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MrsMojo 
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Joined: 18 March 2008
Location: Wellington
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 Topic: Help with colic
Posted: 23 June 2008 at 9:07pm |
Hi all
A friend of mines 8 week old has been diagnosed with colic. They initially thought it was reflux but since none of the various medicines that were prescribed have worked the doctor has said it's most likely colic.
My friend has a toddler same age as Michaela who was a dream baby so this one has come as a shock and she needs tips to help her cope. The baby is not sleeping much during the day (baby's been awake since 1pm today and a few days ago she'd been awake 12 hours by the time we spoke ). She's very fussy and cries a lot.
Atm she feeds on demand. But will happily feed all day and puke inbetween to make room for more (assume she finds the sucking soothing). My friend carries baby as much as possible but baby won't tolerate the front pack so she's literally carrying her in her arms all the time (makes looking after her toddler extremely difficult).
I've forwarded her the tips from OB website, if anyone else has any tips for how you coped with your colicky baby please let me know.
As an aside since the front pack isn't a hit do you think a sling would be better and can you recommend a particular sling that the baby may like and that's easy for the mum to get on an off.
Thanks ladies for your help.
eta: Michaela was the same as a young baby and was never diagnosed, if only I had joined the forums when I was a new mum - you ladies are fabulous.
Edited by MrsMojo
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FionaS
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Location: Auckland
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Posted: 23 June 2008 at 9:09pm |
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Sounds like Elle was for the first 4mths. Not sure how I coped. I wouldn't have coped without my wonderful plunket nurse at the family centre. I went there once a week to sleep and get moral support.
Hope her little one settles soon.
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Mummy to Gabrielle and Ashley
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Bizzy
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Posted: 23 June 2008 at 10:07pm |
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a front pack may not be giving the proper support for babys spine etc.. how bout a meitai, it is tied on and baby is in a scrunched up position (cant remember what it is called). the baby may not like lying down so a sling may not work at this age. what about one of those vibrating rockers?
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Mazzy
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Posted: 23 June 2008 at 10:08pm |
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Has she tried the Weleda Colic Powder? I haven't used it too much (luckily - fingers crossed it continues) but have heard it recommended many times.
Maybe a Moby wrap would be good? The baby can stay upright and with a newborn she can keep it tied on and take the baby in and out as needed (I think - just repeating what one of the sling experts said).
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Mum to two gorgeous girls!
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yummymummy
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Posted: 23 June 2008 at 10:12pm |
I bought a natural remedy - Naturo Pharm Colimed - it's esp formulated for babies with colic. It has worked a treat for Emma 
It's a little spray bottle and, when the colic comes on, you're supposed to spray 2 pumps under baby's tongue. Well. I just spray it into her mouth really and don't know if it's the herbs or the shock of having something sprayed into her mouth, but Emma generally calms down pretty quickly. Worth a shot maybe? We bought it for about $18 from a natural food store and I LOOOOOVE the stuff 
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EmDee
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Posted: 24 June 2008 at 8:56am |
I find Weleda colic powder really good with Lilia. And have heard positive results from a few other mums too.
Umm other ideas, try to keep her as upright as possible, a deep warm bath can help soothe her (though I know this can be a bit impractical especially with a toddler). Try to make she is well burped before trying to feed her again (I was misreading Lilia's cue's in the first few weeks, and was probably over feeding her), also we had a little success with Infacol, though it did stop working after a while.
I hope some of these suggestions help and that bubs grows out of it. I also had a dream baby first up so can understand the shock of a second baby with colic! 
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LittleBug
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Posted: 24 June 2008 at 9:10am |
If you want some Weleda Colic Powder to try for your friend, I have two bottles that someone passed on to me... but we didn't end up using them as Chloe settled well once she was on reflux medication. If you want me to send them to you then PM me. Won't cost you a cent, they were handed on to me so I'm happy to do the same!
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Chloe (4 years) and Oliver (3 years).
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arohanui
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Posted: 24 June 2008 at 10:36am |
Aw poor thing  Don't have much experience with colic at all, but I did have one thought - it sounds like the bubba is sucking for comfort, so would your friend be open to seeing if she would take a dummy?
Also we have a natures sway sling, which holds baby in a position really similar to being held - it is really good, but after a while it does start to hurt my shoulder. Those fabric ones where baby is in that lying down position would probably be good (there's a wider amount of fabric over the shoulder so I imagine it woudln't hurt as much over time).
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Mama to DS1 (5 years), DS2 (3 years) and... 
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MrsMojo
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Posted: 24 June 2008 at 10:39am |
 arohanui wrote:
Aw poor thing Don't have much experience with colic at all, but I did have one thought - it sounds like the bubba is sucking for comfort, so would your friend be open to seeing if she would take a dummy?
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I agree, it's definitely sucking for comfort but unfortunately baby refuses to take a dummy
Thank you all for your tips.
Edited by MrsMojo
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arohanui
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Posted: 24 June 2008 at 10:42am |
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Oh dear...could she try different sorts?? I know some people swear by a certain brand for babies who don't take dummies but now the name has escaped me.... Lilfatty had success with Issy who wouldn't take one.... Nuk dummies I think??
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Mama to DS1 (5 years), DS2 (3 years) and...
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MrsMojo
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Posted: 24 June 2008 at 10:48am |
Good point, I know she used nuk when her toddler was a wee one, but I'm not sure what brand she's tried with baby. I'll have a chat to her when I visit tomorrow.
It took me awhile to get Michaela to take a dummy and in the end I used to warm it up then dip it in gripe water or EBM - naughty I know but it did the trick, fooled her into sucking.
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busymum
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Posted: 24 June 2008 at 7:39pm |
Briona wasn't quite diagnosed in time but I think hers was silent reflux. But she was spilly to start with. Anyhow, we didn't have a sling in those days but she did like the front pack (and suckled the ties of it) and the bouncinette - we have so many photos of her sleeping it the bouncinette instead of the cot! We introduced a dummy at 3mos, she did like that but it takes a bit for a baby to take to them IMO.
When everything went to custard, I had two saving techniques:
1. put toddler and baby (they were 19mos apart) in the double stroller, bundled up (reflux baby was a winter baby), and go for a jolly good walk around the block. When I set off, I'd walk so fast because I was uptight! But when I got home I was relaxed. I learned to make sure I was completely relaxed before I got home as often the baby would fall asleep in the stroller and wake as soon as I stopped.
2. Boil the kettle, put baby to bed and make a milo. It takes 10 minutes to sit down and have a drink. That is not too long for a baby to cry while you have a break (so that you don't get too uptight). (And baby would have cried for 10 minutes straight if you hadn't have put them down anyway!)
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Help with colic
