Colic advice- 1 month old. Kinda long

[JaclynLouise]

Hey all, here goes!!
My little one developed colic around 2 weeks, and she fits the description to a tee. 2-3 hour outbursts, tensing her body, kicking legs, clenching fists, scratching and flailing around and crying beyond control. Although it did begin in only evening and night, it has slowly filtered into the day too.

I would like to point out though, it is not every feed. On a good day, we may be lucky enough to have a very brief outburst, but in a bad day we're having 3, and we sadly have a few more bad days than good
Almost 2 weeks ago I took her to see a cranial osteopath, and that has sorted out the trace of reflux she had (she would NOT wind at all, but now she does one big burp which is way better than before)

Infacol doesn't work for her, and the osteopath was concerned she could also be having heartburn, he did also say to try colief which I got today, but haven't tried yet as I wasn't prepared for the hassle of mixing certain amounts to feed her! So I need to pump some milk to do that ready. What I'm wondering is, I know there are formulas out there for colic, have any of them worked for people? I want to breastfeed, but if it would help then I would use it because I want what is best for her. Could mix feeding even help? Does anyone have any experience or things they helped with their baby? All answers very welcome!! Thank you for reading

[YokoUhOh]

Google PURPLE crying OP

Most babies cry for no reason during the 'fourth trimester'. Colic isn't a physical 'thing', it just describes the horrendous crying babies do when they're very new.

By three months they stop, so hopefully it'll start to improve for you soon

[Flisspaps]

Colic is just a catch all term for unexplained crying in a newborn. Usually in the evening, not every feed.

What works for one baby won't work for another. With DD we just sat in a darkened room, rocking in a chair, every night for a couple of months - then it just stopped.

[isittimeforarainbow]

It might be worth checking out for a dairy allergy. It can be hard to diagnose and many GPs have little knowledge of it but it is fairly common and can explain the crying. If it is dairy allergy then formula won't help as it is cows milk based (but there are special allergy formula on prescription), elimination of dairy from your own diet would work.
I am not convinced by anti colic formula, I don't see how that could work.
I hope things improve soon

[JaclynLouise]

I wasn't feeling too convinced by colic relieving formula either, but when she screams like that she just looks like she's in pain and it's horrible, she's clearly very distressed.

I had thought of intolerance, but not that much as I hadn't seen any other signs? I know she's little and can't tell me, but she has plenty of wet nappies and normal poo's, doesn't vomit much at all and when she does it's healthy looking.

I had read that it lasts 4-6 months! Of course it is stressful for me, but I would just like to relieve what looks like terrible stress for her x

[scottishgirlinfrance]

Hiya

Firstly I feel/felt your pain to see your wee one with 'colic' is heart wrenching and so tiring for you. It does get better.... so many people will say that thinking they are being helpful and although true it's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I breastfed through my DDs colic episode which lasted from 2 weeks to around 6 weeks. We tried everything from gripe water to colief but like you I found it awkward to express and mix the coleif with my milk. I did lots of research on the causes of it and also went to my doctor thinking it was reflux but I'm glad they didn't give me any medication for her. I found that changing my diet really helped. I stopped eating dairy completely, no milk in my tea or cereal or cheese ( which was the hardest one) and kept this up until I stopped breastfeeding at 7 months. It really helped and worked. Really!! I have a friend who did the same and she had the same outcome. I believe colic is mostly down to an immature digestive system and lactose is very hard for babies to digest. I found also that the belly massages that healthcare professionals promote really helped too. It really helped her get out her gas.

It may not work for everyone but I think you owe it to your tired self and your wee one to give it a whirl.

Fingers crossed you get some relief soon.

xxx

[JaclynLouise]

Quite interested in that lactose one! I'm going to give it a go! I'll cut out all dairy as from tomorrow (I just bought a galaxy I need to eat haha)
Although how much does your diet affect your milk? Sounds stupid, but wouldn't it still cause her discomfort if she is intolerant because she's drinking my own milk?

[JaclynLouise]

Quite interested in that lactose one! I'm going to give it a go! I'll cut out all dairy as from tomorrow (I just bought a galaxy I need to eat haha)
Although how much does your diet affect your milk? Sounds stupid, but wouldn't it still cause her discomfort if she is intolerant because she's drinking my own milk?

[FATEdestiny]

Have you tried a dummy?
Have you tried a swaddle right around arms/shoulders?
Together these might magically stop the screaming.

tensing her body, kicking legs, clenching fists, scratching and flailing around and crying beyond control

Sounds like a newborn desperate to get to sleep

[FATEdestiny]

swaddle right tight* around arms/shoulders?

Ripping a cot sheet in half along the short edge makes two perfect sized swaddle sheets

[JaclynLouise]

Little one doesn't have a dummy, I don't like them myself, I had found that swaddling calmed her sometimes but not if she wasn't already ready to settle.
Currently going through a huge screaming fit that's been an hour and a half and she seems like she's slowly calming, im going to try the lactose thing but it's horrible seeing her so unhappy!
Wish it was simple to make go away

[FATEdestiny]

I don't like them myself

OK. It's not really about you anymore though. However lots of people get nose-scrunchie about dummies, so you are not alone.

Good luck, I hope she calms soon

[melonribena]

I agree, try a dummy.
My 4 week old is very dusty in the evening. Refuses to bf as he isn't hungry. They only thing that calms him is swaddling and tapping his bum as I cuddle him tight. He also sucks furiously on his dummy as I rock and pat him and he goes quickly off to sleep.
Try it!

[melonribena]

Fussy!!

[JaclynLouise]

I know and I have my reasons, it's just not worth going into them because I'm not here for a debate or to offend anyone else's parenting choices.
The screaming only occurs when trying to feed, she tries to drink (we use nipple shields so she latches easily like a bottle) but can't because she is too worked up, giving her a dummy wouldn't change this response, it would just mean she didn't get her feed cus as I said earlier, that's the only time we have the problem.
Thanks, me too

[JaclynLouise]

Melonribena is that fussy cus I don't want to use a dummy?

[muddypuddled]

If you're breastfeeding have you had your latch checked and baby checked for tongue tie? We thought our dd had colic but it turned out she had a very slight posterior tongue tie and had been swallowing loads of sure each feed. Once that was sorted she was fine.

[thatsn0tmyname]

My son was like this, it was awful. Taking him in the garden in the cool for a cuddle helped to stop the crying fit, lots of buggy walks to give me a break from carrying him etc. He was much better 3-4 months old and was happier once he could sit up and walk, both of which he did early, thank goodness.

[FATEdestiny]

Babies are naturally soothed and calmed by:

• Suckling: Comfort breastfeeding or dummy
  
• Having a full tummy (baby was never hungry in the womb, hunger is new and distressing)
  
• Feeling enclosed and secure (like in the womb): being held tight, swaddle, sling wrap
  
• Movement (like when you walked when they were in the womb): Rocking, bouncy chair, sling walks, pushchair walks, car journeys
  

The first 3 months are often called the Fourth Trimester, baby has only just left the womb and is calmed by recreating womb conditions.

[FATEdestiny]

melonribena was correcting the word "dusty" which was meant to say "fussy". This was quite clear from her post.

Having a newborn is a stressful time. Especially so your first. I think most of us recognise that 'clutching at straws to find and possible logical explanation' feeling of the early weeks.

[JaclynLouise]

Yes should've mentioned she had a tongue tie (which Is why I began nipple shield) which was cut when she was a week old, I knew to look out for it cus my other one had it and it was not detected for 2 weeks.

Never tried swaddling with my last one as we didn't have these problems, but I might give it another try now, and I do find breast soothes her as sometimes she patches then just lets go and falls asleep, but this only works when she isn't too distressed to stay on

[JaclynLouise]

Okay sorry, I'm writing this while dealing with a screaming episode so I didn't read it properly is all. My mistake

[JaclynLouise]

Swaddling though- I do get concerned about her getting too warm!? She's a very sweaty baby and those wraps create a couple of layers, is it too cold to try swaddling in just a vest?

[Marmighty]

My DD had this until about six months, gradually improving. I didn't alter my diet completely but in hindsight, now knowing how long it actually lasted and having read more about it since then, I think I should have completely cut out dairy and soy, and had her checked for tongue tie. Things that helped in the meantime were holding her tight or in moby wrap, bouncing on yoga ball with her, being very aware of making sure she had good naps and didn't get overtired, and using a dummy while holding and bouncing with her. I know you are anti dummy but it helped a lot, and she didn't use one beyond about nine months. Also lots of tummy massage and special holds to help her get the gas out. Good luck, it's such a hard thing to go through with them.

[AndYourBirdCanSing]

I have found comfort milk (for colic and constipation) to make a big difference

[FATEdestiny]

I do get concerned about her getting too warm

At my maternity hospital they said if you swaddle using a sheet, you consider it one blanket later.

I'm in Nottingham. At our night temprature here I would have a newborn in a short sleeved vest + sleepsuit + swaddle sheet + one blanket. On a cold night I'd fold the blanket in half to give 2 layers.

(actually I'd used a sleeping bag with a swaddle over the top, but that's just me)