How come I always writes happy and positive articles on the blog? Well, not this time.
Colic
Leilani has, what her pedeatrician calls low-level colic (about 2 out of 5-7 days , 3-4 hours of crying, often with increased bloating and farting). It is pretty common, about 20% of all infants have it. The ancient Chinese called it “The 100 Days of Crying”. Thank God it’s almost over.
There are many medical theories about the cause, and nobody knows how to treat, let alone cure it. Immature nervous system, immature digestive system, mother’s diet are just a few ideas.
We tried to fix my diet. First the obvious: No onions, garlic, legumes (except soy), gassy vegetables (broccoli, kale, cauliflower…). Did not help. Cow milk free. (that’s harder than one thinks). Then dairy free (no goat cheese either). Next was Soy free, but I added back the dairy. Then an Aryurvedic diet that I had looked up myself – no raw vegetables, nothing cold, no legumes, gassy vegies. Later an Aryurvedic diet designed by a doctor. It got bad there: additionally no tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, raw fruit, eggplant,… I should write a list of what I am allowed to eat because it is shorter! Worked great for me, didn’t do a thing for Leilani.
Neighbors friends and relatives gave good and not-so-good advice. Among the not tried: Bottelfeed – which often really fixes severe colics. Never eat fruit and veggies at the same time. Over the counter medications for bigger kids and adults. Among the tried tried: Wait at least 2 hours between feedings – didn’t take Baby long to realize we couldn’t understand her subtle communications anymore and that it was best she screemed at the top of her lungs when hungry. In the middle of the night too. Other advice: She is just spoiled. She is teething. Nobody dared to recommend the crying it out approach to us though.
Most expensive approach tried: Arjurvedic diet and massages ($550)
Things that work (or at least distract) ocasionally: Swaddling, beer (for the mother and not too much), huge quantities of camomille, peppermint and melissa (lemon balm) tea (for the mother), bouncing, rocking, dancing (Beach Boys!), squats and lounges while holding Baby, belly massages and back rubs, catnip and peppermint drops for Leilani, digestive enzymes and lactobacilus acidophilus (dairy free) for me..
So far the best seem to be herbal drops that strengthen the immune system – she got them for a slight fever, they taste pretty bad, and in the beginnig she spat them out, but by now she seems to know they help her (or just got used to the taste).
Diaperphobia
Leilani doesn’t like to poop in her diapers. How do I know? 5 poopy diapers in the last 4 weeks. She wants the diaper off, and poops on the diapertable. How does she get us to let her do it? Holding it back, once she did not poop for 5 days…. Any further questions?
If she has to go and the diaper is on she fusses until we take it off. If she really has to go in her diaper we have about 5 minutes to change it, until she gets hysterical (stopping the car by the side of the road and changing her right there kind of hysterical).
