Is this colic or reflux - and what can I do???

[naturopath]

My 3 week old DS cries almost constantly during the day when not feeding (which is also almost constant). Nights are ok - he wakes up only for feeds around every 4 hrs.
When he cries he is inconsolable.. when feeding sometimes breaks off red-faced, arches back, thrashes around, farts loudly, pulls knees up etc. He hardly ever sleeps during the day, so is also overtired. He has lots of slimy watery bright yellow poos.
Is this colic? Could I be feeding him too much? When I have tried to limit feeds to once every 2-3 hours, he still screams because he is hungry. Am giving Infacol before most feeds (forget the occasional one), burp him a lot, and have steered clear of all dairy foods, cabbage, onions, garlic, citrus fruit, tomatoes, fruit, soy etc. etc. for the last few days. Any ideas also for what there might be left to eat?? Am at the end of my tether with exhaustion and lack of nurition

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my son was like this too, have you tried a dummy? I know this is against proper advice (realistically it's said to be too early, they need to establish breastfeeding mouth positions etc properly, although ds was exclusively bf and introducing a dummy at 5 weeks worked ok so a bit later than your ds)- we swore we'd never use a dummy but my goodness after I'd been awake for 36 hours with a very unhappy baby I would have tried anything. Dummy in, ds asleep within 30 seconds. I kid you not. I cried with relief and guilt (and probably tiredness)
Not the way everyone chooses to go but worked very well for us. DS just happened to be a very sucky baby and unfortunately my poor nips just couldn't be there 23/7
Good luck
x

hi, i had similar probs at first, ds 4 mths now. He settled down loads after a couple of cranio-sacral sessions as had a pressured nerve in his jaw that was making him take on loads of wind. Also used homeopathy to help bring up his wind during the day (his bad periods were classic evening when overtired)

you could also try some very gentle stomach massage, olive oil would be fine if you've nothing else in, and some tummy time I found also helped to bring up wind if he's old enough.

would have loved him to take a dummy but it frsutrated the hell out of him and he yanked it out ! good luck x

yes the stomach massage helped too, worked really well in mid afternoon when ds wasn't absolutely knackered close to the end of the day but alert enough to not mind us stroking his tummy firmly.

Megglevache, thanks - it's nice to know I am not the only one crying here! Tried the sling - he screamed and screamed. Have also tried a dummy Tatat (against my better judgment, but willing to try anything to make DS feel better) but he won't take it. Have tried it many times, and hold it in his mouth like you suggested - he has only accepted once or twice - usually won't settle for anything other than my breast! Both Gina Ford and my HV say that you should wait 2-3 hours in between feeds, so they can digest the first before giving the next (am BF by the way) but, as I said, he screams whether I feed on demand or wait the requisite time. Obviously I don't want to feed too much and cause his colic that way (too much foremilk, not enough digestion time etc.), but also don't want him to scream from hunger.

Have had one session with cranial osteopath already, although not sure if the colic had set it then - have a follow-up next week. Have also tried rubbing his tummy and putting him to sleep on his side rather than his back (and once on his front, although I feel very nervous about doing this). Will start to try with the olive oil. What time of day is good for this? After an evening bath?

Btw, am only able to post now as DH has taken DS out for a drive (yes, he has not slept all day and hasn't gone down for the night yet).

Puffylovett - which homeopathic remedies can I try? Do I need to see a homeopath or can I administer myself? Are the remedies for the baby or me (as BF)?

We found tummy massage best done before ds was tired, know others though who have done just as you suggest, after bathtime. Think that as long as the baby - and you- are both relaxed in the first place it should be ok. (not easy when they scream all day I know)
An excellent book is Vimala Mcclure's "A Handbook for Loving Parents" - it makes things nice and easy to follow.
You sound like a lovely mum, hang in there.

Thank you! Am trying to be lovely, I really am.. don't want DS to be in pain

hi there, i would do some tummy massage during the day, perhaps late afternoon after he's had a sleep (?) and isn't cranky - to try and get any trapped wind moving before the evening. make sure you go in a clockwise direction starting by his appendix area. also just resting your warm hand on his bare tummy can be quite soothing. 1 drop of lavender oil wld be plenty if u want to use essential oils.

as for the homeopathy, i would recommend that you see a registered homeopath as ideally remedies should be prescribed to the infants constitution. the one that worked for my ds may not work for yours as they are different personality types. perfectly safe and very gentle method of treatment for babies !

are you swaddling him ? i found reading the baby whisperer book good to get to know his signals, although the whole routine thing confused me ! re the worry aboiut 2 much foremilk - i sometimes feed from the same side anytime within 2 hours to ensure he gets the hindmilk, as ds sometimes has a habit of snacking. that way it doesn't matter if he needs a bit of comfort i know i'm not adding to the wind problem, if that makes sense.

failing all else, you coud always sell him on ebay, i've considered that many a time !! reckon could get a cabin in whislter with the proceeds
the importnat thing to remember, i promise you, is that this time will pass ad very soon you will be able to enjoy your lovely baby and revel in him, so keep your chin up xx

sorry you're having such a trying time with your DS and i hope things improve soon.

i have no real experience, but our friend's dd had colic, and it did pass and things started improving by about 10 weeks.

in the meantime, come and talk to us on the June post-natal thread. we have similar aged babies, and some are dealing with colic as well so can offer some much needed moral support

Thanks! Just had a look at the pn thread.. new to MN so still finding my way around nice to know there are others at this stage!

naturopath - have you tried feeding from one breast only at a time? By that I mean feeding, letting him come off himself, winding and changing him and putting him back on the same side?

You might find that this will help.

I would not limit his feeds or alter your diet at the moment - it is not unusual for babies to suffer from colic at this age and it usually resolves around the six week mark. It is hard to cope with though.

Colicynth granules may be more effective that the infacol. They are given after feeds - you get them in most chemist/health food shops. You pop a few crystals in every mins until your baby gets reielf.

A warm bath can be soothing if he is very upset.

Baby massage will definitely help. It will eventually get better.

Thanks - I have been feeding him on one side only for even an hour or two.. have experimented with various times (as much as he wants) - putting back on the same breast a couple of times, or listening to the midwives and changing over after 30 mins.. neither way seems to help.
Will def try the baby massage today. Am still keeping off most foods out of desperation!

DS finally went to sleep with me feeding him in bed at 1am and slept until midday!

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My dd 8 weeks was crying for the first 5 weeks. Have you tried letting him sleep on his tummy on your breast? Dd was also constantly hungry every 2 hours and now I am feeding only 3-4 hours. I am from South Africa and we use Benetts colic mixture that is great. Do you have it there?

Good luck

Not sure about the Bennetts, but I'll check if they sell it here.

He does sleep on me sometimes, but gets a bit heavy/awkward, and as soon as I put him in his moses basket during the day he screams (at night he's generally ok). Although just managed to put him down now, on his tummy. Tummy is good on the rare occasions he has allowed himself to go to sleep like that..

Thanks for the advice - really appreciate it.

Hi
I bought Bennetts Bum Crème and bath drops from Morrisons. Not sure whether Morrisons do Colic Mixture. I am using Bum Cream for My little one and really like both products.