From: ashley@osc.edu (Ashley Burns)
Newsgroups: misc.kids
Subject: Colic Survival
Date: 8 Sep 92 21:20:21 GMT
Organization: Ohio Supercomputer Center

Almost six weeks ago I wrote how rough things were going with our now
almost four week old baby, Austin, who has a problem with a lot of
crying and wakefulness seemingly because of gastro-intestinal
discomfort. So far he has only once slept 4 hours between midnight and
seven (not in one stretch--that would be asking too much).  

I got tons of supportive, great responses and it has helped loads.  I just 
can't reply individually now, but thanks. Here's an update.

A lot of people suggested changing my diet, which can affect the baby,
who is breastfed. I'm not eating anything spicy, caffeine, gas
producers, and milk products with no discernible results.  It was worth
a try though. We have started administering Lactaid (I think it's a 
lactose digesting enzyme called lactase) before feedings (breast and 
some formula he now gets per day) at the suggestion of a pediatrician
specializing in GI problems. 

Unlike most babies, Austin doesn't seem too calmed by motion. Changing 
his position often helps. Passing gas helps so we help him through as 
much as possible. 

Music helps some and I ordered some lullaby tapes as well as play other
music; holding helps a lot, and we sleep together a lot, either with
Austin on my stomach or next to me on the bed. This is not great sleep
for me because he wakes up and cries out often. About every 20 minutes
he will need consoling. After some gas passes he will be back to an
angelic sleep. This goes on pretty much from 2-3 a.m.  to 10 a.m., so
I think he might sleep if he could.

We pretty much fuss our way through the day. My strategy is to be there
for him and be calm. I carry him around most of the time and talk to him
as I do it.  Twice I have reached my limit and just packed him into the
car, where he will sleep (only on the highway, but at least he sleeps)
and I can escape the crying. The dryer and vacuum cleaner sleep
inducements don't work on him.

Feeding time is hard. His intestines get moving and he grunts, screams,
and bounces around my breast recklessly. We usually have a two-hour
period of this sometime during the night. 

Austin has, for the last four days, started sleeping for two, sometimes
more, hours during the evening. My husband Greg and I have been taking
shifts with him; Greg handles 8pm-2am, sometimes a little longer, so I
can get some sleep. Greg does most of the housework (that gets done)
then. I really only do the laundry any more. We take out food a lot.
This has made a lot of difference for my health and happiness.  We
started giving him one supplemental feeding (< 4 oz.) during this
period so I can at least get one stretch of 4 hours of sleep. We have
had no trouble with my milk supply. In fact, it seems better, maybe
because of the sleep. Despite what appears to be constant
gastro-intestinal discomfort Austin is healthy. He weighed 8 lbs at
birth and seven weeks later weighs more than 12 lbs. He has been to the 
doctor's three times andthey are very nie but not terribly helpful. My doc 
is even searching the medical literature for colic info.

--Ashley Burns, ashley@osc.edu