Solutions for gas/colic PLEASE

[rb1]

Hi


My newest little one who is 6.5 weeks old seems to have an issue with gas/colick where he brings his knees to his chest or will arch his back almost in a painful kind of manner. I am currently using something called Ovol which is supposedly a gas releaver for infants, and I have tried gripe water - but neither seems to help much.

Any suggestions? He hates being swaddled as I think his preference is to be able to move his limbs to try to get rid of gas.

I am currently giving him EBM and supplementing with some formula(trying soy right now) as I can't seem tokeep up with his needs. I have eliminated milk things from my diet just in case it is me. Any suggestions.

rb1

[BC-SgtMom]

Hi rb1 and welcome!

It is sometimes difficult to distinguish between colic and GERD. If he has discrete crying spells at similar times of day 3 or more days per week, I would suspect colic. The arching makes me suspect GERD. And both could be going on as well. Our dd had colic from about 3-12weeks. We were referred to a homeopathist by our ped. She had us try different remedies until one seemed to work. Of course she was 3 days shy of 12w by then so it may have just gone away on its own. Colic usually resolves after 3-4mos except in rare cases that can go on much longer. With colic, it is so hard b/c they are inconsolable. You just love them and put them down when you cant take it anymore. Like your son, our dd didnt like to be swaddled so we didnt even try. A swing or other movement did help. We had one of those devices that vibrates that we hooked onto her bouncer and she slept in that. In fact she slept in her bouncer for 6mos since it was so upright and she also had GERD.

Her GERD also started early but lasted until past a year. GERD symptoms included arching and fussiness whenever we tried to recline her after a meal. She was considered silent reflux since she did not spit up much. But it was obvious she was uncomfortable after meals and I could hear sounds coming from her chest. She was put on Zantac by the regular ped but that didnt help. We were referred to a ped GI who prescribed prevacid, first an envleope we had to mix which was sticky and sweet. Then an everescent tablet that we also mized with water but it was thinner and not as sweet. The second one did the trick and we remained in it until after her first bday. We were also on soy formula which seemed to agree with her - we tried nutramigen (hypoallergenic milk formula) but she hated it - until just past a year. She is doing well now - no meds, regular milk - and has the most easy going personality. So know that it will not go on forever and is most likely not an indication of his disposition in the long run.

Take care,
Kate

[agnes2712]

My baby has alot of gas, too. I can usually differentiate it from her reflux because she does arch her back and squirm more with gas. With her reflux she seems to gulp and just cry out more from that type of pain. The only suggestion I have is using the Mylicon(simithecone) drops.....my DD has been on them for a long time and I think it helps to give them it more often than what the bottle says. My DD was a preemie and when her gas was really bad in the NICU they were giving her .6mg every 3 hours(with every feeding) which is more than what the bottle says to give. Since I know it was safe even when she was a preemie, I will give it to her that way now when her gas seems really bad.

The other thing I do is lay her across my legs on her tummy and pat her back. She usually squirms but will eventually start passing gas. Hope it gets better soon!

[rb1]

I am still looking for answers and feel kind of desperate for them. I have switched formulas again as I understand that soy can be hard on the system so I went to a plain old lactose free formula with EBM. I am suspecting that it is colic as he seems unconsolable and seems to be in so much pain. I think that it may be a case of needing a good poop as well, but the only way I can make sure he moves his bowels is by suppository which I have done 2 times a few days appart. THe gas will wake him from a dead sleep, and I think that he could possibly sleep well through the night if it wasn't for this.

I am still searching for answers, but realize that it might be a case of the next 4 weeks or so being the same.

Tia

rb1

[Blue]

barge ...

when our lil guy was diagnosed with colic I couldn't justify putting all the gas drops into his little system etc. I decided to try our chiropractor who swore within two visit we would see a difference. WE DID! They do not crack lil baby bones ... they use their hands to readjust the spine to allow for the intestines to work more efficiently etc. Within minutes of his adjustment every single visit for 6 months he would poop his pants ... it was amazing. LIterally after the first two visits we had a different baby at home.

it is worth looking into this as an option. Our chiropractor uses the "activator method" no bone cracking at all with any of us!

[BC-SgtMom]

We did not see a chiro when dd was that small, but we did later on for an unrelated condition and she worked wonders! They are definitely very gentle with the kiddos - dd loves going there...

Take care,
Kate

[rb1]

Some relief, but still looking for more answers. My little guy is still very gassy but seems to be doing better on the LF formula. I have decided that possibly part of the problem has been that the mixture of EBM and formula was varying too much. I have now decided to put only 2 oz of formula in every bottle to try to keep it consistant. I believe that any extra EBM I can store/freeze to feed the baby longer when I decide to wean him.

I still find him quite gassy and flatulent. I am really wondering whether there is a solution I am missing and am not sure about the chiro yet.

rb1

[BC-SgtMom]

Do they have pediatric gastroenterologists in your area and can you be referred to see one? Ours was excellent and answered all my questions. He experimented with meds until we found the type that worked. Also if they suspect something else is going on, they can order tests, such as an upper GI.

Good luck and let us know what happens,
Kate

[Daviso]

Solutions for gas:

We use this and it helps with gas! It is common in India to use Fennel seeds for gas also. We learned this from people we work with from India and Napal.

Buy Fennel seed - can get at the grocery story in the spices section.



Crush the fennel seed (before I got a pistol (sp?) I used a small cup and a kitchen utensil to smash it). It doesn't have to be powered when crushed, just crushed enough to open the seeds. I crush it for a couple minutes until I feel like it is crushed enough.

Boil 1 cup of water and seep the crushed fennel seed in it for about 20 minutes.

Drain the seeds out of the fennel tea. (I used a papertowel of a coffee cup to catch the seeds and let the liquid flow through)

Cool. (Keep in refrig.!)

Use a teaspoon with each feeding or as needed. You can add it to the formula or give with a dropper if you breastfeed.

IMPORTANT: Make sure to burp your baby after giving it to them. They will burp...

After a couple of times, you will see the results. It took about 2 or 3 times for it to start helping our son. It will help them poo also.



We don't use it each feeding all the time. But, if we notice he is fussy and having gas issues, we'll give it to him. My cousins all used it every single feeding at first, and then every other after awhile...

Hope this helps! Worked wonders for us...

[BC-SgtMom]

Daviso - thanks for posting that naturalpathic recipe - I hope it helps many!