Acid Reflux or Colic?

I had this problem with my first daughter and i found that there were two things that worked. First try to get him to sleep b/f 7. If it starts at 7 aim for 6:30. I would lay in my bed and nurse my daughter until she fell asleep. I co sleep so this worked out great for me. Another thing you might want to try is to put him in the swing or the car seat to sleep. It helps with the acid reflux. Also, breastfeeding too often could actually add to the problem if he is not actually hungry. Sometimes they mistake there pains for hunger and this just starts a viciuos cycle of them filling up their little tummies too much. I almost forgot, this started with my second daughter and static calmed her down. Just turn to a channel that you do not get. It helps them block out the background noises. Good Luck I hope this helps.

"Colic" is just a word to describe a fussy baby who has not yet been diagnosed with a problem. There is always a cause for "colic"--the two main causes being reflux or a milk allergy.

My daughter screamed for the first four months of her life until we got her reflux and milk allergy diagnosed and treated (finally). She takes Zantac, which has worked wonders for us, and I went on a completely dairy-free diet (she is breastfed). Has the medication helped him at all? Give it some time. Also, look carefully for blood in the stool--that is a hallmark sign of a milk allergy.

My daughter was also a terrible sleeper--rarely a daytime nap and up every 1 to 2 hours at night. What changed our lives was the Miracle Blanket (www.miracleblanket.com). It worked wonders for us. The first night she used it at age six weeks, she slept for seven hours straight.

I have been in your shoes and sympathize with you. The good news is that most babies grow out of this. My daughter is almost ten months old, and she is over her milk allergy. The reflux is still a problem, but she is no longer in pain--just spits up a lot, and we have to keep up with the Zantac. She is otherwise happy.

You know your child best. If you feel that he is more than just "fussy," press on with your doctors until they find out what is causing him pain. Don't let them tell you it is just "colic." I am passionate about this issue because my daughter was in pain for so long without a diagnosis, and I was going crazy from the constant crying.

If you feel that he is not in pain and just fussy, the book "The Happiest Baby on the Block" is great for techniques to soothe a fussy baby.

Good luck to you!

I went through the same thing with my oldest son (now 5). The doctors put him on every medication and every formula to try to solve the problem. We ended up seeing a gastroenterologist and found out that he was slow digesting. I'm pretty sure that isn't a common problem but by about 6 months if it's colic or reflux, the problem will get better. I know it sounds like forever now, but just try to hang in there. You may want to ask your doctor for a referral to a pediatric gastroenterologist just because they know about the specifics of the digestive system. Even if it's just reflux, they may be better able to help you. Good luck and remember it gets easier!!

My son for the 1st year of his life was miserable - Especially in the evening. I breastfed as well. He spit up constantly and the ped. we had prescribed him first Zantac and then Prilosec diagnosing him with reflux. We found out at a year of age he was allergic to milk, eggs, and nuts. Food allergy's are very much on the rise and very under diagnosed. I would try an elimination diet for yourself. A common misconception- even in some books- is that food allergens cannot travel through your breast milk. That cannot be further from the truth. To do the elimination diet you must take out the top allergens for more than a week out of your diet. It's pretty hard. You could also have your baby skin tested- It's really not as bad as you'd think. My 3 year old barely flinches when it's done to him. I sooooo wish we would have reached out and gotten other opinions when Owen was going through this as a baby! I will always feel somewhat responsible for not listening to the pediatricians tell me he had colic. I even took him to the emergency room one night because I was convinced something was wrong with him- just for him to again be diagnosed with colic. I truly believe as someone else has already told you that colic is a diagnosis that doctors don't know what is wrong- but that they don't think it's life threating. I have also heard that craniosacral works wonders.

Another thing that did help a little (atleast to give this tired mama a break) was Owen's motorized swing. Thank god for that swing- That and the bath tub. Good luck to you-- Hang in there- It gets soooo much better- And ask for help from those you trust. It will make you much more patient when you need to be!

sounds like both. my now 15 month old was and still the same way..raise the head of the crib mattress up a little, if you have a bouncy seat or swing let him set up in it at a recline position. after feeding keep him sitting up in recline position 1 hour or more before lying him flat.. mine was and still on zantac, does he spit up alot where its projectile and if its too much prblem take him to a gastrologist

My daughter had reflux and was on zantac until she was 4 months old. During that time she would only sleep in her swing. We even bought a portable one to put in our room at night. Our doctor said that having her sleep upright helped prevent the acid from coming up so she would sleep better. Maybe that would help for during the day.

My daughter was the same way. My doc didn't prescribe anything. She said it's due to the fact that their brain is not fully developed yet and has a hard time blocking out noises at times and gets startled easily. She told me it goes away when they turn 8 weeks or so, and it did. There were times were holding her or nursing her didn't work. She would just cry and be fussy. My doc did say that if it doesn't go away by 8 weeks, it might be something else. If you breastfeed exclusively (without a bottle), acid reflux isn't very common.

Good luck and hang in there.

Y.

I know that your son seems to have signs of colic. For mine, i used to give him mylicon drops and he was fine. Maybe you could try that.

Hi there,
My daughter was colicky about the same age. It's horrible and terrifying isn't it? I found a WONDERFUL help. I'd swaddle her in a blanket and rock her in the rocking chair while I had the vaccum cleaner on next to me. In less than five minutes, she'd stop crying. Also, did your son by any chance have any antibiotics in the hospital? If he did, that may be the problem. Let me know and I'll explain...

My daughter was both. She had acid reflux and the daughter put her on Zantac and that really worked. My daughter also had colic for a few nights and I actually had to put her on a different brand of formula-I did breast feed for about a month but unforunately I couldn't produce anything. She scream for a few hours and was only quite when I walked the hall with her for a few nights and then she just stopped. If hes waking up after only ten minutes, maybe he has some gas pains or just gas in general. Try a soothing bath when he starts screaming with Lavendar baby bath or soap and see how that works, I hope this helps, If you have questions, feel free to message me.

My daughter had the same problem, except she cried all day and night, I stoped breast feeding and started her on soy formula and it stopped. She was also diagnosed with acid reflux. I dealt with it from 3 weeks old til 4 months, then I switched to soy. I thought she had colic but it was really bad reflux. The soy formula took care of it.

Hi,

If your son cries when you're not holding him, maybe he just needs to be held from 1-7.

Mine did, and I got a sling and carried him with me and he was happy, happy, happy--and I could get work done at the same time. He would actually fall asleep while I cleaned--especially vacuuming!

I used a "New native carrier" that I got from Ehouse on E Carson in Pittsburgh PA--but I'm sure you could get one online--

also, check out www.pittsburghnino.com/ and www.thebabywearer.com/ --they've got lots of advice.

most women in the world "wear" their babies, and all primate moms are in constant physical contact with their babies--so maybe your son just wants what most primates get!

hope that helps.