Support/Tips for colicky/fussy/gassy babies

FTM53

This thread is for offering tips and general support for moms dealing with fussy babies. Feel free to offer what has worked (and not worked). Also feel free to rant, rave, cry, and scream about your feelings of frustration, hopelessness, guilt, exhaustion...that dealing with a fussy baby has left you with. 

FTM53

FTM, 4wks PP - LO is very fussy. Not sure it's colic yet, but he is so gassy and will sometimes cry and scream all night. We've tried the bicycle legs, extended burping, and right now I just started limiting my dairy intake and also block feeding to rule out foremilk/hindmilk imbalance. I just feel so bad when he is screaming in pain and the extra loss of sleep and feelings of failure or being a bad mom are overwhelming at times. I know I'm not alone in this and that things will get better, but figured I'd be the first to post, since I created the discussion. 

thepen15ismighty

We've been dealing with colic since week 3, formula and breastmilk is what we feed our son. Currently using colic calm and gas relief drops. We have noticed the colic calm only really works when he is just so tired from crying that it will help him sleep. Gas drops on the other hand have been a total life savior. However, yesterday we made it past witching hour(8:30 when colic tends to hit) and thought we made it past a huge hurdle. How wrong we were, lulled into that confort, we have hit the 6 week growth spurt early. He has slept for maybe 15 mins every hour and only wants to eat. Went through our colic check list of bath(pooped in the tub), swaddle, white noise, car seat time, white noise and the swing and me not putting him down. Should have paid attention to the sign the other day when he slept from 10:30pm-7:30am, he was storing energy for this hellish time. It would be more horrible if every time he woke himself up and got changed that he starts cooing and making faces. Clearly he's happy but this is going to be a long night. 

whataboutscience

Dealt with it last time as a FTM and know how hard it can be. I felt like such a failure not knowing how to soothe my baby and wondering if something I did during pregnancy caused her to be so uncomfortable/unhappy. I had bad anxiety and hardly got any sleep the first few months. As hard as it is, it will pass and will likely be something you laugh about later. Best of luck ladies!

Things that worked best for us: white noise, TIGHT swaddles, constant motion, following a strict routine, Zantac for horrible reflux. A lot of times nothing helped though.

thepen15ismighty

Should be thankful we don't have the reflux.

TiffRox81

We're dealing with a lot of consistent fuss due to gas and maybe some colic. It could just be all the bad gas. We too have found relief in gas drops and gripe water. She actually does real well out and about, as she loves car rides! But sometimes keeping a busy schedule out and that break in routine causes her to get really worked up later. It's like a no win situation. We've just started baths and calming lotion. That seems to help a lot! She loves the warm water. I've cut the dairy....not caffeine tho. Toying with doing that too. I also take probiotic pills that hopefully will help her digestive system improve. 

FTM53

@TiffRox81 I'm limiting dairy myself. I still put cream in my morning coffee, but pass on the cookies and milk or ice cream. I've also started block feeding. Where I make sure DS finishes off one boob before I offer him the next (usually 2-4 feedings on one boob). You can look up foremilk/hindmilk imbalance and see if that might be your problem. I'm pretty sure it is what has started helping DS (today was much better than two days ago). 

nikkimarie159

How do you ladies known when your LO is fussy because of gas? Other than the tooting... dd was super fussy today and we could not for the life of us calm her. 

TiffRox81

@nikkimarie159 Our baby brings her legs up and down a lot and screeches!! It's definitely a cry that makes you think she's in pain too. Typically starts up about 15-20 min after feedings. 

FTM53

@nikkimarie159 DS will kick his legs out and pull them up to his chest and cry/grunt/scream bloody murder. Sometimes he'll even put his hands on his tummy while making faces and crying like he's in pain. 

Also, I can hear his tummy gurgling like crazy.*

*edited because it's 2am and I'm a bit forgetful

winnie1122

@nikkimarie159 A lot of times if he's gassy I can tell by pressing on his belly because it will feel bloated and full like a balloon. 

Kellyj103

@nikkimarie159 our baby curls up and screams. Usually ends up farting after. Sometimes you can hear his stomach grumble.

twinpeaksmama

Samantha will pull her legs up to her chest, arch her back, and scream. We could also hear her stomach gurgling.It was scary the first time it happened because she is normally a very calm and pleasant baby. The pediatrician placed her on Zantac for reflux and we also use gas drops. I pump and supplement with formula (Similac Gentle) We also try to keep her upright after a feeding for about 20-30 minutes. The Rock and Play has helped as well.

rnyland1

I don't know what I'm doing wrong but this kid (almost 4 weeks old) seriously does not nap at all during the day. After a feeding he looks asleep and content but then within 5-10 minutes of putting him down he is screaming again. I feel like I'm trapped in my own home and cannot even do anything while I'm at home. I've resorted to just letting him CIO so I can do a few things a day like shower, use the bathroom, and eat. I'm considering giving up nursing and switching to formula to see if it will help him take at least one nap. But I can't keep going on all day every day like this. He hates pacifiers, hates the carrier, swing, rnp, etc., and I'm just at a loss. My head is pounding from the nonstop screaming. I feel like a total failure.   

austinjl

Have you tried babycarrying?  I have a boba wrap and my baby can be screaming and I'll put him in and he's asleep in5 mins.  I also was at a breastfeeding support group and a mom was saying her baby hadn't taken a daytime nap in 4 days and was super fussy most days.  The leader put the baby in a ring sling and he fell asleep within 10 mins.  She was explaining babies like the closeness and tightness of the wraps/carriers- feels like the womb.  She was also saying most babies hate to be put in the carriers but calm down after 5 mins or so of "mommy bouncing".  Hope your baby takes naps soon, however you get him to do it.  Good luck!  @rnyland1

FTM53

@rnyland1 mine did this too for a bit. Another mom told me to try this. Right before you start BFing, put a heating pad in his crib, bassinet, R&P...then, once LO is asleep, remove the heating pad and place baby down. If I do this and swaddle LO, I can get the chance to at least shower or eat or do a load of laundry. The swaddling (really tight) keeps him from waking himself up and the heating pad warms the bed so he doesn't wake up via cold sheets. 

I also generally make sure he's super asleep by moving him a bit to see if he fusses. 

whataboutscience

@rnyland1 Unfortunately, some babies are just like that. My DD didn't sleep during the day for more than 15 minutes. She fell asleep crying and woke up crying. She had an ear piercing scream that gave us headaches. I thought I was a failure, and now DS is a dream so I know it wasn't me. DD just didn't like being outside the womb I guess. Constant motion (while being held, not just in a swing or stroller) and white noise helped the most. She also hated the carrier until she was big enough to face out, then she actually loved it. Good luck. Sounds like you're doing the best you can. Just keep telling yourself this will pass soon enough. I know it doesn't feel like it now, but it only lasts a short time usually. My daughter started to calm down around 3 months some, although still a fussier baby, it felt manageable. Now she's actually a very pleasant, usually well behaved toddler. 

allthingscozy

@NikkiMarie for me I know she is gassy if she can't lay comfortably in some positions but others is just fine. Like she is fussy on her back but can fall asleep on my chest.

as far as op's question goes I've been dealing with fussy gassy baby the last few days and my dr gave me great advice to break up feedings even if baby gets upset and burp more frequently. I also have started doing gentle tummy massage to get things moving and bicycling  her legs or moving her hips and butt in a upward and clockwise circle as well as bringing them into her stomach/chest this really seems to help her get intestinal gas pain out or at least things moving 

kellz14

@Backbypopulardemand when do you do the bicycle/massage? Is it when she seems like she's in pain?

Weville

@kellz14 We do bicycle pumps after his bottles and when he seems like he has the gas pain. It makes a big difference

FTM53

@kellz14 I do bicycle pumps when he's fussy and seems to be in pain. 

thepen15ismighty

Used a warm cloth on LO's belly last night, got some decent toots to pass.

FTM53

@thepen15ismighty I'm going to have to try that! 

TiffRox81

@thepen15ismighty Me too!! Great share. She loves the bath so I imagine a warm cloth would be well received. 

mrsmommya

Anyone have a LO diagnosed with reflux and have medication?  DD1 had relux and was medicated but her and DD2 are showing different, but reflux related symptoms.  DD1 had projectile spit up, didn't gain weight very well, but wasn't bothered by the reflux.  DD2 has calm spit ups, cries inconsolably for at least an hour in the evening, and cries after burping.  I am calling the doc tomorrow and hoping they are open to trying it, at least for elimination if nothing else.

sunshineandwhiskey

@mrsmommya LO was diagnosed today with reflux and is starting to take Zantac twice daily. She sounds a lot like your DD2. Spit up inconsistently, only projectiled once, but what triggered me was she always seemed like she was in pain after a feeding. LO also progressively got fussier and fussier as each day passed, which we just chalked up to getting older. We first thought her crying was her witching hour too but then it started in the morning and then the afternoon. Also, my big red flag was she started pulling away during feedings and crying inconsolably but still went back for more and that cycle continued. 

Hope you get answers tomorrow! The Zantac has already started helping our LO and bed time tonight wasn't such a fight. 

FTM53

Good luck helping your LOs, ladies! I hope their bellies get better soon. Mine has decently bad gas, nothing diagnosisably severe, but her gets fussy while eating sometimes and wakes himself up with gas pains. Nothing breaks a momma's heart faster than their LO in pain. 

thepen15ismighty

Probiotics ladies, what a huge difference in this house. Mommy's Bliss Probiotics

Brittnic531

@thepen15ismighty- do you take it as well? How fast did you see a difference? I haven't had a chance to write about my LO here yet but we're currently dairy free and I've been seriously considering it for her.

thepen15ismighty

I don't take it, we've been giving it to my LO for 3 days now and he is a lot better. He passes gas and doesn't have the screaming fits that he did before. Witching hour lasts maybe a half hour now unlike the 3 it used to be.

megstervt

Probiotics have made a difference for us too! We're using the gerber  soothe drops.

TiffRox81

I myself have been taking probiotics and have noticed a difference too!! I think we're over the hump of the gas issues. At least I hope!!! Still very largely dairy free and waiting until the three month mark to see how reintroducing that gods. 

Brittnic531

Thanks everyone! Looks like I'll be picking some up when I'm out tomorrow.  S struggles with constipation and it has gotten a lot better since I started going dairy free but her poo is still pretty formed and painful for her to pass... Plus she's only going once a day, if that.  We bf & ff so only going once isn't unusual, it's just heartbreaking when she's crying trying to push it out.  DD1 was lactose intolerant but it was much worse and I'm hoping that by adding the probiotics and continuing dairy free that we'll avoid the path we ended up with DD1.  

thepen15ismighty

Probiotics introduce bacteria to help them break stuff down better. It's like you eating yogurt. If they were old enough for yogurt that's what I'd be giving my LO instead. If that's a helpful explanation. I'll be happy when he has made it to the month where his digestive tract can do this stuff on its own.

FTM53

Feeling really hopeless and helpless right now. LO has been so gassy and not pooping for the past 4 days. He isn't sleeping and screams even when he's held. I got him some gas drops and he's farting and has pooped a small amount finally, but still can't sleep. I haven't slept more than 2 hours a night, DH is out of town and I'm on my own. Hoping the gas drops just need a few more doses to really start helping. 

shaylalr

I laughed when I saw it, but some of you ladies could really benefit from it. There's a product by frida baby called the windi. Basically, you stick it in their butt and it makes them pass wind (and usually poop!) If you are desperate, it could be worth a try. I've also heard a rectal thermometer could help, but the windi can only be entered so far which helps prevent hurting them. 

Brittnic531

@FTM53- I'm sorry! DD1 was like that all the time too

(wth?! The bump ate my post)

she ended up being sensitive to dairy and we had to put her on specialized formula.  Definitely try the thermometer if you're comfortable! You can also try a warm washcloth or cotton ball and massage around his butthole (mom life is so glamorous, right?!).  This is supposed to help relax those muscles enough to poop... I never had much success trying this method.  I know how tough it is on you so I hope he gets some relief soon! My pedi is also comfortable giving a tiny amount of juice once they're one month.  you could always call your nurses line to see what they encourage.  

I brought up probiotics to my pedi (to see what he thought) and he wasn't crazy about it... Said she was a little young but it should be fine.  He initially suggested juice but I'm not comfortable giving it to my baby, once a day or every other day to get her going.  I don't even let my toddler have juice, except on a rare occasion.  Now just to order the probiotics because they were a lot more expensive in stores.  

winnie1122

@FTM53 Have you tried gripe water? Sometimes it settles angry bellies, I've heard people like it better than the gas drops but I haven't tried the drops. My LO likes the gripe water. I think it helps him relax enough to pass the gas because it distracts him. Otherwise, I've had some luck with getting him to poop during a diaper change by massaging him around the opening with a wipe, lol. Massaging his belly in a clockwise motion also helps. It's no fun, I'm sorry you're going through that!!!!

mntnmum

I hope everyone is doing well! I haven't posted since the beginning of my pregnancy, so by way of re-introduction:
I am a FTM to my sweet DD who is now just over 6 weeks. We are struggling with pretty bad reflux and gas making my sweet girl angry. On top of that I think she may be going through the six week growth spurt! I so appreciate the support of this board by just reading we are not alone (though I'm sorry anyone has to experience it)!

She was just started on Zantac a few days ago and I haven't noted much improvement. Have any of you had luck with this? I hate giving her meds if they don't help!

Her pediatrician started me on probiotics which actually has made her pass more gas. I actually think it might be helping her just get out the gas tho. She also went from having completely liquid stools after each feed (bf) to now 2-3 mustardy stools a day. Not sure if it's normal digestive maturation or the probiotics but thankful either way.

Thinking good thoughts for all of you and hoping our little ones get relief soon as they age!

Brittnic531

For those taking probiotics themselves, are you taking pills or just eating yogurt? 

KASG

I think my LO is just in a fussy stage. My mom swears she's hungry but I feel like I feed her all. the. time. The usual things that had been working don't seem to calm her anymore. She only calms while nursing. She's not actively feeding but just on the boob and as soon as it comes out, she's back to screaming.

ETA she is only 3.5 weeks old. Tell me it's a phase. Please.