I have a book that has an index for taking care of medical problems at home, like ones you can treat safely at home and ones that you should take them to the ER for, he fits the colic description, fussy in the evening first rooting for the breast and than rejecting it, might colic have something to do with why he hasnt had a BM? Also the book does say but when I was discharged from the hospital a paper they gave me listed things to never give your child like honey, etc.. karo syrup was on there has that changed?

By Yjja123 on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 10:13 pm:

The concern is with infant botulism.

Botulinum spores are found widely in soil, dust, and honey. Adults who swallow botulinum spores are almost never affected. When infants swallow the spores, however, the spores can germinate in their immature gastrointestinal tracts and begin producing botulinum toxin. This has occurred even when the honey was only used to sweeten a pacifier

By Trina~moderator on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 10:41 pm:

By all means call your pediatrician if you have any questions or concerns. Don't ever be ashamed or think a question is stupid. My kids were breastfed and often went 2-4 days without a BM. As long as they're happy and are still eating and wetting diapers I wouldn't be too concerned as of yet. A newborn shouldn't be given anything other than breast milk or formula unless directed otherwise by a doctor. Definitely not honey due to the high risk of botulism. I wouldn't give an infant sugar water either. Does he spit up often? The reason I ask is because my DD had acid reflux (GERD) as an infant and was a very fussy, high maintenance baby. More info and symptoms here:
GERD

By Bobbie on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 10:55 pm:

I would call the ped. Sounds like constipation.

By Ginny~moderator on Sunday, January 11, 2004 - 04:42 am:

Definitely, call your pediatrician.

All three of mine had colic - the ped said "immature digestive system", whatever that means. For the first, that ped said he'll outgrow it - which wasn't a whole lot of help. I remember one time sitting on the front steps crying while the baby cried inside the house.

I changed pediatricians when #1 was about 3, for a lot of very good reasons. With the 2nd ped, when my 2nd son had colic, he prescribed phenobarb - 2 drops on the tongue before nursing. The ped said there was no point in having a hurting and unhappy baby and a frazzled mother for 3 months (about the time it often takes to grow out of colic). Same for the 3rd. It worked wonderfully.

One thing I read somewhere and it also helped was to be sure the baby's feet are warm. The Army did an experiment many years ago in Alaska and found that soldiers whose feet got cold often had bellyaches along with cold feet, and getting their feet warm cured the bellyache.

Colic can have many causes, which is why you want to check with the pediatrician, but what the baby is feeling is a bellyache. If you hold the baby against your shoulder you are providing warmth for his stomach, which probably helps with the achy feeling. Once the ped has ruled out any causes for concern, ask about something to ease the baby's bellyache - there is really no reason for the baby to be uncomfortable if there is a simple way to manage the pain.

Both you and your ds have my deepest sympathy - I remember it all too well and that was 42 years ago.

By Bka on Sunday, January 11, 2004 - 09:28 am:

I did not experiance colic with DD, but I remember reading that if you hold the baby in a cradeling postion in your arms with the baby face down on the tummy that this is a comfortable postion for them to be in, or if you were to put the baby face down on your lap and rub the back or pat it...I hope things get better for oyu baby, and DH...

By Jodie on Sunday, January 11, 2004 - 01:25 pm:

I agree with Ginny. Colic needs to be diagnosed and the official definition of colic if I remember correctly is "the infant cries inconsolably for 3 hours a day 3 or more times a week for 3 months ". You should let your pediatrician decide the best course of action and hopefully that will work.DS had severe colic as per his pediatrician but a few weeks later I insisted on a referral and the gastroenterologist told me he had acid reflux and the reflux medicine really worked.
I hope things get better for you and your baby. Lots of luck .