Intestinal Colic in an 8 Week Old

My daughter had chronic intestinal colic. She screamed after every feeding. I cut out MSG, any food with a modified ingredient and hydrogenated oils. The colic went away and never came back.

This is going to sound funny, but I used an electric razor (back of it) on my daughters back to soothe her and it helped her pass the gas. It was a great comfort as well as a help. Good Luck :)

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I know my stuff.
Do NOT stop breastfeeding if you do not want to!
If poops are 'normal' mustardy/seedy breastfed baby poops then it most likely isn't anything in your diet. If poops are not then it might be an oversupply issue or something in your diet. Do not be fooled into thinking formula is the answer. You can alter your milk via your diet.
Check out www.kellymom.com

Have you tried Mylicon infant gas drops????
I am sure, she must have gas pains too.
As you said.

My daughter as a baby, had gas pain problems. Cried a lot.
She would RARELY even fart or burp, even if I tried.
The gas drops, really helped her.

Gas pains, does make the belly painful and tight.

I like the Infant Gas drops, they work great.

You might also watch the dairy that you eat. It might be effecting her. I know I had to drink Lactose free milk while I was nursing, and it really made a difference. My son now drinks strictly Lactose free milk now still that he is older.

You can also while you are holding her while she sleeps, warm up a small blanket to make it into a "heating pad" of sorts and lay it on her tummy. It will relax her muscles and hopefully bring relief.

You can lay her on her back and circle her legs like a bike. It pushes on her tummy to push out the gas and such.

I hear good things about Gripe water too. Just little bits will help.

Ask the pediatrician and see what they can do to help.

Best wishes

We went thru this w/our oldest & my heart goes out to you. I couldn't breast feed b/c of a med I am on, but here are some tips as to what worked for us:

Fill up sink w/warm water & sit her in it, this will usually help release gas

While you are sitting down lay her face down on the palm of your hand w/her face on ur palm and her arms & legs over your arms, the pressure of her belly against your forearm will help release the gas as well

Mylecon was our best friend for a long time

Lay her on her back and push her feet up towards her chest

Give her a big hug & kiss & know that this too shall pass - this is one of the hardest things I have gone thru as a parent, it seemed like it lasted forever. It made me doubt my capabilities of a parent, but know that it's not you, know that you are doing the best you can if you need to just walk away for a moment and realize that it's going to be a memory someday soon. Best of luck to you.

Try some Colic Calm. It will work wonders!

http://coliccalm.com/

Dr. Harvey Karp, author of The Happiest Baby on the Block (a VERY helpful book), explains in these short videos why he calls the first 3 months the Fourth Trimester, and explains why babies run pretty much according to their own needs for the first 3-4 months. Doctors still don't really know what "colic" is, or what causes it. Or what cures it. But the techniques shown in these short videos will be helpful:

How-to's: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6KnVPUdEgQ&feature=re...

Enhanced sleep: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tk5MUOMecHI&NR=1

Interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iu0TtxO-ocY&feature=re...

Congrats on breastfeeding! Keep up the good work.
You say you're trying to watch your diet. My suggestions are no processed foods, no sugars, no dairy products, cabbage, coffee, chocolate, onions, garlic or any other things in that family. Wash and soak your beans overnight or at least 5 hours before cooking and throw away the soaking water. Eat lots of veggies, drink water during each nursing session, fresh fruits, whole grains and you 2 should be ok.
Peace

I am sorry you guys are going thru this. We are too... Gripe water seemed to help for a bit - worth a shot. I found my chai's were huring her, and when I cut them out - that helped her a lot. I wish I could offer more than, hang in there - this too shall pass. But, I have nothing!

I know it seems like forever, but it will pass! Please don't feel pressured to switch to formula--no one knows what causes colic.

I agree with Gerri--drape her over your arm for the tummy pressure, or put her on her back and gently play with her legs--bicycle them, slowly push her knees in and out to her chest. You can also look up how to do a baby tummy massage.

Try a nice, secure wrap sling and wear her--the warmth, tightness and security may relax her.

Also, I agree with checking her poop. If its not the normally mustardy looking stuff, talk to a lactation consultant or La Leche League. There are some things that are so easy to fix! Like, if she's getting too much sugary foremilk (greenish stool), then you can block nurse--stick to one breast for a 2-3 hour period, or do a couple of other things.

Hang in there! She's just telling you what's going on with her when she cries, and it will pass.

Have allergy testing and see what numbers you xome up high on and eliminate those foods from your diet. Get your baby on a probiotic and you take one too. Do not put your child on Zantac, Reglan, Prevacid or any of those drugs. They have high aluminum and they will cause sensory processing issues in your child later on. Bethanochol (sp?) is a much better choice for acid reflux. The DAN! doctor I know uses it without hesitation so I know it is not toxic like the other drugs. You don't want to leave your baby in pain because it really messes with the self regulation and modulation of the child for later on.

burp her after each feeding.. you just have to let her lie on her belly for a few minutes after feeding.. and massaging her tummy with chamomile oil is the best solution for colic... its pretty normal for babies to have colic.. dont worry too much...

I have been there. Twice. With my first, I did not know what to do. But I solved colic COMPLETELY with my second. Here's the best help I got.

Dr Sears elimination diet:
http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/feeding-infants-toddlers...

I followed this diet strictly for my second baby. It took 2 weeks and 2 days to see a complete resolution from the first day of the diet. I remained on the diet for 2 months, 3 weeks in total. It turned out her intolerance was soy.

There's also a book called Colic Solved, written by a pediatric gastroenterologist. He says the #1 reason for colic is reflux. The #2 reason is a food intolerance/allergy (which is only solvable with the elimination diet).

Please write if you need any help at all. I know how horrible it is. :( I also know how wonderful it is to solve the problem!

I know how frustrating this can be. I have a 3 month old and you are doing your very best but it is still not working out. Take a deep breath.

Are the poops normal? I would start there.
Is your baby getting too much of the fore milk? That can make them gassy.
Someone else suggested Dr. Harvey Karp. Very good book (we could not swaddle because of baby with hip dysplasia but other info is great).
COLIC CALM... It is amazing. You should check with her doc but it has worked for us. There is also camila (spelling?). It is a homeopathic remedy that you can give to the baby to help.

Good luck.

Updated

I know how frustrating this can be. I have a 3 month old and you are doing your very best but it is still not working out. Take a deep breath.

Are the poops normal? I would start there.
Is your baby getting too much of the fore milk? That can make them gassy.
Someone else suggested Dr. Harvey Karp. Very good book (we could not swaddle because of baby with hip dysplasia but other info is great).
COLIC CALM... It is amazing. You should check with her doc but it has worked for us. There is also camila (spelling?). It is a homeopathic remedy that you can give to the baby to help.

Good luck.

Try cutting out all dairy first. If that doesn't help it could be reflux/silent reflux. Good luck, I know how hard it is to see your little one hurting.

Like laura was saying look at her poo and then go from there. If you think you need to explore elimination diets know that it takes time (more than just a few days) for things like dairy or wheat to clear your system.

I second Kellymom.com as a great resource to give you some ideas/direction.

I say acid reflux. My first child did exactly what you are describing. I would hold him facing away from me with his head in the crook of my elbow and other arm between the legs and my hands interlocking at chest abdomen. And walk and walk and walk then I got zantac..... ahhhhh he was a different baby.
Try smaller meals more often . Get a wedge or roll up a beach towel a put it under the mattress at the head of the bed.
Ask your doc and get the medicine if needed.
Good luck
D.