I have a GASSY baby. I put him on Nestle Good Start formula (breast feeding only a little as it never came in) which is supposed to break down easier in the stomach, give him Mylicon gas relief drops, but he is really fussy and looks a bit in pain. :( Breaks my heart.
Keri & Misty...got the Miracle Blanket, is it like the Swaddle Me Kiddopotomas thing? He likes to chew on his hands so he may fight being wrapped so tight but it's worth a shot. He maybe sleeps 2 hours max at night and I am getting a bit exhausted. :)
I know you mommies all have great advice, so I'll take anything and try it. I'm frustrated today. xoxo
p.s. Auntie Natalie came to stay this weekend, will post pics soon.
I hear my sister-in-law was there last weekend? She said Jackson is beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear your frusterated... Ava was a gassy baby too...I used those drops and they seemed to help a little. Sometimes you just have to hold them all day! If you have a swing for him and he likes it, I'd put him in that at night, just so you can get some sleep!!! I used to do that with Ava cause she was such a bad sleeper. So sorry! Don't worry, this too shal pass!
Are you sure it's gas? If it is, they have these Doctor Brown bottles which are supposed to be amazing that a lot of my Mummy friends use: http://www.handi-craft.com/products/bottles-howitworks.htm. Otherwise I know a lot of times they confuse colic/gas for acid reflux which is what Calum has and is pretty common, too (he's on Gavascon). I think it's more common in bigger babies because they eat more. Symptoms and info at: http://www.babyworld.co.uk/experts/az_childhealth/heartburn.asp.
ReplyDeleteI know how long a hard day can seem, just remember that tomorrow is another day and it will be totally different from today so don't get too down and know that little Jackson will get better, sometimes it takes awhile until you find what works.
Lots of love, look forward to the latest pics xxx
Hey! I am a blog stalker... Friends with Stacie Mullins, Shelby, Lynne Partride and that group of girls. Congrats on the birth of your son. He is really cute! I found your blog when Shelby did your maternity portraits. Which were really great by the way.
ReplyDeleteI had a terrible experience with my son which landed him in the hospital at 7 months (he is okay now) but in the end it made me a formula guru of sorts. There are a lot of elemental formulas that you could try. Basically they are broken down/predigested allowing for your baby to have to do little work which makes for little gas. There are also Dr. Brown's bottles as well as my favorite... Born Free (even though they look so big). The elemental formulas are kind of expensive and they smell/taste awful but they should work. Nutramigen w/ lipil by Enfamil is where I would tell you to start. You might find that he will only need to be on this for a little while. He will grow out of the gas... I promise The first few months are just the s*%ts. They are working through so much and intestines are so premature. Feel free to email me if you want. ajerome@nwphotoworks.com. Another thing you could try is laying him on his belly for tummy time right after you feed him. The pressure of having him lay on his belly may help push the gas out of either end :)
I am not a creepy blog stalker but I figured I might be able to help since I have been there in the worst way. Best of luck.. it all gets easier. Like I said the first few months are just tough!
Hey Tara,
ReplyDeleteHave you tried rubbing his belly? I heard you are supposed to rub like you are writing a question mark on his tummy which is supposed to push the gas out. I also tried moving his legs like he's riding a bike when he's on his back. That really seemed to help Jake when he was gassy. We were also a huge fan of the miracle blanket, in fact we JUST stopped swaddeling him before he went to sleep, and he's almost 10 months. He just loved that thing and as soon as we put him in it he would pass out. Good luck and I hope your little guy is feeling better soon. I know how horrible it is when they're not feeling well and you can't help them :(
Oh Tara...Henry was really gassy too. It's soooo hard! Call me if you want to chat anytime. Basically what others have said, gas drops, Dr. Browns bottles, laying him on his left side can ease the tummy, leg exercises to release the gas (together and one at a time..great DVD called Fart Aerobics, not kidding!), I got a tummy band called HappyTummi that goes in the microwave and then you velcro it around their bellies to ease pain and it has a lavendar scent to help sleep, massaging the belly by writing I L U (motion of his digestive tract) can help too. I had to put him on Gentleease Enfamil Formula used a billion gas drops and just waited for his poor body to catch up. After about 3 -4 months it got a ton better. Once you start solids (around 5 months) you will want to be careful on what you introduce as certain foods cause more gas. Also, if you are breastfeeding at all, watch your diet as it can definitely make baby gassy. as for the miracle blanket that works but if he doesnt like his arms swaddled and will sleep without twitching himself awake you could try to swaddle him from the armpits down. Gives the snuggle sensation without restrticting his hands.
ReplyDeleteBryson was insanely fussy in the hospital to the point I was in tears and had no clue what was wrong with my baby. Nurse comes in and asks if either of us are lactose intolerant..yes my husband..and put him on lactose free formula worked like a charm. None of my kid could handle regular formula. Both the girls were on Gentlease from Enfamil. With Bryson I used those gas drops and pumped his legs alot. It will get better I promise!
ReplyDeleteHave you read "Happiest Baby on the Block"? We followed it to a T with my daughter. She needed lots of soothing. I hope you find something that helps. I know how frustrating it is when you can't get any sleep. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteBeen thinking about you and thought I would share a couple more tips:
ReplyDelete- I literally had to carry/hold Henry for the first 3 months. He wouldn't nap at all unless someone was holding him. I suggest trying a sling so he gets that natural rocking motion and you can have your hands free.
- A friend suggested bouncing on an exercise ball. Let me tell you...we would have not gotten through the night in the beginning without that thing. I dont know what it is but he would instantly go to sleep if we held him and lightly bounced. A few recommended putting him in a front baby carrier and bouncing to give your arms a break too.
- If you don't have a rocking chair I recommend getting one. I read 10 books in the first few months because thats where I spent most of my time. Only way I could keep him happy as he hated the swing.
- Try a white noise machine/CD for sleep...wont help the gas but helps soothe them to sleep. He is used to hearing noises like this from the womb.
- The miracle blanket is similar to the other swaddle you mentioned but the arms go around and behind the back (like a straight jacket) and there is no velcro. It's really hard for them to get out of, but he will likely find a way! It works. He may scream at first but give it a few minutes and he is likely to drift if you hold him in the blanket.
Hang in there! Everyone always told me it would get better and I half way believed them. But, it truly does. It's a fight for survival the first few months. Oh, and I do recommend the Happiest Baby on the Block Book the person before this mentioned. Our doc even recommended it..works like a charm!
thank you, thank you, thank you...
ReplyDeleteI am amazed by all my brilliant friends. Ask and you shall receive.
Jackson is going to love trying all these non-gassy ideas out. Thank you for helping me see the light at the end of the newborn tunnel.
Hi Tara,
ReplyDeleteMiracle Blanket really is a miracle, white noise is another miracle, and Nutramigen formula works like a charm. I would seriously think about switching up his formula, we did with our new little guy (daughter Addison was lactose intolerant) and low and behold, he's a different child. No more gas (normal amounts now!) and a much happier baby! And the big bouncy ball is a MUST. You'll get through this, it really does get better. I know it seems like it will be this way forever, it's hard to imagine, since all you're thinking about is getting a solid 3 hours of sleep, huh? Jackson is going to adjust and this hard time you're going through right now will all seem like a blur!
Take care,
Anna (Jessica's friend)