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Post by kimreyn on Dec 31, 2007 20:35:48 GMT -5
I am new to this board....and glad I found it. I have an 18 month old son and a 3 week old. My 3 week old has what I think is Colic, as of right now he is SCREAMING and has been for hours....he turns red draws legs up....I just feel so desperate to escape. I feel bad. He was 10lbs 10 oz at birth and 12 lbs already now....so I dont think he's lactose intolerant b/c I read that they throw up and are thin? I am so confused! His belly is hard and ....I just dont know.....I want to cry.....why wont he stop! I am exhausted! I have another child to care for too!!! I CANT DO THIS!!!!!!! I just want him to be okay.
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Post by phxmama on Dec 31, 2007 21:40:47 GMT -5
I'm so sorry that you are going through this. I truly is awful. My daughter was very colicky from 2 weeks until about 7 weeks old. She is still fussy, but has improved dramatically. I tried everything that I could think of to make the screaming stop and nothing was very successful for me. Some people say the swaddling helped (didn't for me) or carrying the baby in a sling (not for me again). I did try some of the colic calm stuff as well and that didn't work either. The vacuum usually worked for awhile or turning the humidifier on high in her room, any type of loud white noise. I know that I just wanted someone to tell me something that would work right away.
I don't have another child, so I can only imagine. Hang in there as I promise it will get better even though it doesn't feel that way now.
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Post by mtmomx3 on Dec 31, 2007 22:25:41 GMT -5
It's very nice to meet you though I am very sorry it had to be under these circumstances. I understand how you feel, I have 2 older kids that are 9 and 7 and then miss Olivia who is now 6.5 months. Her colic subsided about 2 months ago and now we can halfway function on the norm. I wish I could just tell you a miracle cure, if his tummy is hard has he had a BM on a regular basis? You just have to find his niche. They all usually have one or two things that help. We swaddled Olivia and put her in a vibrating chair, that was a small comfort. We also tried every make and model of pacifier out there and she has her favorite that we never leave without. I discovered that colic babies need routine more than others did. She needed to have set feeding and sleep and running around. She is still tempermental about that, she has her certain time of day that she is willing to go places but anyother time she is not happy about it. My suggestion would be to start trying as many different methods as possible and see if you can find on that works. You need to get support from family or friends to get you through this and remember you are not a bad mom if he just has to cry for a few unattended. You are right you have two babies and your older one needs love, dinner, bath and all of that as well so if you can't fix the cries just let him cry for a few and remind your other baby that he is still important also. Don't forget to rake care of mommy though, take sometime away from both for you, if you run yourself ragid you will be no good to either of them. I hope this helps and it will be ok, you can get through this it won't last forever. Hang in there and if you ever need to talk, vent , ask questions, or share your happy stories we are all here. These are the neatest ladies you will ever meet and without Pam, Tamara and everyone else I don't know what state of mind I would be in so keep in touch with us it does help to have someone who understands.
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Post by kimreyn on Dec 31, 2007 22:37:05 GMT -5
Thank you all. I just read something about a formula some of you have tried? My doctor tried to get me to use enfamil (something that ended with "ease") and it made him spit up and he had diarrhea. He dosent usually spit up at all...so I knew that formula wasnt the one for him...so I called doc to tell him I was goin back to the Similac Organic....so, he said he wanted to try the formula that there is a post about on here...cant remember the name now to save my life, but its a lactose-free kind...and I told the dr I didnt think it was necessary!!!! What an idiot! At that time I actually believed it would get better....but its gotten way worse...shoudl I call him back maybe and at least give the formula a try? I just fear switching him on and off of all of these different kinds.....Im so confused! My husband says we should give it a go.....any thoughts? Thanks again to everyone for your support...its so helpful...it really is.
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Post by pamcrt on Dec 31, 2007 22:48:38 GMT -5
Well, I think I agree with Chariti (mtmomx3), she pretty much said everything. My little Abby is almost 9 months and was colic strong from I think 3 weeks, I don't really remember- her first 4 months are VERY fuzzy. But what I remember is being very angry with her, my life, God, colic, my husband, my other kids (I have 4 other girls besides Abby), and most of all- myself for not being able to "fix" her crying. I could not figure out what I was doing wrong with this little ball of screams. That was all she did- eat, cry, poop, sleep at random times and then start all over. It was very hard on me and my family. I was put on antidepressants to get through the worst part of it and to just be able to function in my daily life. As far as him being or not being lactose intolerant and gaining weight, Abby is still lactose intolerant and gained weight like crazy from the beginning. There was never a time when she didn't gain weight. She breastfed for a short time and then we tried regular formula- didn't work out, then tried soy- constipated her really bad, then went to nutramigen and she has been on that every since she was about 2 months old. And honestly, that has been the only thing that has settled her tummy most of the way. She has also been on a regimen of levsin and mylicon and peppermint and water bottles when she needed them. We also swaddled Abby nightly and toward the end had to use 2 swaddles. She never did like white noise- she was the weird colicky baby. She didn't like the swing to much, but I know lots of babies on here relied on it's rythm as comfort. Abby tolerated the vibrating chair for short periods of time only. Her biggest thing was just simply being held, either in the football hold or face into my boob- apparently that was comforting!
And as Chariti said, each day is different, these babies are different. One day you think you might have found the cure all and the next day- that doesn't work. You just kind of have to roll with the punches and try everything you have in your bag. Keep your head up and definitely take time to yourself because if you don't you WILL be in burn out mode quickly. You do have another child to take care of that needs you so you have to stay healthy for that baby also. That was the hardest thing for me to realize- I had 4 other girls depending on me to stay healthy, so I needed to be able to take time to my self and get the help I needed- which meant my family, relying on my husband to do more, and honestly, just letting things go until later. So keep coming on here whenever you need to, we will always be here. There is a fantastic group of ladies here chalk full of information and ready to give it out... and even to lend an ear if you need to ramble on about nothing in particular. Keep your chin up, and big hugs to you all.
Pam
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Post by pamcrt on Dec 31, 2007 22:54:22 GMT -5
Okay, I read your post after I posted mine. You are talking about the nutramigen. It can't hurt to try it, honestly. But it does take at least 3-5 days to see an effect and a week to see a "turn around". It was our God send. Expensive, but well worth it. Our doctor is very good about giving us LOTS of samples whenever I ask. Thankfully my family is in a financial situation where we can afford to buy it, but I don't like to buy it so my ped helps out a lot. The nutramigen is a hypoallergenic formula that has the proteins already broken down so really all the baby has to do is drink it, go through the digestive system and then poop it out. Gives them all the proteins, just pre-broken down and no lactose. So it is worth a try if the doctor thinks he might be lactose intolerant. Good luck.
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Post by kimreyn on Dec 31, 2007 23:15:16 GMT -5
Thank you so much.....god what a relief to talk to people who understand. I have felt like a cavewoman these past few weeks....like a lonely angry person. I feel so guilty sometimes b/c my poor Kaeden (my toddler) is running around so excited about all of his new toys, wanting me to play... and I am just a zombie in front of the computer...he even turns off the computer now....as if thats not a big enough hint! I was just desperate for info. I have a non urgent message into the dr to let him know i want to try the nutramigen formula....I am afraid about it being so pricey b/c we are just starting out and all....but my parents help out and are in the position to be able to ... and while I hate to have them do that...I know they would rather that than have me end up in the mental ward! I just have faith that this will ease his discomfort. Also.....just a warning....the posts from me could be flying in soon due to the fact that my in-laws are arriving from up north tmrw....and get this....when I asked how long they are staying (in my home) they said "until you kick us out"......um hello....I just had a baby!!!!It would be one thing if they were helpful, but theyre slobs, AND my mother in law claims she cant lift the kids due to an injury sustained during water aerobics!!!! I am a neat person and they are NOT! I am gonna need some serious support in the upcoming...well...hopefully just days....but since they gave no time frame,,,Im not sure if it wont be months!!! YIKES!
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Post by pamcrt on Jan 1, 2008 0:44:00 GMT -5
Lord girl, if anyone understands the inlaw thing, I do, my MIL lives with me, hopefully not to much longer, but still annoys the hell out of me. So come on here and rant away! The girls here are SO used to hearing me b i t c h about it! I hope the formula change works for you guys. It was a lifesaver for us and I know it was for at least one other mom on here. P.S. if your MIL asks when you wants her to leave just tell her you wanted her to leave before she ever came!! hehe...
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Post by nathansmom on Jan 1, 2008 11:46:48 GMT -5
I really feel for you. My son, who is now 3 months old, has been colicky since week 2. I can remember at week 4 crying so hard all day and night and begging my husband to take the baby back to the hospital. I felt so bad for being so angry all the time. And I wanted to kill the next person that told me, "it will get better." That meant nothing to me at the time. We still have issues with colic (I know that is also not what you want to hear), but it is MUCH better. What I did to survive the roughest time was to make a list of everything that I could possibly try and posted it on the fridge. Swinging (which he didn't like until 2 months, but loves it now), walking, vacuum, bathroom fan with the lights off, bath, front sling, laying on his stomach on my lap, and the list goes on and on. That way when I thought I had tried everything, I just went down the list and tried something else. But there were many times when I just had to lay him down and let him scream his brains out while I took a shower or did something else. It took me a long time to get over the guilt of doing that too, but it was the right thing to do. I don't have any other children, so I can't imagine how difficult that must be. The only other advise I can give is to accept ANY help you can get. Even if the person drives you crazy - they can hold your baby while you take a nap, go for a walk or do something for yourself. Hang in there, it does get better Something I thought I would never say.....
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Post by mallysmommy on Jan 1, 2008 11:48:28 GMT -5
Yeah, changing milks might give some relief. Mallory is now 12 weeks old and back in that first month i thought i would lose it. She was gaining weight like crazy and i thought the Dr. was an idiot for thinking she was lactose intolerant (i thought the same as you about spitting up and stuff). We tried it anyway, i was desperate, and what do you know she was lactose intolerant. It helped some, not completely but some, and that was better than nothing.
It does get better eventually. We are now starting to have some good days, sometimes 3 or 4 in a row now. She still needs me constantly, but thats much easier to handle than the screaming fits. These ladies really are a life saver at times and it is reallly nice to talk to people who know what you are going through. Our friends all have these great little babies that never cry and they look at ours like she's satan or something. They just don't get it. We all do! You really do need to take time to yourself though, it can really help you cope.
And take all of the offers for someone else to babysit, even if it is just 1/2 an hour. WE kept our babys issue a secret for the first few weeks. We were hermits and that was a mistake. It was such a relief to tell someone because everyone wanted to help! hang in there. We are still going through it but i have really started to see some positive changes and something so tiny has really started to be encouraging for me, she even laughed out loud for the first time yesterday! I never thought she would be happy enough to do that.
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Post by deeter54 on Jan 1, 2008 18:54:05 GMT -5
yes I am at the ending of colic and my daughter is almost 18 weeks. Will be on Thursday. It is tough and there really is nothing I did that helped during the worst of it but rocking, white noise, and nursing and watching the calender. I would count down the weeks and days. I still am doing so. I cried when the new year came in realizing I was now in month five of her being on this planet. She is alot of fun now to spite the challenges. I would never have typed this even two weeks ago. It does end but there is no set time. Some are earlier, some later at getting better. We are not over the hurdles but there are not as many now.Good luck and come to this site. Just seeing the other ladies children maturing and becoming laughing, joyful babies is sometimes all that is needed to bring hope that the worst cases of colic does end.
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Post by aliki on Jan 1, 2008 20:23:52 GMT -5
I just have to say that I feel so grateful to you ladies for your honesty, and for sharing your experiences..it makes me feel so much better to not be alone with this...
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