believe, there IS a light at the end of this very long tunnel that seems like eternity. You are not doing anything wrong... it truly is something that's just has to pass, although we wish there was a miracle cure for it. You will appreciate the little things do much more when your baby starts getting over the colic phase. I know how extremely disheartening and stressful it is to go through, but hang in there. You are not alone!
|
|
|
Post by nadine on Oct 15, 2011 18:47:50 GMT -5
UGH!! Second baby, perfect pregnancy, perfect delivery (30 minutes) and we have colic people! I am truly exhausted and know that this will pass. I am so thankful for finding this website and reading other people's experiences with their little ones as well. We are in week 3 of colic and since I have switched to a dairy free diet and formula for my daughter I have seen a slight improvment in her mood swings. It sux for me because I love love love dairy, but I will not mess this up! She is still fussy at times, but seems to be sleeping better and we have had a few good "visits" together. She laughs and coos and then completely looses it. But we know what works with her and it is definately getting better. Swadddling is helping a lot too. Good luck to all the mother's out there who are suffering and be strong, don't resent your baby, even though their brains are mashed potatoes right now, I am sure this is not what they expected life on the outside to be either!
|
|
|
Post by Tabitha on Feb 22, 2012 11:37:17 GMT -5
As well as alot of u ladies I am a first time mommy as well of a beautiful 2 month old baby boy. I would like to share me experience with u all as a new mom. I had my son Dec 27 and everything went well perfect 7 lb baby. We went home 2 days later so excited and a little nervous. The baby seemed to be doing ok, being a new mom u really don't know what is normal. We took him for his 2 week check and in the way there he turned blue of course me and the daddy freaked out. We just do happened to be right by the doctor. We rush him in there and by that time he regained his color so they continued with a check up and then sent me to the hospital for some tests. He had a echocardiogram, chest X-ray, and blood drawn. As soon as they were all done we were told to wait for the results I new something was wrong from there. So a doctor called me on the phone saying we needed to go to the ER, so of course I lost it. By the time we made it to the ER the doc called saying they were going to rush him by ambulance to Hope Advocate in Chicago. She continued to te me my son has something wrong with his heart. So I buckled at the knees histericle and of course crying. As we waited to be transported they were putting in IV everywhere. So we finally made it to Hope and we couldn't see the baby for hours while they did tests. They finally have us the news out baby had a coarctation( its where the valve in his aorta was closing). When I seen my son he was intabated, sedated and had a tube in every orifice of his body. And IV everywhere. As the days went on the news got worse news. He ended up having a blot clot in his aorta. He immediately had surgery my poor baby had his chest cracked open. Well he went through surgery fine and continued to get better. We got to bring Jim home 8 days later. He had lost so much weight and forgot how to take a bottle so he came home with a NG feeding tube that I had to learn how to put in and out. So now we have to see cardiologists, hematologist ( blood doctor) and a neurologist. He takes vitamins and aspirins everyday. So it's gonna be a long process. And seeing alot if doctors for years. So along with all that yes my son is colic. And he screams for hours at a time. But I would have to say it doesn't bother me. I hate that he doesn't feel good especially everything he's been through his crying it's music to my ears. Cause another day my son wouldn't be here. So I no its hard and u wanna scream with them but I do believe there is a end to it. So hang in there ladies it will get better!!! That's what I tell myself everyday!
|
|
|
Post by wendyv895 on Mar 5, 2012 11:20:45 GMT -5
Wow I came in here totally frustrated with my 5 month old Colic and reflux issues and I got my answer from you, your story made me cry and realize how stupid and selfish we can be. I hope your little one gets better soon and that all you are going through is just a memory soon, best wishes to you and your baby!!! Hughs!!!
|
|
|
Post by rachael on Mar 19, 2012 20:12:22 GMT -5
as i am typing this with one hand my colicky baby is sleeping on my chest. it has been nice to read the other posts here and feel normal. for starters, i had a rough pregnancy puking the whole time. also got very constipated at the end which was horrible!! luckily my baby spared me and arrived at 38 weeks, a petite 6.2 lbs. i wanted to breast feed but discovered it wasnt going well when he was down to 5.2 4 days after birth. cried after that doctors appointment feeling like i was hurting my baby. i tried to pump while supplementing w formula but that was exhausting and i was barely producing any milk. that lasted about 2 weeks and then gave up. also at that time he started screaming and became unconsolable. im a first time mom so i didnt know what was going on. i was/am in hell. my husband works evenings so i feel like i have him all but about 4 hrs a day. i am taking 10 weeks off work but seriously would rather be at work! like most of you i feel stuck at home bc he can be so bad. i barely get to shower each day. we have tried 3 formulas, mylanta, and gas drops. he is on soy now. he was doing slightly better w some content times but in the last week (6 weeks old) he is going backwards . he will only nap about 30 mins before waking up screaming if he goes down at all. hes reverted to sleeping only an hr at a time at night. it seems like the only time he is not screaming is if hes being held, and sometimes that doesnt even work. i am exhausted!! I feel guilty bc I can tell hes in pain. I feel sad like I am doing the wrong things. I was jealous of moms that had easy pregnancies, and now Im jealous of moms with happy babies. I too hate having to say he is "good" when people ask how its going. A lot of times I just say how bad it is, and then I hear crickets... lol. I worry that when he starts daycare in a couple of weeks they are going to kick him out! my husband and others have said we are spoiling him by holding him so much but what else can i do? I do love him, and love the few moments of happiness he has. But, it has been very hard to bond and feel loving towards him. I DID NOT picture the pregnancy or the actual motherhood experience to be so hard. sometimes I just cry...some days i feel optimistic and strong, but most of the time just exhausted. at this point it looks like he will be an only child!!
|
|
|
Post by andier on Apr 8, 2012 10:30:20 GMT -5
Hi there,
My son is now 3 1/2 years old and was a colicky baby, I say was but I should say is... I guess this is somehow both good and bad news, the bad news is that colic is a way to say the child has a difficult temperament from birth, he/she will not change... ever.
At three my son still throws tantrums and screams on regular basis throughout the day... my life has been filled with crying and screaming from the day he came home and I understand it will never change: that's who he is not something he's suffering from.
The good news is that once you really accept this then something changes in you... you stop trying to 'change' them and you focus on management. Making his life as good as possible and specially making arrangements to get breaks from your child, this is important for survival... pre-school, babysitting you name it. Time off from the difficult child is the only thing that will keep you sane and help you connect with your baby. I regret not understanding this sooner as it would have helped a lot...
I hope someday soon difficult temperament will be recognized as a true condition you are born with and not something that goes away by magic at 16 weeks of age. Parents need support and help, children need to be understood and not judged when they act up in public.
A good book that explains this is the Difficult Child by Stanley Turecki... it doesn't do any miracles but it made me cry both from relief that I wasn't crazy and that many other parents were coping with the same thing but also from pain that indeed my son's colic would never go away because that's who he is.
|
|
|
Post by Andrea on Sept 20, 2012 8:13:03 GMT -5
We have an 11 week old with colic and a few things that calm our baby are things that only work for a little bit and not every time but they do help sometimes 1. Gripe water. Any kind. We've tried them all 2. Pain relievers. Ask the doctor for the correct dosage. We were under dosing 3. Rock music. It's weird but our little one will fall asleep to loud Metallica. Try Orion that's her favorite song to sleep to 4. Fill up the tub with warm water and actually get in with the baby 5. Going out side
I hope these help. I find it hard to take her anywhere without her screaming. It's always a race against the clock. One of my boys had colic so I know it gets better. It's hard but you just have to play the waiting game
|
|
|
Post by maryann on Oct 17, 2012 7:23:26 GMT -5
I have an almost 4 and a half month colic baby girl. Although at this stage she is already showing few episodes of colic bouts, still there are hard long bouts in a week in about 1 to 2 hours period every early evening. I've read that it will just go away after 4 to 5 months, and I just hope it all so true. Having a colic baby is so hard and frustrating that I would cry every episodes. To all moms out there having this same situation, hang in there. The best time for the baby is when the pain is gone and right away she'll switch to a laughing mode. I'm always waiting for that time, and when it's there, all the lost energy goes back to our body instantly.
|
|