[Stormster]

sorry i have to type w one hand poor ethan cries on and off day and night we are exhausted from keeping him moving. he got it late at almost 7 weeks.

I know there is nothing I can do but we changed bottles I try to soothe him and massage him etc.small more frequent meals

But let me tell you it does hurt him I know I don't know why they say it doesn't. it's so obvious.

Does anyone know the best way to apply heat to an infant?

[dawnrenee58]

Originally Posted by Stormster

Does anyone know the best way to apply heat to an infant?

Stick them in the microwave! Just kidding. I know how hard it is to breathe, much less laugh right now. We have an extremely high needs baby. You should check out Dr. Sears' reccomendations. Most of them have worked for Marco.

HUGS AND HUGS AND HUGS! It is ok to put him down and walk away for a minute when you need a breath. IT WILL PASS!

Dawn

[blessedbybug]

Originally Posted by Stormster

sorry i have to type w one hand poor ethan cries on and off day and night we are exhausted from keeping him moving. he got it late at almost 7 weeks.

I know there is nothing I can do but we changed bottles I try to soothe him and massage him etc.small more frequent meals

But let me tell you it does hurt him I know I don't know why they say it doesn't. it's so obvious.

Does anyone know the best way to apply heat to an infant?

Tough stuff Stormster. My Little Man struggled with it too at least that is what the doctor said. To me, colic is a copout diagnosis when they can't figure out what it is. The developmental ped said that it was most likely an immature digestive system that made it tougher for him to digest. It made sense to me.

We didn't ever use heat. We swaddled him and held him snug against our bellies and he really liked being swaddled and put in the swing sitting up. He would at least sleep in there. We also did alot of tummy time across our knees... it seemed to help with the tenseness in his belly. And massaging his little belly helped too even though he screamed in the beginning as we worked gently he would slowly relax. We also did alot of walking and large movements to try to help him settle.

But even with all that, you know what I feel like is the best help for "colic"? Momma getting some time away from baby. If I had it to do over again, I would have found someone else to watch him so I could hang out with Bug more rather than the other way around. You helping Ethan during this time comes in the form of being a calm Mommy. If you don't get a break every once in a while then it is so much harder to cope with. I wish someone would have told me that when Roo was at his worst. I know you're a new Mommy and don't want to leave him but think about it... and ((((hugs))))

[HBV]

Stormster---check w/ your doc, but one of my office pals has had a colic problem w/ her new baby and now has a sleep positioner that holds baby propped up at an angle---she says it has helped tremendously.

I think she got hers from a medical supply place, but I just saw an "over the counter" one at a baby store here----there are a couple on the market, I think this one's called the TUCKER sling/wedge.

I'm so sorry---that's got to be rough stuff.

[kelceesmom]

Oh boy, do I know what you are going thru! I feel your pain.

We had colic until Kelcee was almost a year! We used the Dr. Brown's bottles, helped tremendously. We changed our formula to Nutramagen, worked tremendously. And we used Gripe Water which worked tremendously.

We never used heat but swaddled. If you are interested in my routine let me know and I will be happy to share it with you.

Good luck and take care of yourself.

[Juliana13]

Originally Posted by Stormster

Does anyone know the best way to apply heat to an infant?

Water bottles are good. With WARM, not hot, water in them. Never use electric hot pads. They can burn their skin pretty easily.

My first has colic, too. It was torture. I agree with blessedbybug - you need a break, especially if there are any other kids... are there? J was my first, and I didn't want to leave her, so I didn't - but goodness!! The neverending screaming! It was soooo hard! I got lots of good advice - and tried it all, but really, nothing semed to work. Switching to soy formula helped a little, but it still continued. Nutramagen is supposed to help, but I'm secretly glad it didn't, because it is SO EXPENSIVE! Okay, I would have been happy to pay the price - anything to help J. But it didn't work. The warm water bottle didn't work. Friends swore by "Gripe Water" and I have heard good things about it - you may want to try it. But it didn't work for me. Another friend's dad is an "expert" at soothing colicky babies, and he took a few hours with my daughter. He had no luck. First baby he couldn't soothe. "Wow." was all he could say.

The only thing that worked for me was to wait. It only lasted a couple of months (eternity, I know) and then went away. Like magic. And the best part is, although you will never forget, THEY will never remember.

And I agree with you, colic must be painful (and not just for the baby! ). Even if it is an overactive nervous system, as some cases are, it can't be comfortable. it is so hard to watch you little one struggle or hurt, especially when you can't fix it. But try all the ideas you've gotten - They worked for somebody, so maybe they'll work for you! Good luck.
The

[Stormster]

Is that other formula...I have all the bottles. Have been using Dr. Brown from the beginning but now trying the ones with the drop in bags because you can squeeze the air out before feeding. Makes sense, no?

The only thing gripe water is good for is I dip the pacifier in it so he'll take it because it's sweet.

The best thing is the jiggling, marching etc. but I also hold him sort of horizontally and press his hard tummy into my mushy one. It makes him feel secure and he gets some warm pressure.

I was wondering. I feed him room temp formula. Do you think warming it would make a difference? I didn't want to do that but if it would help.

BTW if this goes 2 months you won't see me on here anymore because i'll be in a padded cell at the nearest mental facility.

NO I'M NOT KIDDING!

[kelceesmom]

Try carrying him in the football hold also. Sometimes the pressure on his tummy helps get out the gas bubbles. I put the Gripe water in Kelcees bottle.

[Juliana13]

Originally Posted by Stormster

BTW if this goes 2 months you won't see me on here anymore because i'll be in a padded cell at the nearest mental facility.

NO I'M NOT KIDDING!

I soooo know the feeling!! There were many days (hours, minutes) where I thought I would really lose it. Hang in there! It is tough!!

[Stormster]

Denise I don't feel comfortable doing the football hold. Hopefully I will. I just got comfortable burping him in that sitting position because I felt I would choke him! So I'm getting there.

Juliana I just have a feeling that the formula is not to blame however I do think he might have overeaten and since we fed on demand. He had 8 oz in one feeding about two weeks ago. I think he had problems self regulating but not sure it's related.

HBV I have seen that thing, it's so bizarre looking! I thought it was reflux but wonder how it helps colic?

Bbbug I think we are handling it very much like you did. The only difference is he doesn't like his swing (the rolls royce of swings!) What's his problem???? What 7 week old doesn't like a swing?

Dawn thanks for reminding me it will pass. In order to avoid a microwave scenario LOL!!!!!! I make the daily assumption that this will be the last day.

One last thing before I quietly slip into a coma:
He just started making THE most adorable noises. Little sighs and oohs and aaaahs and you just want to MELT. But the monitor in our room last night was so horrible to listen to: he was soooo obviously in pain in his sleep. I am sure he said "owwww" it was ALL NIGHT. My poor baby! How can colic still not be understood when something like 20 percent of all babies get it?????

[StorkWatcher]

Hey, Storm! Hang in there. Just a couple suggestions, since you're at the try anything stage:

I also had one friend who did well w/ the gripe water. Might try it.

Have you read/tried Dr. Harvey Karp's book/DVD The Happiest Baby on the Block?

Also - my cousin's baby ( who was breastfeeding!) was SO not happy for a while. They finally narrowed it down to a milk protein allergy, and my cuz has eliminted soy/milk/TONS of stuff from her diet - now that she's mostly only on fruit and veggies and some meat, baby's fine... They think she'll outgrow it.

Have your peds checked for blood in the stool? That's the main thing her docs checked for and what led them to diagnose the allergy. Just wondering if they considered it... The one formula they found she could take was one I hadn't heard of. Even more expensive than Nutramigen. She's 9 months old now, and they've tried it a couple times, but she's mostly still nursing exclusively.

Also - Parents Magazine this month (Just got my issue today) had a quick thank you in the front from a mom whose baby had MRSA SEVERAL times in his first 15 months - made me think of you!

Good luck!

Stork.

[dragonfly1234]

Stomster I am so not a doctor but went thru the pain of having a baby with colic. I so understand the baby crying all the time and never sleeps. We changed to soy forumula and tried the gripe drops. They helped some but he always seemed to be hungry. My mom suggested water inbetween feedings with just a tiny drop of corn syrup. Now my aunt the nurse was so against it but it worked for our son. He would sleep and I found he liked certain music and would actually sleep for a period of time. Other than that the only time he would sleep would be if he was in my or dh arms.

Please talk to your doctor about options you can have so you and your son can get sleep.

It does get better. Hard to believe that you will get to sleep again.

[kelceesmom]

It will get better and sometimes overnight! Take turns with him. Call a friend to come over so you can take a nap or just an extra long shower. It will help you with everything.

[Stormster]

Today it's all about warmth and calm and dim and massage.

[gottahavehope]

Storm;

A great way to use heat is to put blankets in the dryer then swaddle the baby in the blanket right after the blanket comes out. My daughter had major gas and severe colic, which gave me really bad ppd. A friend gave me this tip and it helped. We also used Mylicon. It seemed to help as well. She is now 3 months today and doing great. It will pass. Hang in there!
Peace,
K