Colic or High Needs Baby?

There May be Something You Can Do About "Colic"

1.      Don't call it colic. Call it "the hurting baby."

2.      In partnership with your doctor, keep searching for a cause”

1. Gastroesophageal reflux (GER), a newcomer to the hidden causes of colicky and nightwaking behavior, occurs when the muscular tissue at the junction of the esophagus and the stomach doesn't function like a one-way valve and allows irritating stomach acids to be regurgitated into the esophagus, causing pain similar to what adults call heartburn.
2. Food sensitivities. Do gassy foods ingested by a breastfeeding mother cause gassy babies? Nursing mothers have long noticed a correlation between what they eat and how colicky their baby gets, and they have compiled their own fussy foods list. Suspects include: dairy products, caffeine-containing foods and beverages (soft drinks, chocolate, coffee, tea, and certain cold remedies), cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, green peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, and onions), spicy foods (such as garlic or curry), wheat, and corn.
3. The colic-cow's milk connection. New research supports what old wives tales have long suspected: some breastfed babies become colicky if their mothers drink cow's milk. That's because potentially allergenic protein called beta-lactoglobulin in cow's milk is transferred to baby through the breastmilk. This allergen upsets the intestines as if the baby had directly ingested the cow's milk.
4. Formula allergies. Babies fed a cow's-milk-based formula may become colicky if they're allergic to the protein or can't tolerate the lactose in cow's milk.”

Parenting a "high-need" infant can be most tiresome and stressful. These babies tend to be extremely sensitive to light, sounds, temperature, textures, movement, change in routine and even touch.

Since crying is an infant's primary form of communication, parents often find themselves in a frustrating guessing-game as they try to determine what is causing their crying child's discomfort. While most babies can be soothed with feeding, changing or rocking, the high-needs infant may require more.

• Consider keeping lights low, noise to a minimum, and use soft, smooth textures of fabrics against your baby's skin.
• Strive for patience. Sleep when baby sleeps and incorporate help from family or friends when you are feeling weary and strained.
• Learn infant massage, which has proven to be a successful tactic for calming fussy babies.
• Wear baby in a sling or carrier, which can be soothing for baby and allows you to tend to your daily tasks.”

~We include the above because it’s contrary to a lot of info you’ll read, like keep lights up and noise normal during the day.  Sometimes you have to do what you have to do, especially with a high needs baby.  You have to read your baby and know what he/she needs most.~

“Remember that all babies are born with different personalities: Some coo and smile the whole day, not causing much disruption at all to a family, and others who are very sensitive can never seem to get enough love and attention. It can be very trying to be the mother of a high-need baby/child, but it can also (over time) be very rewarding. Mothering a high-need baby really puts you in tune with his needs. He begins to quickly learn by his mom's quick and loving response that his needs will be well met.

It is not unusual for a sensitive baby -- or any baby for that matter -- to want to spend much of the day and night in his mom's arms. As a new mother, it can be difficult to keep giving of yourself 24 hours a day.

5 Ways to Cope with a High-Need Baby

1. Settle in, put up your feet and get comfortable. I would recommend spending lots of time during the day holding your baby. This can be very calming to a sensitive baby. If you're not yet comfortable nursing lying down it is important for you to get some rest. Find the most comfortable chair in the house and set it up in the location of your choice. (Probably best in the center of family activity, since nobody wants to be alone all the time to nurse!)

2. Create a "nursing nest." Have a low footstool handy, a table to keep a drink and some snacks on, maybe the remote control, the phone -- whatever you need to really settle in and get comfortable. When you nurse your baby to sleep, you can just lie back and rest, tucking in your little guy with a lightweight blanket (wrapped around both you and baby and tucked under your hips and thighs) so you can keep your baby secure if you drift off.

3. Rest. It sounds like you really need to rest, so remember that all the housework will wait. Maybe, in the meantime, your family and friends can help around the house, so you can put your energy into your baby. Or you could wait until your little guy has come off your breast, relaxed and satisfied, and watch until he seems limp. At that point you can carry him into your bed, lying down with him in your arms, and rest together.

4. Try a sling. I would highly advise every mother of a high-need baby to purchase a baby sling. Besides the obvious benefit to the baby of lots of close contact with his mother, and other family members, this will free up the mother's hands to go about her regular routine. Fussy babies often love to nurse while in the sling. When the baby does fall asleep in the sling the mom can continue to carry him, or gently lie him down to nap, by leaning forward over the bed, baby still in sling, sliding it over her shoulder. The sling can serve as a lightweight blanket for baby. Don't be discouraged if your little one doesn't like the sling right away. Use it for short periods of time every day, until he is comfortable in it. There are lots of carrying positions that can be tried.

5. Allow your baby to finish the first breast. Let your baby come off one breast on his own, before switching sides. Sometimes moms of babies who like to "marathon nurse" switch back and forth several times during a feed. When this is done, a baby may not be receiving much of her rich hindmilk, which will signal the end of the feed, and help him to remain satisfied for a longer period of time. An overabundance of foremilk can cause gassiness and colicky symptoms in some babies.

An excellent book to read is "Keys to Calming the Fussy Baby", by William Sears, MD. I think you will find it filled with helpful tips.

by Debbi Donovan”

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/5/T051200.asp

http://babyparenting.about.com/library/weekly/aa022798.htm

http://www.parentsplace.com/features/primer/qas/0,,166542_106231,00.html?arrivalSA=1&arrival_freqCap=2

Info on Sensory Integration Dysfunction

http://babyparenting.about.com/cs/sensorydefensive/