Colic vs. Gas vs. Reflux

My boys (5 weeks old actual, 3 days old adjusted) can be extremely fussy after feeding (either nursing or bottle-feeding EBM...no formula), and I've been reading information to try and figure out why. John is sometimes so fussy he's inconsolable - crying uncontrollably, arching his back, kicking. We've tried Little Tummys drops and they seem to help a bit. He also sometimes has a difficult time burping, and last night he spit up A TON. Will isn't as much of a spitter, and he's a decent burper...though sometimes he surprises me. They have plenty of wets and dirtys, so I'm pretty sure they're getting enough food.

How can you tell the difference between colic, gas, and reflux?? :unsure:

And I know my boys are still little and their tummies are still developing. Is that all this is?

TIA!
Becky

 

Sounds like colic and reflux to me. I know my DD would scream for hours b/c she was in so much pain. They put her on Zantac and Enfamil AR (added rice) formula and those two helped her a lot.

 

Sounds like reflux...the arching back was the cincher for me to get the medicine.

I have a Will and James!! How funny...

 

Those were the exact symptoms that led our ped to diagnose Benny with reflux. Zantac hasn't helped (we've had so so much crying) so we are starting Prevacid tonight.

 

Sounds like reflux symptoms to me. Ours had it pretty bad. You can try some gripe water to some EBM and you can try Myelicon drops. You can also do Mylanta with direction from the Ped.

We started on Zantac per the Ped and there was no results at all after 5 days so we got switched to Prevacid and that made a world of difference in the arching at mealtime.

The spitting only got better once we started adding 2 tsp of rice cereal per ounce of formula to give it some weight to weigh it down in the stomach but you cant do that with bfing. But I am just throwing that out there.

Also one of mine had a milk allergy and once we got to hypoallergenic formula his life got a whole heck of a lot better. Hang in there reflux is hard on everyone.

 

Thanks for all the great info! I will call the ped tomorrow and see what they say. John won't necessarily cry for hours (knock on wood), but he seems to be in pain.

How do I get gripe water? FTM here!

Becky

 

QUOTE(DATJMom @ Mar 18 2008, 07:55 PM) [snapback]675793[/snapback]
The spitting only got better once we started adding 2 tsp of rice cereal per ounce of formula to give it some weight to weigh it down in the stomach but you cant do that with bfing. But I am just throwing that out there.


Would that work to add the rice cereal to EBM in a bottle? Also, are my boys too young (5 weeks actual, 3 days adjusted)?

Becky

 

You can get gripe water at most natural health food stores and even The Vitamin Shoppe

 

GRIPE WATER IS AWESOME!!!!!!!! my DD had relux and i used it on her. helped with gas hiccups tummy upsets everything. and its all natural. i have found it in nature food stores and it says for colic too on the bottle. i have seen it also in rite aide and cvs. most nature centers should carry it.
it would definately help i love that stuff

 

QUOTE(bstone716 @ Mar 19 2008, 01:35 AM) [snapback]676067[/snapback]
Would that work to add the rice cereal to EBM in a bottle? Also, are my boys too young (5 weeks actual, 3 days adjusted)?

Becky


That is right about when ours really started showing signs of reflux at 5 weeks actual and they were 8 weeks early. I am not sure you can add cereal to EBM because I dont think the cereal binds with the milk like formula and it just stays separated. I think I read this on a post here but I could have dreamed it too Ask your Ped tomorrow and see what he or she says.