Colic support thread

[RememberingMyPFEs]

My 3week old has started with classic colic symptoms and I'm freaked out and scared about the next 9-12 weeks. She's clearly in a lot of pain, screaming inconsolably, fussing at feeds, not suckling like she did, scrunching up, arching her back and grunting loads. Its got steadily worse over the past 3 days. It is utterly heartbreaking and I feel like such a failure cos I can't make it better. I'm trying to go down the Attachment Parenting route and wonder how she can trust me when she is in so much pain and I can't help :-(

She's screamed since 7pm last night, quietened briefly twice and I managed to get infacol and a feed in both times. 9 hours later and I have no idea what to do or how I'll do this for weeks. I'm cutting out dairy as of now and will be checking out the massage options.

Anyway, I figured I can't be the only one struggling and found this thread. Rather than re-awaken a zombie thread I thought I'd start a new one but wanted to link this as there is some good advice I think.

So who else put there is struggling? Who's come out the other side? What hope is there that it'll be cured in 2 days with infacol? (I can dream, right?)

Please come and cheer me up or at least keep me company...

[stopgap]

My son is now 2-years-old. He started with colic at three weeks, which unfortunately escalated and lingered as silent reflux until he was closer to a year. I wore him in the carrier almost all the time, as he was in so much discomfort after feedings and needed to be upright for close to an hour. It was exhausting, and we do refer to the period as "colic hell".

We used gripe water with some success, but eventually resorted to reflux medication when things worsened. If symptoms linger beyond 12 weeks, your baby's situation may warrant further investigation, or it could simply be the classic "missing trimester" colic.

My son at two is a fantastic little boy. He has his wild moments, but he's pretty chilled out for a toddler, and very, very smily and sweet-natured. He has an extremely close bond with me, and I do believe much of that is down to me responding to his needs when he was in discomfort. If you're aiming for AP, I'm sure that you're already using a carrier aplenty etc.

That being said, AP or not, get help. From parents, friends, a babysitter. Whomever. You need to get in plenty of naps and rest when dealing with a colicky baby. I've run a few marathons, and found dealing with colic far more exhausting than training for a race.

[CreatureRetorts]

My dd would do this until I made sure she got plenty of sleep in the day (used a sling) and put her down for bed by 6pm. Basically the screaming was overtiredness. So I'd try that first. Pitch black room with white noise was key when she was really bad! Ds was similar - his would strike in the early hours as his body clock was way off.

So be wary of people suggesting your baby should be kept awake to encourage night sleep!

[CreatureRetorts]

Also the "Happiest Baby on the block" has good tips - the 7 "Ss" I think they're called. We used swaddling, a dummy and white noise which helped ds when he was really really bad. see here

[CreatureRetorts]

5 "Ss" not 7!

[CreatureRetorts]

(me again!) both of mine had silent reflux and dairy intolerance which is/did carry in until 2ish. But I'd rule out overtiredness before cutting out dairy. I did that with ds without supplementing properly and ended up very run down through lack of vitamins etc.

[RememberingMyPFEs]

Thanks stop and creature
I am still getting to grips withy moby wrap. I may go to our sling library on wed see if I can find an easier one.
She is getting loads of sleep so I'm not sure it's tiredness but will certainly bear than in mind.
Thanks again

[CreatureRetorts]

Ah but they need more sleep than you can imagine! It could be she just needs more of an early bedtime.

[BotBotticelli]

My Ds had terrible colic from about 2 weeks old to about 13 weeks old.

We found that lying him on his back and cycling his legs really helped, as did pumping them back and forth to his chest. We didn't find infacol helped much but we did find changing his formula to Comfort Milk (Aptamil or Cow and Gate) did make a difference.

Unfortunately we did really just have to wait for him to grow out of it ad for his guts to mature so he could cope ether with wind. 4am onwards was the worst time for us and it was truly dreadful! You have my sympathies. But if your baby does not have any other issues like reflux (mine didn't) hang in there and it WILL get better. At around 12 weeks I started realising we ha a few better days, and then by 13.5 weeks or so I realised we hadn't had a bad du for a while, and then it was just all better!

Wind wind wind your baby in the middle of, and at the end of, every feed.

DS is now 8mo and is a smiley happy delight who doesn't really cry much at all apart from when he is teething. Hang in there it will get better xxx

[Kellieinlondon]

My baby was colic from week five (but she was two weeks early so three weeks). We tried everything - infancol, gripe water, colief, gaviscon for babies and leg exercises. Nothing truly worked. Gaviscon gave her mild constipation although it did help with her reflux. She cried non stop and made cringing noises (lifting her legs) during sleep. it peaked around week seven. At week 12 she magically stopped crying and cringing.

The only thing that really helped was the moby sling. I'd wear it all day so I could slip baby in fast. I think it was a combo of being upright(helped the reflux) and closeness to mum. I'd walk quietly around for 5 min and she would fall asleep. Then I could eat or do chores while she was on me.

Another thing that stopped her crying was nursing. She found breast feeding comforting. I would breastfeed her lying down (side to side) since t gave me the chance to also rest.

A lot of mums told me not to do these things as it would create bad habits. Well, after listening to my baby cry nonstop, I decided the hell with habits. If I could help my baby I would. After her colic passed she instantly was able to sleep on her own. Granted I have to put her down when she has somewhat fallen asleep. Bt before when she was in a colic stage she would wake up as soon as I put her down. she also takes the bottle and doesnt need my breastfeeding fr comfort. Although she still loves to breastfeed.

All I can say is, colic will stop. Hopefully sooner rather than later. but just hold on and do whatever you can to cope. Don't worry about all the advice others give you. Rock, walk, breastfeed or do whatever makes you and the baby happy. Habits may form but babies are resilient and will grow out of them. Just be sure to wean them off the habits as soon as the colic is over.

Best of luck - I know how hard it is. It will get better.

[MamaMassageMe]

Baby massage helped my son and I with his cic enormously. Within 4 weeks his symptoms were milder and our bond incredible. Ask your hv or children's centre if they run free classes or there will no doubt be a private teacher with classes or one to one sessions if that's better for you. Baby yoga can also provide great relief for colic and wind.

Gripe water was a staple for us too and helped so much

Good luck op x

[RememberingMyPFEs]

Thanks everyone. Infacol, extended winding, leg cycling and tummy massage seem to be helping - so far so manageable!
Thanks again for the great advice

[lilian3]

please please please think of changing the milk to non dairy. Many babies cant tolerate the fat in dairy milk which most formula is. why do mothers carry on when their bay is in such distress. I was lucky to be recommended a baby dietician. My friends husband was a pediatrician. This lady changed my life mainly by changing the milk. Speak to Boots they do a baby soya or maybe something else these days BUT NO DAIRY.. its worth a try. good luck

[RememberingMyPFEs]

Thanks Lilian. I'm EBF'ing so no dairy in the milk. I've cut out my milk habit (was having 1-2 pints a day myself) missing it but hoping its helping...

[evelynj]

Please try a cranial osteopath-may not work but was like a magic cure for my dd - best £38 I ever spent.

I only hadto endure 4 days (dd is now 5 weeks & saw CO at 3.5 weeks), but those 4 days were hardest ever

Good luck!,

[gloti]

My LO is almost 4 weeks and has also struggled with colic for the last five days.
I tried colief which didn't seem to help and three days ago I started with aptamil comfort and infacol. He slept and fed very well the first two days but today he's only done one poo and he's back to the screams and not burping after eating...

He does not sleep for longer than an hour at a time and I am losing the will to live

[RememberingMyPFEs]

Gloti - so sorry to hear you're suffering I have found the Infacol, leg cycling, tummy massage and religious winding after feeds has us in a much better place. Not completely sorted but certainly manageable.
Apart from colief and infacol have you tried any of the other suggestions yet? Are you getting time off/ support?

[gloti]

Thanks a lot remembering I actually asked my mum to stay with us for a couple of weeks so she can help round the house and i can have a nap during the day as DP works long hours and DS doesn't sleep at night...

Will def try all other suggestions, glad to hear you have managed to improve your situation!

[evelynj]

Just to add that we're past colic but lo has still had v bad wind-much better since we switched to dr browns bottles yest, (they are a faff to clean tho)

Evelyn

[tiktok]

Have reported Berkshire again - total spamathon of the boards to advertise the business.

[Mumtoason]

Hugs and more hugs.

DS is now 19 weeks and a happy little chap. The days of colic are well in the past and the dust has settled, so please have hope.

Sounds like reflux could be an issue to me (arching of back and screaming is a sign) - talk to HV or GP possibly.

Re colic:

Try white noise loudish during a meltdown, if it helps have it on all night at a volume you can all sleep to.

Best tip. Get. a. sling! I wasnt going to be a sling wearing hippy! lol! but after a trial in desperation from a friend, the closer caboo was a flipping God send for me. Bubba would zonk out as soon as I put him in it. It helps with reflux too as they are upright.

Get out of the house as much as poss. Brestfeeding groups, baby massage, costa coffee shop all helped my boy as he's a nosey little bean and likes to watch the world go by.

I don't think infacol does that much really except give you an expectation that it will make bubba 'better', but it won't do any harm unless reflux is a major issue as I heard it can make babies sicky. I preferred Gripe Water myself, but hell I used both when times were tough!

Do not read loads of dross about high need babies like I did. It seems to be linked to colic in google searches! It's depressing and not true in most cases (or so I've heard). Colic makes your baby seem unhappy but they won't remember a thing (so I've read )

Hugs again. Drink loads of tea. Take deep breaths. Use the mantra when baby is screaming and you feel like leaving the country 'I know darling, it's hard being a baby! I'll stay with you while you make it through this!

[jadeamy]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone is going through the same ordeal and can share any ideas or give any advice on how to cope!!!
My baby has had colic/reflux since week 1, he will literally cry every night from 3pm until midnight, I have tried infacol and gripe water which both had no effect whatsoever, was put on dom peridome and ranitidine incase it was reflux but neither had any effect, tried colief but that has made no difference and gaviscon infant just made him hugely constipated which just gave him even more wind, he is 7 weeks now and continues to cry without fail every night from around 3pm till midnight sometimes even till 2am, is anyone going through the same or been through the same as I have gone past the point of losing my sanity!!!

[IndigoTea]

Jade, poor you, it is terrible. Have you tried treating for cows milk protein allergy? If you are BF-ing eliminate dairy from your diet (completely) and see if it helps. If FF then try a hydrolysed formula.

Also have you tried eliminating gassy foods from your diet like lentils, onions, potatoes etc?

[rabiaaftab17]

Hey how's your baby now? I'm a new mum joined this just now and wanted to share the use of coliccalm (google it) which is the only thing that worked out of gripe water, colief, infacol, dentinox and fennel seeds abs ofcourse exclusion diet for my newborn.

[rabiaaftab17]

Just joined mumsnet as a new mum. Please don't exclude dairy until tried all options. You need the goodness of dairy for yourself and baby while breastfeeding. This may be late advice bit try chewing on fennel seeds, spoonfuls, throughout the day. Usual exclusion of gaseous stuff applies.