Dear God make it stop!!!

DS has been crying since 10:30am. This is the 3rd day in a row. Yesterday I could at least take him to the park, but today it is too hot. He is finally asleep in the sling, but I'm sure he will wake up crying. My Ped says he is just colicky, but I don't understand *** colick is and why nobody can tell me. I think it is just some catch all. I just can't rationalize that a baby is fine and cries for hrs on end!! Surely something is hurting. Why can't they figure out what it is!! I feel so bad for him and worse that I can't seem to help him.

Re: Dear God make it stop!!!

Have you tried Milicon drops? Colic is gas pain, poor little guy. Also, maybe he is allergic to something in his formula or breast milk?

Just trying to think outside the box an help you out. Hang in there.

Re: Dear God make it stop!!!

I had a few posts with the same title!

These things worked for Cailen:

Laying him belly down on my lap and rocking him back and forth that way while holding his back

Laying him belly down on the boppy

Laying him on his side in the bouncy seat, or in his bassinet/couch

Putting him face forward in the Bjorn with a pacifier in his mouth - he looooved it!

"swinging" him rapidly back and forth cradled in my arms - I mean - a real good swing side to side!

Good luck - as everyone says - it really does get better!!!

Re: Dear God make it stop!!!

before SIL moved to florida she lived with us, ( her, BIL, nephew and then newborn neice) DH's neice was colicky and when I tell you crying from when she woke up till bedtime, screaming bloody murder the whole day, I sympathize for you b/c I know first hand there is nothing really you can do. For DH' neice turned out to be her formula after changing them a million times that finally there was some relief, not much but some. At the time I wasnt working study for my national boards/clinical and computer based exams and I dont know how I was able to study and do it.
when DD does cry the little she does, I get the shakes b/c it reminds me of DH's neice.
Good luck and I pray he begins to quiet down for you and feel better

Re: Dear God make it stop!!!

Posted by dandr10199

Have you tried Milicon drops? Colic is gas pain, poor little guy. Also, maybe he is allergic to something in his formula or breast milk?

Just trying to think outside the box an help you out. Hang in there.

Re: Dear God make it stop!!!

Posted by heidla

Posted by dandr10199

Have you tried Milicon drops? Colic is gas pain, poor little guy. Also, maybe he is allergic to something in his formula or breast milk?

Just trying to think outside the box an help you out. Hang in there.

Thanks!! I give him Milicon after every feeding. I suppose it could be something in my breastmilk. I have tried cutting out dairy, but obviously that didn't make a difference. I guess I'll just keep eliminating things and seeing if I hit on anything.

Message edited 6/26/2007 2:58:25 PM.

Re: Dear God make it stop!!!

Thanks ladies!!! Everyone keeps telling me it gets better around 3 months. I am kind of upset because I feel like I am being robbed of this time with him ya know?!

Re: Dear God make it stop!!!

Posted by dandr10199

Posted by heidla

Posted by dandr10199

Have you tried Milicon drops? Colic is gas pain, poor little guy. Also, maybe he is allergic to something in his formula or breast milk?

Just trying to think outside the box an help you out. Hang in there.

Thanks!! I give him Milicon after every feeding. I suppose it could be something in my breastmilk. I have tried cutting out dairy, but obviously that didn't make a difference. I guess I'll just keep eliminating things and seeing if I hit on anything.

You know, onions and garlic made DD gassy while I was BFing her. So did broccoli and artichokes. Try giving the milicon before feeding him. This worked for Grace! HTH

ETA: she was fine when I ate dairy, just the gassy veggies were horrible for her.

Re: Dear God make it stop!!!

My niece had colic. We would walk around the house, holding her & doing deep knee bends.

You can only imagine the shape my sister was in after 3 months.

When you breastfeed, trying holding her more at a 90 degree angle (upright position for those that failed geometry).

Is she only crying after feedings?
How much is she sleeping?

It does (and will) get easier! Hang in there!

Re: Dear God make it stop!!!

Posted by nrthshgrl

My niece had colic. We would walk around the house, holding her & doing deep knee bends.

You can only imagine the shape my sister was in after 3 months.

When you breastfeed, trying holding her more at a 90 degree angle (upright position for those that failed geometry).

Is she only crying after feedings?
How much is she sleeping?

It does (and will) get easier! Hang in there!

Re: Dear God make it stop!!!

Re: Dear God make it stop!!!

You're taking me back to my first 3 months with Andrew. I took no solace in anyone saying he would outgrow it while I went through it, but it really was true.

And while I look back and cringe on that overall time, I do have some fond memories of my little crying machine.

I'm sure you are providing for him in the best way and I feel this colicky period is worse for the parents.

Re: Dear God make it stop!!!

Re: Dear God make it stop!!!

Try holding your son on his belly cradled in your arms, so that his arms and legs dangle on the sides of your arms. Then, swing back and forth. The pressure on the belly seemed to help my DD when she would have belly pain.

Hope it passes soon!

Re: Dear God make it stop!!!

Does your Ped know you are a vegetarian? Stuff that I'm reading is saying that a vegetarian diet can be very gassy - maybe there is something you can take on your end to minimize the gas that is being passed through to your breast milk?

Re: Dear God make it stop!!!

WE HAVE THE SAME BABY!!!!!

I have been in the EXACT SAME situation you're in for the past week (check my posts!) It's SOOO frustrating. I think she's in a growth spurt right now... so it's tough.

Today's actually been a good day

But I feel what you're going through. Hang in there... they ALL say it gets better!!

Re: Dear God make it stop!!!

Posted by Karen



Does your Ped know you are a vegetarian? Stuff that I'm reading is saying that a vegetarian diet can be very gassy - maybe there is something you can take on your end to minimize the gas that is being passed through to your breast milk?

Re: Dear God make it stop!!!

Re: Dear God make it stop!!!

mine had tons of allergy issues early on. He loves his walks though and is always a different baby once he is in the stroller. One rainy or hot days, I totally wander around stores. I know you are in the city, maybe that Kmart or walk the mall.

Re: Dear God make it stop!!!

Do you have a sling or baby carrier? Wear him around the house, it worked wonders for us during DD's fuss time when nothing else helped We love the Met Tai! I am pretty sure it is nothing in your Breast Milk, as MOST babies go through this fuss phase for the 1st few months You are doing great

Re: Dear God make it stop!!!

Found this online which may give you some of the answers to why--hope it helps

Colic and Calming a Fussy Baby
Tammy C. Tempfer, MSN, RN-C, PNP

Persistent crying, diminished soothability, and restlessness in an otherwise healthy, well-fed infant characterize infant colic. The classic definition of infant colic, often used in research studies, is paroxysms of irritability lasting for a total of more than 3 hours per day and occurring on more than 3 days per week for 3 weeks in an otherwise healthy infant. Colic occurs in approximately 20% of all infants and is unrelated to sex, race, or socioeconomic status. Caring for a colicky infant is very stressful for parents, and in high-risk families, colic may have a lasting effect on the parent-infant relationship. The onset of colic is frequently the first 3 weeks of life. Infants usually recover by 3-4 months of age.[4]

A major problem in relation to infant colic is that the cause is unknown. There are at least 5 possible explanations for infant colic -- cow's milk/soy protein allergy or intolerance, immaturity of the gastrointestinal (GI) system, immaturity of the central nervous system, difficult infant temperament, and parent-infant interaction problems consisting of the transfer of parent anxiety to the infant and the inability of the infant to give clear clues about the needs to the caregiver.
Cow's Milk/Soy Protein Allergy of Intolerance

Food intolerance of protein and carbohydrates is implicated as a contributing factor in the development of infant colic. Numerous studies have been conducted to determine the relationship between diet and crying. It was found that breast-fed infants were as likely to be colicky as bottle-fed infants. Intolerance to either cow's milk or soy protein or both are temporary and result in the intact protein being absorbed as a result of increased mucosal permeability in the infant's GI tract. A few infants are truly allergic to cow's milk and with repeated exposure will eventually develop common allergic symptoms such as hives or eczema. A true allergy to cow's milk may be temporary or lifelong. Whether the problem is intolerance or an allergy to cow's milk or soy protein from the infant's or breast-feeding mother's diet, a change in diet will result in immediate improvement in 10% to 35% of colicky infants.[5]
Immature Gastrointestinal System

The word "colic" originates from the Greek word "kolikos," meaning "of the colon," suggesting that the Greeks thought persistent infant crying resulted from GI pain. Proposed GI causes of infant colic have generally been categorized into 4 main groups -- excessive gas, bowel distention and spasm, abnormal intestinal motility, and gastroesophageal reflux (GER). GER may be a significant causative factor in about 5% of infants with colic, particularly those with vomiting and food refusal. The acid reflux would have to lead to esophagitis to cause pain resulting in colic.[6]
Immature Central Nervous System

Irritable infants have been found to be more disorganized at birth, causing them to be easily stimulated. Crying during the first 3 months may be a byproduct of the major reorganization of the human brain systems that take place during this period. The central nervous system gradually matures over the first 3-4 months of life. It is likely that neurologically mediated individual differences in reactivity to stimulation are at least part of the reason for variations in crying behavior.[7]
Difficult Infant Temperament

It has been suggested that infants who "present with a temperamental disposition toward irritability and negative affect may display characteristic behavior that can persist for years. The type of care giving such children receive may modulate, at least in part, the degree to which early infant irritability predicts later social withdrawal."[8]

The amount of concern generated by crying infants often depends on the experience, anxiety level, and general personalities of the caregivers. The aversive crying of the colicky infant is hard to soothe effectively and occurs for no apparent reason. In the face of their inability to control or explain such behavior in their infants, parents feel helpless and inadequate and may become anxious and even depressed over time.[9]
An Intervention to Calm Crying Babies

Colic is likely due to multifactorial causes. Harvey Karp, MD,[10] Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, University of California School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Los Angeles, California, presented an intervention that he has found successful. Karp stated, "Unlike baby horses, able to run on the first day of life, our newborns are extremely immature...more fetuses than infants. One might argue that after 9 months of gestation they are still not ready for the world, however they must be 'evicted' from the uterus because their heads are so big they can barely fit through the cervix. Inside the womb, fetuses are constantly enveloped by several powerful sensations (tight confinement, frequent jiggly motion, and white noise louder than a vacuum cleaner). These all trigger a previously unknown reflex...the calming reflex."

Karp explained that most babies can handle being born too soon because they have mild temperaments and good self-calming abilities. Despite being exposed to waves of overstimulation and understimulation, they can soothe themselves. Colicky babies, on the other hand, have trouble with self-calming. They live through the same experiences as calm babies, but rather than taking them in stride, they overreact dramatically. These infants desperately need the sensations of the womb to help then turn on their calming reflex. Karp's book, The Happiest Baby on the Block, explains methods to calm fussy babies. The basis for the cuddle cure is the 5 "Ss."[11]
The Calming Reflex -- the 5 Ss

1.

Swaddling -- the cornerstone of the calming technique. Wrapping makes the baby feel magically returned to the womb and satisfies her longing for the continuous touching and tight fit of the uterus. This "S" doesn't actually trigger the calming reflex but it keeps the baby from flailing and helps her pay attention to the other "Ss," which do activate the reflex. For wrapping to be successful, keep the arms snugly restrained at the sides. Use the "DUDU" wrap -- Down-Up-Down (1/2 way) then Up and across the belt. Babies should be swaddled snugly without loose blankets because of the risk of SIDS. Also, they should be checked to make sure they are not overheated because of the possible association between SIDS and overheating.
2.

Side/Stomach -- supine is the safest position for sleeping; however, the side/stomach is the best position for calming a crying baby. The side and stomach positions work well because they trigger the calming reflex by imitating the baby's position in the uterus. Some infants are so sensitive to position that just rolling them from their sides slightly over toward the stomach calms them, rolling them a tiny bit from their sides toward their backs makes them panic. The side position also allows truncal flexion (fetal position), which is a position of calm.
3.

Shhhhh -- for a new baby, the sound of calm and tranquility is the loud shushing sound of the uterine and placental blood flow. The sound inside the uterus is loud (80-90 db), harsh (high pitched whooshing), rhythmic, and constant. When you first try shhhhing, the baby should quiet within a minute or two. Once the fussy baby settles, she will probably need continuing, moderate white noise to keep her from returning to crying.
4.

Swinging -- rhythmic movements imitate the uterine experience. When babies are fussy, these movements need to be small and vigorous (like a shiver.) Don't restrict the head from jiggling. It should quiver like Jell-O on a plate. Babies who are really wailing need to be jiggled at 120 per minute for a few seconds or minutes until they begin to calm. There is no risk of "Shaken Baby Syndrome" when the movements are tiny (excursions of only 1-2 inches) and the head stays in line with the body. However, this movement should not be done when a parent is angry.
5.

Sucking -- the last "S" requires the baby's cooperation and is introduced when she calms down. It allows a baby to bring to play her own self-calming ability. Sucking (on a breast, bottle, or pacifier) comforts the baby and allows her to recover from the intensely upsetting experience of screaming.

An Experiment in Soothing Your Baby

The clinician should advise the parent that to find their baby's favorite calming technique, they should place him on his back when he's a little fussy. One by one, add another "S" and see how many it takes to settle him down.

1. Shhhh him softly. If that doesn't work, do it louder, right in his ear.
2. Swaddle his arms to keep them from flailing. Do that while shhhing.
3. Place your wrapped baby on his side or stomach and shush him again.
4. Now use a quick, jiggly motion.
5. Finally, on top of all of these, offer a pacifier or finger to suck on.

By this time, most fussy babies will usually be calmed.
A New Parent's Survival Guide: The Top 10 Survival Tips for Parents of New Babies

The speaker closed with this guidance for clinicians to share with parents:

1. Trust yourself: you are the latest in the unbroken chain of the world's top parents
2. Lower your expectations
3. Accept all the help you can
4. Get your priorities straight: should you take a break or do the dishes?
5. Be flexible: it's much better to bend than to snap
6. Know thyself: how do your baby's cries make you feel?
7. Don't rock the cradle too hard: babies, frustration, and child abuse
8. Keep your sense of humor handy
9. Take care of your spouse (s/he just might come in handy someday)
10. Don't ignore depression: the uninvited guest

Re: Dear God make it stop!!!

Please get The Happiest Baby on the Block and read it from cover to cover. My son Alec was colicky, and I truly believe that there is MUCH more to colic than gastro issues. It is covered in the book about how some babies are super sensitive to EVERY stimulus in their new environment (EARTH), and how to help calm them. My son slept swaddled in a straight jacket with a toy Hoover Wind Tunnel running next to his crib until he was nearly 6 months old, and that only brought him from intolerable to wicked cranky. I FEEL YOUR PAIN! Please feel free to FM if you need to vent.

Re: Dear God make it stop!!!

Great Book suggestion: The Happiest Baby on the Block (thanks Leighla). My girl isn't colicky but I follow the suggestions anyway --

Five Ss:

Swaddle
Swing/Sway
Shushhh sound
Stomach or Side position
Suck (as in a paci)

Do all 5 and it works like a charm....well for Alex anyway.

Re: Dear God make it stop!!!

Re: Dear God make it stop!!!

Posted by babymakes3

Try holding your son on his belly cradled in your arms, so that his arms and legs dangle on the sides of your arms. Then, swing back and forth. The pressure on the belly seemed to help my DD when she would have belly pain.

Hope it passes soon!