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From: mark@cbosgd.UUCP (Mark Horton)
Newsgroups: net.kids
Subject: Re: Colic
Message-ID: <1333@cbosgd.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 23-Jul-85 21:36:24 EDT
Article-I.D.: cbosgd.1333
Posted: Tue Jul 23 21:36:24 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 25-Jul-85 07:53:33 EDT
References: <455@linus.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Columbus, Oh
Lines: 39

I'd like to thank everyone who responded with ideas about how to
ease Adam's colic.  I hope to eventually find time to compile it
into a checklist and post it.  Right now, while things are much
better than before, I don't spend a lot of time reading news.

Adam has improved quite a bit - he now has cranky times that last
anywhere from half an hour to a full day, and Karen and I do get
some sleep from time to time.  Adam actually slept for 6 1/2 hours
straight last night!

One thing I've learned is that the word Colic is derived from the
word Colon.  It's related to discomfort in the colon - mostly from
the tissues being stretched out.  This can be caused by gas, or by
constipation.  So trying to cause a burp may not help, it's the
other end that's most likely to be the cause of the problem.

Here are some things that work real well for us.

(1) A "snuggly" baby carrier - the kind you strap to your front.
He's usually quiet in there, unless he's hungry, more so than just
being held.

(2) cereal - Adam is on two feedings a day now, and after each one
he'll have 3-4 hours of good time.  (This child is really a pleasure
to be around when he's not in pain - I think he really enjoys those
times too.)  We put some Karo dark syrup in the cereal and in his
bottle of water (he gets that between feedings as needed, it's hot
out and he gets thirsty too) this helps loosen his bowels.

(3) glycerine suppositories.  When he's constipated, these babies
do the trick.  Adam was cranky all day yesterday, with no BM.
We (Karen, actually) lubricated him and out came a few diaperloads.
After that, he had a big meal (his appitite had been low) and went
to sleep for those glorious 6 1/2 hours.  Our doctor cautions that
you have to be careful with these, the child can become dependent
on a suppository to have a BM (needing the lubrication) so they should
be used sparingly.

	Mark