Remember when I didn’t think I had a colicky baby….just a “high-needs” one? Well last night my mind changed. Lil’ miss Fiona cried from around 7 p.m. till close to midnight….I think I only cried from around 9 to 9:30 =) UGH!
So this morning we had her 1 month check-up and in my long list of new mom questions for the pediatrican was….”should she really cry this much?”. Dr. Larsen informed us that newborn generally only cry/fuss around 1 to 2 hours a day….oh my we said….really? Fiona cries and fusses every waking hour it seems. So we went on to describe her behavior. She fusses after she eats…and unless she falls asleep eating she cries for a period of time after eating….when i try and feed her more to see if she is just still hungry, she cries while eating (I then of course stop figuring that she has gas and it hurts her) then when i try and burp her she stiffens up and arches her back and cries harder. Even my mom, who has stayed several days now, said that she though Fiona cried and fussed a lot, that maybe more then normal.
Dr. Larsen said that colicky babies usually cry like clock work….usually at night and at around the same time each night. This hasn’t been Fiona…she cries and fusses all day. The dr. thought that that sounded like something they call GER, which is basically baby heart burn/reflux. That maybe the little thing that shuts the stomach off from the esophogus is underdeveloped…or maybe even the heavy antibiotics she had to take when she was so young for the eye infection effected her stomach lining. A lot of babies have it in the early months, most out grow it by 8 to 9 months, some kids it becomes a serious problem for them. Up until now it has been missed a lot because many parents and dr.’s have mistaken it for colic….but after reading the list of about 10 symptoms…I would say she has at least 6 to 7 of them…
She prescribed Zantac for her twice a day and we’re giving it a go. I’m supposed to call on monday to let her know if there was any change….dr. larsen thought we would know within a day or two if we had a “new baby” or not! I don’t want to say too much before it’s time…but I gave her her first dose this morning and right now she is sitting…AWAKE…. in her vibrating chair…NOT CRYING….something she has NEVER done before. In fact, she hasn’t cried since I gave her that….slight fussing here and there, but easily comforted.
again….not going to get ahead of myself on this because i don’t need to feel defeated! But if you read this send me good vibes please!
I can’t explain what a relief it was…in a weird way….to hear that this wasn’t normal. I had really started doubting myself. Was I just a wimp? Had I taken on more then I could handle? Maybe I wasn’t ready for this? I have always been such a patient and easy going person…so patient with children…even crying babies…but here my own baby couldn’t be comforted by me no matter what I did….she just always seemed so unhappy….and man does that break your heart!
I’ll keep you all updated….read more on the rest of the visit!
We gave J zantac till he was around 6 months old. Same symptoms.. especially the back arch!!!! It’s so worth it. She’ll grow out of needing it eventually.
Congrats on figuring out what was going on…. I know how you feel!