Colic and preemies

azsheena · November 2010

My son was born at 36 weeks so is a late term preemie. He has Colic and screams every night from at least 7-10, it has been 5-10 the last few days and today started at 3:00. I keep hearing 3 months as the magical age when things start to get better, but my question is- do I have to adjust that for his prematurity? Does anyone have an experience with that? It just seems to be getting worse.

At1stsight · November 2010

I don't know about adjusting b/c of prematurity but in general keep in mind there's a range of normal. DS had colic from 1 mo. to about 4 mo. and it was actually more of an all day thing for him, though worse in the evenings. It was horrid, and I really feel your pain. Taking walks outside sometimes helped us, white noise from either a sound machine or running water sometimes helped, the swing, just try everything and give each thing at least five minutes to see if it helps before trying something else. Hang in there and get help from a friend/relative so you can take little breaks. It does evenutally go away and has no bearing on your LOs future temperament. DS is SUPER sweet, social, and very good natured now.

azsheena · November 2010

Thanks- yes, we have tried everything! The consistent trick for us is laying on the bed and staring at the ceiling fan. Nothing else really works consistently. What works one day (or ten minute stretch) won't work at all the next. I keep reminding myself it is temporary. It is good to know that when it wears off you can have a happy kid. I do fear even when the Colic ends, he will continue to be whiney and difficult. So, it is refreshing to hear it doesn't have to be that way.

ahava2005 · November 2010

If colic is a GI problem (which some people disagree with), yes you have to go by adjusted age.

I definitely wouldn't worry about his being part of his 'personality'. Its so common....if you had an upset stomach and were overstimulated, you'd be upset as well. Just hang in there...

Mrs.Kristen · November 2010

DS was this way and he was a 36 weeker. It def doesn't mean it is part of their long lasting personality, he's almost three now and a really good kid minus the typical child mood swings. Have they looked into acid reflux to? DS would scream and cry for hours with collic and they ended up putting him on meds for the reflux and changed him to nutramigen and he was a completely different child after that. It does get better

azsheena · November 2010

I have asked the Pedi about silent reflux and she has sort of dismissed it. He doesn't really spit up, which is why I thought it may be silent reflux. She is not quick to put kids on meds unnecessarily, which I like, but I am feeling ready to try it. Then I could at least rule it out if that isn't it. If there is nothing we can do, than so be it, but I do feel like maybe there is some cause that I am not seeing. We are in the process of switching from BM to FF and it seems to be getting worse. She did tell us to start using the Gentle, which we did a few days ago with no improvement. I have also considered a milk allergy, but when I looked up the symptoms he really doesn't have any other than the endless crying and gassiness.

Mrs.Kristen · November 2010

DS they kept putting it off and the doctor didn't want to...I want to say he was close to four months before the doctor was willing to try it for the same reason and he wasn't a spitter either which is why the doctor kept dismissing my concern with the constant crying (babies cry yes but you know your child)...didn't want to give meds, which is fine but at some point the crying just didn't seem normal to us. With DD the doctor knew what we went through with DS and was a little more willing to work with it if by month two if she was still bad.

morganore · November 2010

DD has colic and reflux...its not very fun...but what I have found is if I stick her in the moby wrap and bounce around the house she will calm down and go to sleep after a few minutes.

lemen99 · November 2010

((hugs)))

the sling helped us

I would go by adjusted age

and if you think LO might have reflux and dr is ignoring you, consider a 2nd opinion!

AviatorJJ · November 2010

have you read happiest baby on the block? it was a lifesaver for us

FisMom · November 2010

AviatorJJ:
have you read happiest baby on the block? it was a lifesaver for us

This! The book saved us too. It turns out DD didn't have colic and did have reflux, but before any diagnosis was made, we were able to soothe her and get her to sleep. The 5 S's really work.

azsheena · November 2010

Yes, I have read Happiest Baby. The 5 S's help (except for swaddle- hates it) during the day but in the evening have very little effect. The Moby does help too. Eventually he gets too hot- but it does buy us 30-45 minutes many nights. Last night was maybe 10% better than it had been. I'll see how today/ tonight goes and then call the pedi again about the reflux.

darkblue · November 2010

My 35 weeker had colic bad. He is 11 weeks now and we are starting to emerge from the hell that is colic. He would scream inconsolably for HOURS...sometimes it would be from 10 am to midnight, but more often around 3 pm until midnight. We tried everything..gripe waters, mylicon, the moby, walks, the shushing and swaddling bit. We now believe his colic was related to bad gassiness. One trick that worked for us is combining 1 ounce of sprite with 2 ounces of water and then letting your LO have a couple of big burps. This helps him get the gas up. I know..I know..I gave my 2 month old soda (he is breastfed otherwise but will take a bottle), but we were seriously desperate bordering on insanity and it helped us big time. Good luck & hang in there.

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