My baby girl is 5 weeks old and started w/ colic episodes @ 3 weeks. She has been changed formula 4 times and is now on nutramigen, with milk of magnesia in 2 bottles a day for her constpation issues, and mylicon drops w/ every feeding. She did not tolerate even breast milk w/ strict changes to my diet. 6pm-12am (atleast) are the worst and she looks like she is in SO MUCH pain. However, car rides and sitting her in her swing with the vacuum running right next to her will quiet her everytime. So, is she really in pain during these episodes because I would think that if she was, the simple act of running a vacuum wouldn't quiet her. All her symptoms disappear when you do that, but the minute I turn it off she balls up again, turns red and screams. So what gives? I will feel so much better if I knew she wasn't really in pain, but everywhere I read it says colic is caused by gas and it's painful...any thoughts?
2007-10-19 11:15:30 · 5 answers · asked by Kat 6 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Colic is caused by gas and it is supposed to be painful for babies. They could usually be calmed by vacuum cleaners or cars just because the sound and motion lulled them to calm or sleep - it does not stop the problem.
You should check your bottles instead of changing formulas. Most babies that are breastfed had less colic problems because there are less air coming into their system - try finding specially designed bottles that are marked reduced colic - Avent is quite good on this but I have seen several others on the market.
To help ease the pain, hold your baby on the length of your arm with her tummy pressed against your arm and her head resting in your palm. The press against her tummy should help. Never put your baby to sleep on her tummy, but I have let my son slept on my arms for an hour or two since I am awake to make sure he has no problem breathing etc.
Finally check out ivillage or babycenter websites for more info.
Good luck!
PS: your baby has constipation at 5 weeks old? This is quite rare... Are you sure she is crying because of colic and not of the constipation?
2007-10-19 11:30:16 · answer #1 · answered by carpenoctrum 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My first daughter had a horrible case of colic. I know how hard it is seeing your baby cry like that. Its frustrating to not be able to relieve it. The good news is she will grow out of it, usually by 3 or 4 months old. My daughter cried for hours on end every single day until she was about 4 months old. Nothing I did helped. We tried different formulas and medicines and it didn't help either. I kept reading newer research saying that they don't think colic is caused by pain, and I hope that's the case. Honestly, it doens't really make sense that it would be pain, otherwise why would it just go away (which it does with almost every single baby that has colic)?
Keep trying different things to get her to stop crying and bear with it for another couple months, it will stop soon.
2007-10-19 19:53:56 · answer #2 · answered by Brandi C 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Has your doctor ruled out GERD - gastro-esophageal reflux disease? Except for that, we really don't know why most babies are colicky. Sometimes a formula change works, sometimes a change of bottles (Dr. Brown's is a current favorite.) But some babies are colicky no matter what. It usually subsides by 3 - 4 months. Please be patient and for heaven's sake, Don't shake the baby!
Good luck.
2007-10-19 20:51:56 · answer #3 · answered by greydoc6 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well colic is defined as inconsolable crying, and if the vaccuum consoles here then I wouldn't think it is colic. However they really don't know what colic is.
Read this and see if it helps, his GERD article helped me a lot.
COPING WITH COLIC
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/5/t051300.asp
2007-10-19 18:27:20 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Have you tried to swaddle her? Also fill an empty water bottle with warm water and place it on her belly. Not hot water...warm. Good luck to you...... Bless her little heart......and yours too!!
2007-10-19 18:28:39 · answer #5 · answered by marisared2002 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋