Could it be and how do you help colic?

Question

My daughter will be six weeks old tomorrow. She already has reflux and is on .4 ml zantac twice a day and drinks Similac Alimentum formula (special formula for gassy/colic babies). We will see a GI specialist on Feb 12th as well. Now I am starting to think she has colic too. She has begun getting fussier and fussier. It begins in the afternoon, peaks in the evening and usually goes away between 10 pm( if I am lucky) and 1 am ( at the worst). Its alot of screaming, turning red, crying, straightening her legs out, and so forth. Every night I am bouncing, carrying her in the baby bjorn, walking the hallway, bouncing on the fitness ball, her swing, rocking her to help her. I also sometimes give her gripe water which is great, and I try mylicon but it does not seem to help much. I have tried just about every bottle too. She has no problem having BM diapers everyday. She takes the gumdrop pacifier. You would think they would have a cure for colic by now. Any other ideas on how to help?

Answer 1

"Colic" is a 5 letter word for "the doctor doesn't know what's wrong." A better term for it is "the hurting baby." She crys because she hurts. The tummy troubles that she is already having are the problem.....colic isn't something on top of that.....that IS probably the source of the problem.

Does she have any signs of Gastro-Esophageal Reflux (GER)? This is like what adults would call heartburn and can be very uncomfortable for her. (I'm assuming maybe she does since she is on the Zantac?)

Also, another common reason for "colic" is food allergies. How long has she been on the Alimentum? Maybe she is still working out whatever she could have been allergic to from whatever formula she had previously?

Smaller and more frequent feedings may help her feel better.

Also, if you are willing, it's not too late to relactate. She might tolerate mother's milk better than formula. (And it's cheaper!) Contact a La Leche League Leader or a Lactation Consultant if you are interested in trying.

Keep her upright, swaddle her and sway with her/gently bounce her.

You are probably on the right track seeing the GI specialist. Keep at the doctors until they can give you a real answer.

Check out the link below.

Answer 2

OK, I was pretty interested in this question. my youngest had colic for a very very long time. I did a quick search in the science journals and came up with two studies that found and increased risk for problems in children who had colic. One series had more kids with ADD/ ADHD when compared to kids without a history of colic. That surely doesnt mean all or even most kids had ADHD, just more frequent then background. Another study found that parents (but not teachers) rated their kids as having more negative emotions compared to background. That hits home with me. every time my preschooler cries I immediately remember the bad old days of hours of crying. She is a lovely child and a joy to be around, but when she gets upset-- look out. I think the bottom line is that 'colic' is probably a mixed bag of different problems. Some are kids have a hard time with emotional regulation starting from infancy. Some have gas. Neither problem is the end of the world. By the way, neither study found LD like dislexia or MR and one looked for it specifically. (one point though, this is based on about 15 minutes poking around in the literature. There might be more out there.)

Answer 3

I feel for you. My son also has reflux and is on .5 ml zantac twice a day. He is breastfed and I supplement with goodstart. I know how expensive the Allimentum is. It does sound like she has colic. Classic symptoms are the intense crying every day at the same time. Possibly swaddling her might help. Possibly taking a bath or shower with her. Just make sure you have a second person around to help you get her in and out of the shower/ bath. February 12th seems like a long time to wait to see the specialist. Try to get in earlier if you can. Good luck, and remember she will grow out of colic, and it does get easier. You're not doing anything wrong, some babies just cry alot. Try not to go crazy, enlist help from family and friends when she's crying too much for you to handle. The constant crying really can wear on you. Good luck.

Answer 4

You would think that if not cured by now they would at least know what causes it and they still don't know that! :P I am thankful I haven't had problems with colic so far *knocks on wood*

She's already being treated for reflux, and because of this I would call her pediatrician now rather than waiting for the appointment. The symptoms you are describing are 'classic colic' but I'd be concerned that the reflux is worsening.

From what I've read the symptoms of colic follow a 'rule of three'. It starts after the baby is 3 weeks old, ends before they are 3 months old, lasts at least 3 hours a day (although severe cases can last up to 15 hrs.) more than 3 days per week, and for longer than 3 weeks.

Some things that help (or don't seems to vary by baby) that I've heard of are:
swaddling, rocking, swinging, keeping baby's head elevated (even to the point of letting them sleep in the car seat), white noise (hair dryer, vaccum cleaner tape them and play the tape if it works) putting baby in her car seat and setting it on top of the dryer while the dryer is running (attended of course), car rides, gentle bouncing, vanilla ice cream, putting baby on her tummy across your knees, putting baby on her back and bring her knees up slightly while moving her legs in gentle circles, also bouncing w/baby gently on an excersize ball.

One thing that worked for me for crying jags (not colic) was to hold the baby facing away from me against my chest, one arm across her chest, one under her bottom so she was in a sitting position, then quickly bending my knees into a shallow squat (this worked until my knees gave out :P ) I got this from the book 'Itsy bitsy yoga'.

Hope this helps, good luck and try to stay sane :)

Answer 5

Dr. Sears has come out and said that colic really is just reflux. So you are definitely on the right track. Six weeks is a peak fussy period for all babies, so you are just seeing an increase now because she's hit that age. Dr. Sears recommends feeding your baby half as much food, twice as often. My girlfriend nursed her baby on one side only, every 1-2 hours.

Keep her upright as much as possible. You can even put a pillow under her crib mattress to help her sleep at an angle. Try tight swaddling for sleep time. When holding her and bouncing her, try lots of eye contact as this will help comfort her emotionally if not physically.

The peak fussy period that is true for all babies usually lasts from 6-10 weeks, gradually getting easier and easier. (For my non-collicky son he was fussy until 10 weeks, my daughter was only fussy from 6-8 weeks...) I think you'll see some improvement as your baby gets older, but she will still struggle longer than non-collicky babies.

Also- don't be tempted to start solid foods earlier. I know that's a common recommendation, but the recent studies have shown that that can actually create refulx in non-reflux babies and extend reflux longer in collicky babies. Wait until she's six months and you have a better chance of guaranteeing she's over it before she's 12 months. They think early solids in collicky kids can actually cause them to suffer reflux longer, maybe even all their lives.

Hang in there- it will get better, and she'll calm down soon...

Answer 6

I tried a bunch of remedies to cure my baby's severe colic but all in vain. Finally, he got soothed by putting him on Babies magic tea.

Answer 7

omg...I don't know what I would have done....my baby girl is a little over 5 months and she was fussy...but no where near close to what your saying.....I had postpartum depression and if she would of been colic I would of died.....ok...not sure what you are doing or what you know already....but burping before, during, and after helps....i burped her 3 times or more every feeding....but nevermind all this advice from everyone. Hold on, its gonna be a bumpy ride....but its does get better in a few months....jus hold on do what your doing--- sounds like your doing everything there is to do.....it will get better soon....good luck....

Answer 8

Sounds like she has a bad tummy! I went thru this with my son. One day he screamed for 12 hours straight. We finally, that night, took him to the ER as I thought something was wrong just for them to tell me it was colic. I don't what to say except for they do grow out of it. My son screamed for the first 6 months. Believe me i wanted to give him back to the baby fairy...lol...He finally stopped. I know it's difficult but maybe the specialist can give you some insight.

Answer 9

I use to put my son in his infant set on top off the dryer . put the dryer on for a half hour,with clothes in it! And sit with him. Or if it was realy bad, put in carseat and drive around the block a few times. But of course gas is to high now. So I guess the dryer is the best bet. Plus you get your laundry done!

Answer 10

YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK! ALIMENTUM AND NUTRAMIGEN ARE THE BEST FOR COLIC AND SPIT UP! TRY MYLICAN DROPS! USE A VIBRATING BOUNCY(FORGOT THE NAME BUT THEY SLIGHTLY SIT UP AND HAS A TOY BAR AND VIBRATES)! THIS HELPED MINE! THERE IS NO CURE BUT TIME! THE FORMULA STRAIGHTENED TWO OUT WITHIN 2 WEEKS BUT MY LAST IT NEVER MATTERED! IT TOOK HIM 4 MONTHS AND LIKE THE PED. SAID, HE OUT GREW IT!!!!! GOOD LUCK AND HOPE YOU GET REST! BETWEEN 4 AND 8 EVERY EVENING IS TOTAL CRYING!!!!!! I FEEL FOR YOU AND TOTALLY UNDERSTAND!!!!!!!!! GIVE THE FORMULA TIME!!!!!!!!! BEST WISHES FROM A MOM THAT KNOWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!