Caring for gassy infant - How to treat gas in infant

Here's some tips on caring for gassy infants born from my trial by fire:

1. At the FIRST sign of gas - crying, squirming, passing very little gas after a lot of action... use neopeptine. I'd say, when in doubt, use neopeptine too.
2. Comfort baby. Cuddle in fetal position. This brings legs closer to stomach and naturally helps pass gas, while making the baby feel secure.
3. Feed baby. Babies tend to have bowel movements (or attempts) when feeding. The feeding comforts as well as helps them move the gas along.
4. Put some massage oil (coconut oil should be fine) on your hands and rub the tummy gently. G-e-n-t-l-y. You are not trying to squeeze the gas out. Just soothe and encourage movement.
5. Move the baby a lot. The squirming that is tiring your baby out is basically the baby moving to help pass gas. You can be a huge help to baby here. Rock, swing, exercise legs in bicycling motions, hold legs up like for a diaper change..... keep changing positions. The baby will not settle till the gas passes, so a position change is only temporary relief. Don't let the infant get all worked up when it loses its effectiveness, move to a different position.
6. Of course, when a position soothes baby, hold it for longer, or move to something else quickly.
7. The end of the baby that gas is expected to exit has to be higher. Gas rises, remember? So, if your baby is moving his head restlessly, rocking back and forth, etc, hold him vertical, pat back, encourage burp. If he is squirming the whole body, drawing up legs and kicking them out, etc. Put horizontal and raise legs, cuddle in cradle hold, lightly rub small circles on lower back, etc.

These are things to do while your baby is suffering. If you are breastfeeding your infant, it might help to look into fore-milk hind-milk imbalance or lactose overload (NOT lactose intolerance), which I have written about earlier.

Infant ear pain

Another nightmare night.

Nisarg started fussing around bedtime and crying on and off. By 1am, he was crying full blown out. Screaming wails, hiccups, gasps, chokes, scary breathless sounds, constant screaming interspersed with exhausted and restless dozes he came out of within a couple of minutes.

I was scared. I woke up Raka around 4am feeling really scared, and the two of us spent another hour of the night feeling helpless, soothing, begging, bribing, whatever, but no go. By 5am, he was so tuckered out that he slept fitfully, sobbing at times in his sleep and waking up screaming if we put him down. So I held him, staring at that dear face with the swollen eyes, listening anguished to those slight sobs and gasps that continued as he slept.

Since he also was farting, I assumed it was a really bad case of gas.

By 6am, he was gone enough that he didn't stir when I put him down, and I had a nap myself.

He woke up around 8am hungry, and slept through his feed and I put him back down. It was when he woke up screaming again at 11am that we got really scared and went to the doctor. The doctor thinks it might be his ear hurting him, since moving his head makes him cry more. She gave us something for it - Atarax drops. We are supposed to give 10 drops half an hour after Neopeptine for today, and without the Neopeptin for two more days. I guess we are covering our bases whether its ear pain or gas.

I think its gas because he passes wind when he cries and calms for a bit.... but then, is the wind passing from his straining when he cries, or is he crying because of it? Who knows? Its a chicken or egg thing.

Its such a horrible, horrible thing to see him in pain and not even be sure of what's causing it.

He was crying again in the afternoon for a bit and then I think the medicine took hold. He's sleeping as I write this. Totally deep sleep. This is crazy and not at all how I imagined being a mom to be. I'm willing to slay dragons and sacrifice whatever it takes for this guy, but hey, where is the dragon and what exactly is needed? No one told me it was such a tormenting guessing game!

Baby massage - Research and Tradition

If you live in India and also learn about best practices from the net/books/doctor, its likely that you have the most conflicting opinions when it comes to baby massage and its tough to find out what to do.

This is a list of my conflicts and current decisions:

1. Smoke, kajal, powder, etc: Doctors say that the old practice of "dhuri" for the baby is not a good idea. In fact, lady from the free breastfeeding lectures by Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India goes ahead and says bluntly, "Its the woman who has given birth, not the baby. If you have such a strong belief that the warmth of the smoke creats strength, do what you want with the mother, but get the baby out of the room and away from the smoke." Kajal carries risk of infection, may have traces of lead and can block the tiny tear ducts. Powder can get into a baby's lungs and as such must not be used anywhere other than the diaper area if you must. No brainer there. I follow these guidelines and let the old women mutter about "today's people". That goes for oil in the ear, nose or any orifice.
2. Straightening legs: Its common practice in India to stretch the baby's legs out to strengthen them. Fact is that the baby will "unfurl" in three months or so anyway. The fetal position is not something they can switch off at birth, and it brings them security, conserves energy and is actually quite a good thing. I tell the massage woman not to use force, and if the baby cries, then that is the end of whatever she is doing, and she must move to the next thing. It goes against her every idea of doing the best she can for the baby, so I really have to watch like a hawk on this and bluntly tell her that it is enough of something if the baby complains. And mostly he doesn't.
3. Oil on the scalp: The fontanelle needs to be oiled to be closed is a common belief. Actually, like a cold lasts for a week or seven days depending on if you take medicine, the fontanelle will close approximately in two years or twenty four months depending on whether you oil it or not :D Pressure on the soft part is a bad thing. However, soft touch on the scalp is soothing, so I go by whether the baby seems to like it that day or not.
4. Exercise: The massage woman gently moves the baby's limbs to exercise him. This is great and Nisarg loves it most days. When he doesn't we don't do it, because if he is jerking in resistance, I imagine it will do more harm than good.
5. Swaddling: A typical baby massage and bath will be followed by swaddling as sure as the sky is blue. The baby seems to enjoy it and sleeps soundly, so its great. However, this swaddling is typically done very tight, which can cause hip dysplasia in the baby. What I do is ensure that the baby is open and free most of the time, and loosen the swaddling when the woman goes.
6. Hair removal: The massage woman has talked herself hoarse in one ear with the mother in law in the other - the baby hair on his forehead must be removed, or he will turn into an ugly, hairy grown up. Needless to say, they talk, I listen, and do nothing in that direction. If hair removal were such a great idea, we'd encourage our four year old daughters to get their eyebrows trimmed. Hair removed will grow again, and any changes in appearance are cosmetic till the hair falls out on its own. If it were a permanent solution, there would be no need for permanent hair removal ads for grown ups. We'd all DIY at home.
7. Oil for baby massage: Okay, this is a big one. Doctors tell you to go with coconut oil. The massage woman will recommend edible oils but use whatever you provide. Fancy friends will insist that olive oil is the thing (a status thing, since olive oil is a "good", exotic and expensive oil and no "commoners" in India have even heard of olives). Others would recommend Johnsons baby oil. Here's what I found. Doctors and tradition solidly of the same opinion, and backed by my experience of the baby. Coconut oil wins hands down. Excellent for the skin, inexpensive, no undesirable reactions on the skin.... Olive oil caused rashes on Nisarg - for whatever reason. Johnson's baby oil is a liquid paraffin based oil. NOT a good idea for massage, though I guess its fine for applying on the skin to keep it from drying. There have been many instances of skin rashes from this oil among people I know, online and people the massage woman knows. I have yet to hear of anyone regretting using coconut oil on a child. I have heard that almond oil is good too. A pediatrician friend said, "Don't create such a production out of it. Use your mother-in-law's coconut oil, almond oil, or cooking oil from the kitchen. If something creates a rash, discontinue it."

So, what are your experiences with advice based on research, tradition and social opinions? How do you manage? What choices do you make?

Baby weight gain and bonnissan

I had written earlier about how Nisarg was having problems with gas and diarrhoea and the doctor had prescribed Bonnisan. Then I wrote about how after just two days, Nisarg had normal baby poop for the first time in his life.

Well.... half a month later, we haven't had a single loose bowel movement yet, and Nisarg is filling up quite well, with chubbying cheeks and slight hints of plumpness that we associate with babies. I don't think he's ever going to be one of those round babies, but hey, he's healthy, active and putting on weight steadily. He also put on an inch in height - he's now 22 inches.

I don't know what he weighs, but I wouldn't be surprised if he's put on a kilo from the last appointment to the next.

Maybe its just regular growth, but I'm of the opinion that the Bonnissan really helped. He just was cranky (for him) and slow to grow since the gas set in till before we started with it.

Neopeptine drops for infants with gas

Okay, like I said that the baby's loose bowel motions got sorted by Bonnisan, the other helpful miracle we had with the gas was Neopeptine.

This is apparently something with digestive enzymes, and it really helps cut the amount of gas discomfort the baby goes through. Unfortunately, it took us a while to discover how to use it.

So, if you are using Neopeptine for infant gas, here are some tips, which we wish someone had given us:

• You have likely been advised to give Neopeptine only for extreme colic, like we were. This makes you tend to wait for quite some time before the baby's screaming forces you to use it. Don't wait. Use it at the first sign of gas.
• If your baby is suffering from gas, don't give doses only when he is in pain. Give them for a day or two, as long as you aren't giving him more than three times, though we have given him four or even five doses once on the first day, when he was in a lot of trouble.
• Give the drops before feeding.
• Neopeptine helps baby move the gas easier, but you can help it along. Give drops, burp, feed, burp, wait for some time, burp again.
• Moving the baby's legs will also help him pass gas, which will not hurt your situation.

Have you used Neopeptine? How did you use it? How was your experience?

Nightmare night

Last night Nisarg cried, and cried, and cried. Poor chap. He vomitted a couple of times, had loose stools, gas.... and was utterly miserable.

He wanted to be held all the time and still sobbed on and off.

Nothing worked. feeding, burping, music....

Just as I was about to rush him to the ER of the nearest hospital, he started nodding off, utterly exhausted. Poor little boy. Care....fully, I put him down, and after a few sobs, he was out. Such a tiny body, so tired from the discomfort and crying.

I was a goner too. I was tired myself, but all wired up. Sleep didn't matter if I could just bring him some comfort.... Luckily, at 4am, this nightmare story ended from sheer exhaustion on his part. After staying awake for another half hour or so to just be sure that he was ok, I slept like a log.

He woke up in the morning with a ear destroying scream, and I was like, "Not again....". I began telling Raka how we were taking him to the hospital immediately after feeding, and he started getting ready.

Just to be contrary I think, Nisarg drank and drank and drank like he was starving, belched like a drunk sailor, and was peacefully sleeping before his burping was done. He didn't even stir as I put him down.

Raka and I looked at each other in disbelief. Apparently, the guy was just hungry after his difficult night.

I've been looking at him warily all day, but so far, so good.

Teething before 2 months

Is Nisarg teething?

Everyone I shared this doubt with thinks I'm nuts. For one, he was born early. For another, he's not even two months old yet. Its supposed to begin after four months and supposed to be even later for babies who come early.

Since yesterday, he's been fussy on and off for no apparent reason. I put him down to nap, then he wakes up almost immediately after, except for the night, which so far continues to be blessedly smooth.

He's suddenly started drooling, biting his fingers and sometimes (rarely) sucking his knuckles. I can see two white bits under the gum where his two lower front teeth could come. I can also feel those teeth with my finger, though they are inside.

To me, it really seems like he's teething.

Dayum, this motherhood thing is one thing after another. Seems just yesterday I was complaining about not being able to sleep because of backaches from a huge front. Now, I can sleep very well, but am still exhausted. First the birth, then coming home, breastfeeding every two hours, diarrhoea, gas pains, figuring out pee communication, worrying about his weight gain all through and just as I was celebrating two days of a regular healthy infant, its now this teething thing, or something that seems remarkably like it.

Anyone else had a child that teethed this early? Developmentally, he should be counted a month old or something. He's still very tiny and not on the weight charts for his age at all. I'm just hoping that this doesn't create a setback in his weight gain....

Bonnisan works miracles with gassy infant!!!

Of course I did a whole load of searching on Bonnisan, and then tasted it myself before even showing baby the bottle....

I'd read all kinds of nice things about it, which kind of reassured me, and the taste is nice - similar to gripe water, so initially I didn't know what the doctor's big deal about the whole thing was.

I found out for myself within our first day on the medicine. Two doses in, and the gas pains were audibly lower. Baby was sleeping better, more cheerful and eating more.

We are now into our second day and WOW!!! Nisarg is back to the sweet tempered baby he was before this gas nightmare began. He hasn't pooped all day today after every day since birth being an experience of a constantly pooping bottom. He still has gas, but its much less and he can pass it without going through agony for every fart or spraying poop along with it. His body just seems so limp and relaxed after feedings.

I'd reached the end of my rope with this gas thing, and desperately needed a miracle. Looks like I got one.

If I add my experience with this medicine, with the research I read, I don't know why doctors don't simply prescribe this off the bat, or at least at the first sign of trouble. Its a digestive tonic that does so many things. Just Google it. No point having to suffer through my half baked jargon.

Tips for infant gas pain

We had gas pain again last night.

This time around, I was able to comfort him in an hour.... which is too long for my baby to be in pain...

What worked was:

• Playing his favourite music
• Cuddling to comfort him
• Breastfeeding to comfort him
  
• Patting and stroking his back while cuddling to help him burp
  
• Raising his legs like for a diaper change to help him fart
• Doing leg exercises like cycling, pressing knees to stomach, etc

Feeling troubled about giving gripe water when the doctor said not to, I gave it anyway and discovered that burping him immediately after the gripe water provided greater relief than just giving it to him. He burped at least two times, maybe five (couldn't be sure if those were burps).

Gas trouble for my baby

We had our first horrible night.

Nisarg just cried and cried and cried for 3 hours. We felt so helpless.

He woke up screaming bloody murder. Poor baby had gas. Every little while, a pain built and he screamed and squirmed and kicked out with his tiny feet in agony, and all we could do was look on helplessly as all our comfort methods failed. If there was ever a moment parents could be fired for failing their babies, it was this one....

I tried everything I could. Rocking, singing, talking, cuddling, massaging, feeding at the breast, bottle, moving his feet to help expel the gas. Everything worked for a minute or so, and the poor tyke was back to yelling. I have never felt so helpless or under prepared. The doctor had given us some drops and they helped, but it was about an hour after he had started crying that we thought to give them....

He had cried so hard that he was still having tiny sobs after he finally drank milk and slept. The morning brought some relief, but it was back to the same screaming inconsolably a while later.

Am at my wits end. Called the doctor, and she simply said that these things happen and to comfort him how we could.

Mother in law says to give him gripe water everyday, but the doctor shot down the idea earlier. She repeated it again, and again, and again, till we got some and gave it to him. Not much of a difference though he does like the taste.

On an internet expedition to find out what I can do to help him.

Sunlight for newborn jaundice

Blue light has long been accepted as a way of treating jaundice. This treatment came about through the observations of a very smart nurse who observed that babies near windows had less problems with jaundice, which led to research.....

Another separate study assessed the use of sunlight (which is abundant) as compared with the special blue lights (less available in resource poor regions in the middle east) and found that it works just fine and in fact better, though I guess medical facilities would prefer to avoid risks of sunburn or infection for severely jaundiced babies.

Here is what to do if your baby is mildly yellow.

• Figure out a place where the baby can enjoy sunlight. This may be near a window, balcony, or, like in our case, the terrace of our building.
• Morning or evening light is what you want. Day is too harsh for baby. Morning is better if you live in the city - less pollution.
• If you are at home, lucky you. If like me, you head out, prepare well.
• You will want to expose the most skin, but protect the eyes. If you have special dark glasses like in the hospital, great. If not, creating shade for the eyes works well, particularly if you are careful about timing. This can even be in the form of a cap or bonnet.
• Stuff you want to take along, or keep handy. A mat to lie on, some means of protecting eyes and ideally, some way to create a darker area in the direction the baby is facing.
  
• I take along a tent-like mosquito net, which I used to place over the baby and drape a dark cloth on the side opposite to where the sun rays hit. Then I used to place the baby inside with his head toward the sun, so that he had a nice dark area where he was looking.
• Careful placing of the shade for the eyes, and this dark area worked well to protect his eyes so that he wasn't squinting while still allowing him to sunbathe.
• Duration is important. 5-10 minutes is good. You don't want to cook the baby. 5 minutes or less on his back and similar on his tummy should do the trick.
  
• Watch baby carefully. My baby loves this time. He used to "unfurl" from his preferred curled up posture and really stretch out when the sun rays hit him. Watering eyes, squinting, fussiness should prompt you to immediately pay attention to protecting his eyes.
• Do this for a couple of days till the yellowness goes away.

Please note that I'm not a doctor, and this is not medical advice. I am simply sharing suggestions based on what I did. Might be a good idea to bounce this off your doctor first before trying it out.

Newborn jaundice

Today, baby looked slightly yellow to my inexperienced eye. Various visitors, depending on whether they were trying to reassure me or talk straight disagreed or agreed, but the bottom line was that the guy looked rather yellow.

The nurses assured me that mild jaundice was normal and not an issue. The pediatrician agreed with that statement, and was fine with us taking the baby in its yellow colour home on the next day.

Needless to say, I hunted on the net, and this is what I discovered.

• Jaundice is common in newborn infants and resolves in a week to ten days
• If it lasts longer, talk with doctor
• Jaundice is more common with breastfed babies
• And for once.... jaundice is less prevalent in newborns of mothers who smoke. Though I guess this is not any benefit considering how easily jaundice can be sorted out and the other messes smoke creates on the health front.
• Exposing baby to mild sunlight will help with jaundice. Precautions for it and stuff is material for another post.
  

Is Calcium a Metal?

Everything I learned in school says that calcium is a mineral, not metal. Unfortunately, I have forgotten much about what minerals are exactly as well. What I do know currently is that it is essential for the healthy development of the pregnancy - for both the baby and mother, so I make sure I take a calcium supplement regularly.

So currently, all the stuff I take -

1. Iron
2. Calcium
3. Folic Acid
4. Pantoplex - which is some kind of mix of vitamins and stuff.

I have never taken so many pills before! and they say that you aren't supposed to take any medicines during pregnancy!