The Imperfect Community

[Petulant Pixie]

I knew it had to be coming, lol.

She's very gassy. I think that the gas is painful. She doesn't really cry, and certainly doesn't scream, but she kind of grunts and writhes and makes unhappy faces and fusses and then farts. A lot. And the farts stink up the room, seriously. So, a few days ago, I started her on the simethicone drops and they kind of help. But, not enough.

Last night, she was up for a feeding at midnight, which Mike did, and he forgot to give her the drops. So, she was fussing and grunting next to me starting at 1am. I gave her drops and then at about 2, she fell asleep, but woke again at 3 for a feeding. I fed her and gave her the drops, but she was still fussing and farting in her co-sleeper until about 4. Then she got up again at 6 to eat and afterwards, started the grunting and fussing, so I just put her in the bed next to me (for some reason, holding her hand, petting her head, etc, helps), and she went right to sleep.

I am going to try to find some Gripe water and if that doesn't work, I guess I'll try changing formula. I really think it is gas, but holding and comforting her helps her to sleep through it better. Any other suggestions?

[Rebecca_R]

What kind of formula do you have her on?

IIRC, someone on my list had a problem with their baby having gas and being constipated, so instead of changing formula they gave the baby extra water everyday and a little bit of prune juice or karo syrup to help with the pooping. Definitely check with your ped about this though, don't take my advice for it! It seemed to help her baby, so many you should ask about this?

[Petulant Pixie]

She's on Similac Advance. I have heard that the extra stuff they add nowadays (I'd try to get the letters right, but I am so fucking sleep deprived who knows what I'd write) does cause more gas. But, on her birthboard, all the breastfed babies are having gas issues, too, so maybe it's more of a stage thing than a feeding thing. I never changed formulas with A&K, and I really don't want to get on the formula carousel this time.

She poops fine. Her poops are really soft, and they happen 2-3 times a day. And she passes the gas, frequently and loudly. But, it does seem to cause her discomfort as it passes through her belly. I could call the ped, but I'm just assuming they'll suggest changing her formula. We have a sample of Nestle Good Start here, it wouldn't be hard to change it, but I just don't want to get into that if we can avoid it.

[Scout]

Did you find Gripe Water locally? It really does work great.

[Petulant Pixie]

No, I can't find it locally. I've only checked a couple of places, though. We don't have a Whole Foods or Trader Joe or anything like that near us, so I have to just look in the grocery store organic sections. I'll probably end up ordering it online.

[julymom]

[DietCokeHead]

The gas drops only worked for us when we did them before a feeding. Are you trying that instead of after?

Also, my ped said that babies intestines are doing something (I forget what!) from 3-6 weeks of age that can cause them to be gassy. Something about how they are finishing forming or whatever? Sorry, I can't remember the details but she assured me that it was nothing to worry about (all the gas) and that that stage was when a lot of mom switched formulas unnecessarily. (Like me!) I switched to Enfamil with Iron (none of the new additives) and it seemed to help but I dont know if it was because of the formula or that she just passed that stage!!

[Petulant Pixie]

Yeah, I'm hearing a lot about how this is a typical phase at this age, so I'm not going to change formulas.

I will order that gripe water though and see if it helps. Last night was better. She actually slept from whenever Mike put her to bed (which could have been 4:45 for all I know ) until 5am when I got up to feed her. So, bottom line for ME was that I slept from 11:30 to 5 But, then she was up until 6:30 and then slept until 8, and soon I am dragging Mike out of bed so I can sneak in an other hour, maybe, this morning.

[Jessica]

Holden and Graham had gas problems to different extents. I started Holden on Similac and he just got way too bound up on it and wound up switching to Enfamil, which was a lot better in terms of gas/constipation and finally to Good Start which eliminated it completely.

With Graham, the formula with Lipids/DHA caused horrendous and painful gas, so I actually switched to Target's brand (which is really Wyeth and some think is better than the name brands anyway), without the DHA and he did great.

I still had to used the smithecone (sp?) drops though, just not nearly as much. Also, I had to put Graham to sleep on his tummy from day one and that really helped as well.

HTH. Good luck. This is a tough few weeks, but it will pass quickly.

[Scout]

PP, how are things with this now?

[Petulant Pixie]

Oh, the gas passed ages ago (lol, that sounds funny ), like a little over two weeks ago, and she's almost sleeping through the night regularly. Mike puts her down at about 11:30/midnight, and more often than not, she'll sleep through until about 7:30-8ish. There are still nights when he's up with her until 2, and then she gets up at 4 all bright eyed and cooing, but they're happening less and less frequently.

She still has a pissed-off time almost daily where she screams her head off inconsolably for an hour or so, but I think that's just a phase and it will pass.

[Rebecca_R]

Yep, it's a phase. Boy do I remember it with Aaron. Sounds like the initial gas/colic was also a phase and not the food.

Have fun!

[Petulant Pixie]

And, since I posted that yesterday, she did NOT sleep well last night Down at midnight, up at 4 and still up now at 6:30. She's in her bouncy seat, smiling at her friend the cukoo clock.