colicky baby number 2

emlklg444

We are very, very blessed to have our girls. We love them with all our hearts. We went through so much to get them here.... However, baby sister has turned out to be just as fussy and colicky as big sister was. Anyone else have extremely fussy babies that scream/cry inconsolably nearly all day long but especially at night from 6pm to 11pm? Or, are we the only lucky ones? Like, the baby is literally crying and is never content at all, unless she is sleeping or eating. At least this time we know this phase eventually comes to an end around 4 months or so... we just have to wait it out. It's hard though. I've nearly lost my mind more than once. There is no medical reason for all the crying....same with older sis. I wanted so badly to be able to enjoy the newborn phase this time.... but somehow we hit the colic jackpot again, and I'm just ready to fast forward to a happier baby phase Needless to say, we will not be trying for a baby #3.... I envy those with calm, easy going babies... if they exist. Just doesn't seem fair, to go through lots of heartache and pain to get pregnant, and to have to endure this nightmare of colic a second time. Not saying we aren't extremely grateful for our babies, and I hate to sound like this is complaining. They are otherwise healthy, and one day this nightmare of screaming and crying will be over.

K&H

My brother's baby, born mid-Feb, is like this as well. Her mama wants to tear her hair out! They've found two things that sort of work a little. One, complete and total darkness after 5:30, room darkening shades etc. And two, switch parents from the at home parent to the "new and fresh" parent around this time. It doesn't really make it much better, but it gives one a much needed break, gives the other a sense of contribution and connection, and maybe decreases their stress a little?
They're pretty much just making it through each day the best they can and knowing that it won't last forever, even when it feels like it will.

I'm sorry it's not all dreamy like you had hoped. :-/

ruedeodeon

Have you tried similac sensitive for fussiness and gas? I k ow some
Moms are devout on breastfeeding but my diet probably caused my fussy baby (I didn't have an appetite and and breastfeeding caused me to crave weird things like dairy and other things my baby probably didn't like. His colickyness wasn't bad but that formula with colic calm helped for a while then he didn't need it after two weeks, it can cause constipation so we massaged his belly regularly.

old mama

My youngest adopted son was like that. I dreaded every evening. Like your oldest he did outgrow it. It was hard. I had to put him in his bassinet more than once and walk outside to calm myself for a bit. Yes, he cried but I was ready to too. Driving around in the car sometimes would calm him. He HATED swings or things that would soothe other babies. My heart goes out to you.

kelleymel

Our daughter went through this - although it was fairly brief. We discovered that she was allergic to dairy - even though she was exclusively breast fed, it was coming through the breast milk. My wife had to give up every bit of dairy and it took 2 full weeks to leave her breast milk (and we had to dump what little supply we had). Once we did this, her symptoms cleared up and she started sleeping better and feeling more content.

Shanny

Having been through this I really don't believe in colic. There is a reason your baby is acting like this and getting to the bottom of it sure beats waiting it out and everyone suffering. I recommend the book "Colic Solved".

Is baby on probiotics?
Have you tried a chiropractor?

Also, remember you are still in the 4th trimester so that baby's hormones are going through as much madness as Mama's are.

hang in there but do try and solve the mystery instead of just accepting the blanket response of "colic".

blkbrd3

I encourage you to explore providing comfort to your baby in as many ways as are possible for your family. In hindsight I wish I had had more energy to explore chiropractic or other non-pediatrician based care for him.

I feel like I tried everything with Thomas. Somethings worked, somethings didn't. On a particularly stressful day I had a beer and surrendered to the idea that I was going to spend the next four hours holding and rocking a screaming baby. On that day the stars aligned so that calming down and not fretting worked the best and he stopped crying. It was all downhill from there.

I hope the magic of the board kicks in and tonight your daughter feels comfortable and peaceful.

MNmommas

No advice, just hugs.

ahk00

Could she possibly have reflux? A friends twins did this and they found that the did have reflux. They are on meds 2x a day & she had to stop breastfeeding but they are now happy little ones.

diane&tammy

Jack was SUPER gassy so we started trying the different sensitive formulas until we finally found the one that worked. Similac Alimentum combined with the Dr. Browns natural flow bottles has worked wonders! I feel for you and hope you and baby get some relief soon!

katelm

I'm sorry you and your baby are having such a hard time. During her first few months my daughter had periods of what appeared to be gastrointestinal discomfort and pained crying and fussiness, especially between 6-11PM. I never thought of it as colic partly because I figured other babies had it worse and partly because I think there has to be a reason for it even if we don't know what it is, and it definitely had me spending a lot of time researching! I found these things helpful:
*Colic Calm (http://www.coliccalm.com for info on what's in it and a potentially useful collection of info on colic)

*This was the best infant probiotic I could find after comparing: http://www.seekinghealth.com/probiotic-for-infants-infant-probiotics-baby-probiota-infant.html (also of special concern to me because of her c-section birth and new research showing these babies lack normal gut flora, which impacts so many aspects of their health; there are reviews of this product also if you look it up on Amazon)

*I don't know if this is an issue for you, but I was taking a supplement with fenugreek in it, the most commonly used herb for increasing milk supply, and discovered that it causes gas/fussiness in some babies - I experimented with going on and off it and it was obviously causing my daughter serious discomfort. I switched to making loose tea with other galactogogues and it was much better.

*My daughter continued having some discomfort, though, particularly when eating and after reading a ton I think she was overreacting to her gastrocolic reflex (good explanation here: http://www.parents.com/baby/health/other-issues/myth-of-colic/). Giving her a lot of gentle but firm stimulation like whole-body rubs, caressing her face over and over, exposing her to a breeze either from a fan or blowing on her, carrying her on her tummy and rubbing her back, swinging her on her tummy with wide movements, etc, is probably the most helpful thing we found (that and stopping the offending fenugreek).

My daughter still gets antsy and acts uncomfortable sometimes while nursing (and I don't have much supply left these days so I know it's not the milk!). I think her intestines get going with her gastrocolic reflex and she is just oversensitive to it when she isn't getting a lot of other stimulation. Her body is doing the same thing when she eats food in her high chair but she's distracted by other things then, when nursing she isn't. So I still rub her arms and legs and kiss her hands and feet and talk to her, find any good way to stimulate her while nursing to reduce the sensation of her intensities contracting. No more fussy, "colicky" nights, though! It does have an end! I really hope you find some things that help and get some glowy times soon!

hoping4number2

Definitely recommend probiotics, chiropractic care, and pediatric craniosacral therapy! Those work wonders for a lot of babies!

emlklg444

thank you everyone for all the suggestions, advice, and support! I will try anything!

EMG_REL

Another vote for probiotics here! They worked wonders for our youngest while I was nursing, and he wa gassy and fussy. I hope you all feel better soon!

merilung

Probiotics, chiropractic, an inclined sleeper, and a dairy free diet are what helped here.