Advice on newborn stomach cramps?

Question

I have an 8 day old baby girl who is healthy in every way other than constant stomach cramps. The midwife first thought it was colic but I've researched colic and she is not constantly screaming or suffering other symptoms associated with colic. Whilst sleeping and waking, she is suffering spasms, causing her to bring her knees up to her chest and holding her breath in short spurts to get through the pain. We've tried winding but this has no effect. Any advice? Please don't tell me just to visit my midwife or doctor! Cheers

Yes I am breastfeeding and think it may be something I'm eating or drinking..?

Answer 1

I learnt this in a baby massage class to help with tummy upsets & colic.
Lay your baby on her back & with warm hands & some massage oil rub her legs & gently extend them, start at the hips & rub down to the knees gently pulling, when you get the her feet use your thumbs to rub the soles in a rotating motion. & then let her relax, this also helps them sleep & pass wind.
Another thing to do is use your two fingers & rotate clockwise on your babys' tummy, start of in a big circle & slowly getting smaller like a whirl pool effect.
Worked very well on my baby & anyone else I suggested this to.

Answer 2

Hi there.
From the way you describe your baby girl behaviour, I mean when she brings her knees up to her chest, I'd say it's quite typical when the newborn must deal with pain from colic.Did you try holdin her on your arms, one hand caressing her stomach and the other one massaging her back, she's face down, like "superman" you know. You can use your elbow to hold her properly, I mean her head should be onto your elbow so you can hold her weight with your hand. As if she was swimming in the air, got the idea of how the positon should be??
Good luck,
D.

Answer 3

My son had gas problems and did the same thing. We switched formula to Nestle Good Start and started using Dr. Brown's bottles....they are great for reducing how much air the baby swallows while feeding. If you are not breastfeeding, you may have to play around with different formulas....but do not change them too often (talk to a professional for more details about that). Good luck and hope she gets some relief soon, I know it is painful to watch.

Answer 4

I read recently in an article in one of my many parenting/baby magazines about colic and stomach cramps being soothed by acidophilus bacterial supplementation...its the good for you bacteria found in yogurt...you can buy it at health food stores nation wide in capsules and liquid form and mix it with formula or breastmilk.

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/infantile-colic-000094.htm

here is a link to with a small section towards the middle /end about adding acidophilus to formula/breastmilk

good luck I hope she gets better soon! My son had horrible stomach cramps as a baby and it took him 3 months and putting him on hypoallergenic formula...everything I was eating was making him get horrible gas...turned out he has many allergies...milk, wheat, corn

BTW: if you do decide to try this...get the kind that is refridgerated it has the highest live culture content and would yield the best results

Answer 5

Just a suggestion as this sounds so familiar. She could be lactose intolerant. My second little girl was lactose intolerant and she was placed on soy milk. She out grew this and around age 2 or 3 was able to drink regular milk again with no problems at all.

Hope this helps.

Answer 6

I agree with others that it sounds like reflux. Our daughter was treated with Prevacid from age 1 month to 13 months and still refluxes, but has no more pain.

Please rule out something more serious like a bowel obstruction or intusseption before treating for reflux. Both need immediate medical attention at the ER. Here is a link to symptoms.

Good luck!

Answer 7

My daughter had the same thing and it lasted for a year. The doctors had her on medicine for reflux, and changed me to 5 different formulas, which ended in nothing. When she was a couple months, I started giving her peppermint water. (break up a small peppermint starlite and put a quarter of a piece in boling water, about 8 oz., let cool and melt and fill two 4 oz. bottles) It worked for us. I hate to say it, but sometimes you have to wait it out.

Answer 8

Check this natural method to get rid of acid reflux http://acidreflux-cure.info
Usually, heartburnThe most common symptom of acid reflux disease (also known as gastroespohageal reflux disease, or GERD). Heartburn feels like a burning pain in the center of the chest. It is caused by acid from the stomach backing up into the esophagus. is a symptom of acid reflux disease (GERD) Also known as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). Describes the condition of backflow of stomach acid into the esophagus which frequently happens when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxes more often than it should and/or at inappropriate times. The symptoms of acid reflux disease typically occur on 2 or more days a week.. And if you suffer from persistent heartburn on two or more days a week—and you’ve treated it and changed your diet—it could be due to acid refluxBackflow of stomach acid into the esophagus. Acid reflux frequently happens when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxes more often than it should and/or at inappropriate times. This allows harsh stomach juices to back up into the esophagus. disease. But only your doctor can tell you if these are signs of acid reflux disease.

Answer 9

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Answer 10

I'm with the others on trying soy formula. It really helped my newborn, who was lactose-intolerant. We also gave him chamomile tea. I would steep one bag of tea to 12oz of water, let it cool, and put it in his bottle. That helped, too. The gas drops (mylecon) also were good.