How can i help my 8 week old son??

Question

Every night at around 3am he wakes up with bad wind pains that last untill around 11am, when he has a bowel movement and then he is fine again. The only thing that seems to help is vigorously rubbing his lower back. He is formula fed and on the advice of my health visitor i have been giving him 1 ounce of water a day. I don't think he is constipated as he does have a bowel movement everyday, but he seems in such pain and looks to be straining himself all the time. Can anyone help? Has this happened to you and what did you do about it?? Thanks for the comments.

Answer 1

Hi- It sounds to me like colic. My twins had it bad and they switched their formula to a more sensitive one (Similac Alimentum Advance). It worked great. It is designed for colic. Also Mylicon gas drops helped a lot. Good luck and just talk to your doctor about different options.

Answer 2

It sounds to me like he has colic, he will grow out of it, it usually starts at around 2 - 3 months and then goes again. you can get colic drops, check with your health visitor Make sure he is properly winded after each feed and try fennel juice in his water. When he has a bowel movement is it solid and small pieces? if so he may be constipated, it could be he is dehydrated, sometimes baby milk can be too thick, try giving him more water, make sure it has been boiled or is spring water.

Answer 3

It sounds like Colic. This is very painful gas that strikes some infants. It isnt deadly, but makes it difficult for anyone to get rest. Talk to your Doctor, there are prescribed medications for it. You are doing a great job, but we all get weary. Just don't get upset with him OR yourself. You will need to take a break, maybe get a relative or nurse to look after him once in a while until this clears up. So many nights end in frustration and fear, rest will help. My youngest ( now 21 ) had Colic and I thought we would both end up flat out by the time he made it through it, and I asked his doctor about it.
Good luck, and try to get some rest !!

Answer 4

For eight hours, this isn't right. It may be possible he's allergic to his formula.. or, if you have already started him on rice cerals and the like, he may be too little to digest that. Try feeding him smaller amounts at more frequent intervals. If he's on a formula that contains lactose, switch to one that is based off soy, and vice versa. If that doesn't work, contact a different pediatrician and go to a gastroentologist. [sp?] There could be something seriously wrong, such as some type of blockage.
Good luck.

Answer 5

Gerber Gas Drops helped my son A BUNCH. Also, at health food stores you can find something called "gripe water" that some people swear by. You should try to give him some gas drops EVERY time you feed him which will work to prevent him from getting the pains rather than trying to treat the pains once they start. GOOD LUCK.

Answer 6

Sounds like colic to me. My son had this from about 2 months, It is trapped wind and they will strain like they need a poo and pull all sorts of funny faces (my son used to go red in the face). He was also formula fed on Farleys. We were told to give him warm water but this had no effect. We used Gripe water regularly and this seemed to sooth him alot, he got a bit 'immune' to it afetr a while and we swapped to Infacol which was just as good. Other than that you kind of have to grin and bear it as it is one of the most common baby ailments and its due to their insides developing (or something along those lines) and they will grow out of it usually within weeks.

Answer 7

I have six kids and ive always used GRIPE WATER not colic drops they dont work anything like gripe water. If he has it as bad as you say put in into every bottle for 48 hrs and then every feed before he goes to bed until he is four months old. This is totally safe, im also a nurse as well as mother of six.

Answer 8

Well its either colic or hes lactose intolerant.

My daughter screamed constantly for the first 6 weeks, only getting 1 or 2 hours sleep at night. In desperation I took her to the doc who put her on soya formula milk and she improved 100%

Answer 9

Hi Lisa, Im so sorry for your situation! When my son was about 1 month old I started bottle feeding him too and he also developed horrible gas pains and constipation. I switched to a Lactose free formula ( with aproval from doc of course!) and it was like night and day for him! His gas went away and he was a much happier baby. Maybe you could try it and see if it helps, good luck!

Answer 10

When my daughter was a baby, she used to have this from around 4pm to 7:30pm (started just before hubby got back from work, no wonder he started coming in late!). It does sound like colic although 8 hours is a long time to be in this much pain. We tried everything and then went to the local chemist who recommended Infacol drops. They were our life saver. They come in a small white and red bottle with a pipette dropper and you give baby a few drops (I think before bottle). We used to pop some on her dummy aswell if she had tummy ache and it worked a dream. Have recommended to loads of people since then and would definitely get some in stock if I ever have baby #2. Good luck, it won't last forever, just seems like it will. You will probably find that by the time you wean, you'll have forgotten all about the sleepless nights (fingers crossed).
Edit- Just thought of something else I used to do. Lie baby on his front and hold him in front of you, close to you, your arm supporting him along his front, and rock just as you would if he was on his back, it stretches the tummy muscles and eases the cramping. Went round to my neighbours once and her little one was doubled up, I held her like this (takes a bit of getting used to) but it did the trick. You tend to get loads of baby drool on your arm, as they rest their head on your forearm but well worth it if it settles them.