Colic Anyone?

Geez I hope somebody can help.

I am not sure what is going on but all the symptoms are pointing in one direction. Looks like I might have a colicky baby. Does anybody have any experience with this? We are at our wits end. It came out of nowhere, and we have tried everything (including calling our ped. who says this is what he thinks is going on. - we have an appt. tomorrow). She is just so fussy and cries SO BADLY! It started in the past week and we can't figure it out. No matter what we have tried it doesn't seem to work. A few things that are also factoring in...

She is still nursing every 3 hours. She nurses full 15 min and 10 min and then is GROPING for more food. Screaming, blood red, real tears. We give her 2 oz of formula and she knocks out. As you know I dont' want to do formula, so I only do this three times a day as per the doctor, and then sit there panicking that I am starving my child and I am not making enough milk. Sometimes though when she conks out, she wakes up after 20 minutes SCREAMING. Not gradual build. Like full out screaming. (We have given her a fourth dose of formula during these times when we just can't take it anymore, I am sorry to say. -but even those 20 minutes is a welcome reprieve).

I guess there is the possibility that she is allergic to the formula. He'll help determine that tomorrow, but we have tried to switch it as well and same response.

She is calmed in some way by being held with pressure on her abdomen, which we read in What to Expect The First Year about colicky babies. And she is very gassy - and burpy - also symptoms.

Anybody have this experience? Any advice?

*One weird thing. This only starts at about 2:00 pm through maybe midnight. When she wakes up for her first feeding at night around 2:00, she nurses, gets no bottle, and goes right to sleep. This pattern continues on through the morning. So this need for the bottle doesn't happen at night - and neither does the insane crying.

2:00pm was right around my MOH's daughter's 'witching hour', as she called it. That poor baby had the most awful colic. This is what she said to do.

(This is what I posted when Stacey had asked about it)

I am posting this incase anyone else find this useful.

My MOH has a child who was the definition of a colicy child. I was a horrible experience. I asked her if she had any words of advice for you and this is what she said:

1) Since you are breast feeding watch your diet. You might be eating something, even though it might be healthy, if could be causing the baby gas. For example broccolli or sauce.

2) She said that she used Dr. Brown bottles

3) Draping your child over your arm like a rag doll.

4) She sometimes she would lay Jessica on her back and do a bicycle type motion with her legs. She said that helped

5) If it is truly Colic those drops probably won't help

6) She suppliment with Carnation Good start and that helped (her baby was older when this started)

7) Lots of patience and lots of singing!!

She said good luck and lots of hug's

Hopes this helps!

Jenny, I havent 'been through' a colicky baby, but I wanted to send you some heartfelt BIG HUGS right through here

That must be one of the toughest things to sit through, helpless and not knowing what else to do I wish I could come help you, but I wouldnt know what to do either.
Sounds like youre trying your best, and dont you DARE feel bad about giving her formula.
I totally understand the rest and time you need even for that bottle-time.

We just mentioned colicky babies last nite in the car on the way home. JA cried like a STARVING newborn. It ws SOO not him and I felt helpless not being able to calm him. I could tell it was a 'pain' cry, and I didnt know what it was. We finally (after less than 10 min) let him out of the car and into MIL's house, and he stopped, the way he squirmed his tush in the car, I figured it might have been diaper rash, even though he had JUST been changed and had tons of Balmex on) and when I changed him again he cried again, so I think that was it. But just seeing a baby cry SO HARD (He worked up a HUGE Sweat from crying so hard ) We just imagined for a minute always going through this and not knowing what other remedies to try

Just wanted to share so you know youre not alone in these little parenting bumps in the road. I hope you figure out what it is. Make sure to take little breaks and swap time with hubby. You need the break even if its just for a little walk in the snow.

FM me if you need to chat

Jenny, Ryan was not completely colicky, but very very gassy, turning red, uncomfortable and prone to crying fits. I think I mentioned earlier that cutting out dairy while I was bf'ing did help him. Also, he could NOT take regular formula. Once I weaned him and he went on soy formula he was a completely changed baby.

As you know, he is allergic to milk so that probably had something to do with it. If it is true colic, unfortunately, my SIL's baby was like that and except for trying to make her comfortable as you are doing, I'm not sure that there is much else you can do until she outgrows it. You may want to consider switching formulas and/or modifying your diet just to see if anything changes. Also, I found that he was much better on the Avent bottles than the Playtex or anything else. I think with newborns, every one is different and you just have to play around with all different things until you find something that works! I always feel bad for the first born - they are like an 'experiment'!!

I really feel for you - having a baby that is uncomfortable is heartbreaking. It is stressful and made worse by lack of sleep...good luck! We're here for you!

oh, good news. I hope its better from here

In a month or two, you can come over and we can listen to our little ones cry together

Anna I will take you up on that!