Air Imri
Imri is a very gassy boy. He doesn't have colic, but oh boy does he have gas. While he sleeps, I'll often hear him pass lots of gas - which is great, even though I wonder how one small boy has so much air inside his gut. And I mean a LOT of air. Oh yes.
But when he's awake and primarily when eating, gas becomes a big deal. He'll get red-faced and angry and start screaming (and snorting, making it worse)while trying to pass it. It's almost like he's saying: "OH MY GOD, there's AIR coming out of my BUTT!! AIR!!! Out of my BUTT!!! What fresh hell is this?? HELP! Please HELP!!"
It's very upsetting seeing him so frazzled over farts. Really. I try and soothe him, give him props for passing it,etc. - it works sometimes, other times not so much. Mylic0n drops help a little - maybe. Hard to say. I've read so many different things that either say "diet affects this" or "diet doesn't affect this" that I'm cross-eyed and still confused.
The one consistent thing I've picked up from reading the various baby experts is that this too shall pass - usually around 2-3 months of age. And then I thought ... Imri will be 7 weeks old this Friday - nearly 2 months old and hopefully, the gas terror is on its way out. But 7 weeks old - when the hell did that happen?
On the one hand, I'm relieved that this misery may be on its last legs for his sake, and while I am delighted at seeing the changes in my boy as he grows - I looked at some of the outfits he wore only a couple of weeks ago and they are too small. He doesn't look like a newborn anymore. He is growing and changing - smiling when I smile, laughing frequently ...so many changes, so quickly - it's wonderful and difficult, all at the same time. I guess I finally understand what every mom told me "cherish it because it passes so quickly".
So quickly that I had my post-partum checkup yesterday. Imri came with me in his stylish outfit and new "shoes". It went well and the doc even commented on how beautiful he is, totally unsolicited. He better be, she delivered him. Still, the appointment was one more thing that carries the stamp of "time is passing quickly". Which is bad because work looms ahead.
I dread having to go back to work. DREAD it. I try not to think about it because it's the absolute last thing I want to do. If we lived in Canada, I'd have a whole year of paid leave (which Canadians pay into with mandatory payroll deductions - it's not just for mat leave but unemployment, etc) to care for my baby, rather than pay for someone else to care for him. Here in the land of "family values" I only get my saved vacation time (and I had used up a large chunk of that with the last miscarriage) and what I have paid for out of my own pocket - a measly 6 weeks, which insurance has cleverly cut to 5 weeks "oh yes ma'am, 6 weeks minus your 'elimination' period of 7 days". Bastards. I'd like to show them what elimination really means. Yeah. I mention to John frequently that Canada is a brighter option for so many reasons, this just one of them.
Oh, and hon? If you read this? Happy Anniversary :) And yes, let's seriously consider Canada, ok?
Anyway, I didn't write this to be a kvetch-fest, but rather to talk about gas - because really, what mother doesn't want to discuss her child's GI tract on the Internet? And I've done that, so now to the pictures - because that's why you're here, isn't it?
Nice shoes, huh?
But when he's awake and primarily when eating, gas becomes a big deal. He'll get red-faced and angry and start screaming (and snorting, making it worse)while trying to pass it. It's almost like he's saying: "OH MY GOD, there's AIR coming out of my BUTT!! AIR!!! Out of my BUTT!!! What fresh hell is this?? HELP! Please HELP!!"
It's very upsetting seeing him so frazzled over farts. Really. I try and soothe him, give him props for passing it,etc. - it works sometimes, other times not so much. Mylic0n drops help a little - maybe. Hard to say. I've read so many different things that either say "diet affects this" or "diet doesn't affect this" that I'm cross-eyed and still confused.
The one consistent thing I've picked up from reading the various baby experts is that this too shall pass - usually around 2-3 months of age. And then I thought ... Imri will be 7 weeks old this Friday - nearly 2 months old and hopefully, the gas terror is on its way out. But 7 weeks old - when the hell did that happen?
On the one hand, I'm relieved that this misery may be on its last legs for his sake, and while I am delighted at seeing the changes in my boy as he grows - I looked at some of the outfits he wore only a couple of weeks ago and they are too small. He doesn't look like a newborn anymore. He is growing and changing - smiling when I smile, laughing frequently ...so many changes, so quickly - it's wonderful and difficult, all at the same time. I guess I finally understand what every mom told me "cherish it because it passes so quickly".
So quickly that I had my post-partum checkup yesterday. Imri came with me in his stylish outfit and new "shoes". It went well and the doc even commented on how beautiful he is, totally unsolicited. He better be, she delivered him. Still, the appointment was one more thing that carries the stamp of "time is passing quickly". Which is bad because work looms ahead.
I dread having to go back to work. DREAD it. I try not to think about it because it's the absolute last thing I want to do. If we lived in Canada, I'd have a whole year of paid leave (which Canadians pay into with mandatory payroll deductions - it's not just for mat leave but unemployment, etc) to care for my baby, rather than pay for someone else to care for him. Here in the land of "family values" I only get my saved vacation time (and I had used up a large chunk of that with the last miscarriage) and what I have paid for out of my own pocket - a measly 6 weeks, which insurance has cleverly cut to 5 weeks "oh yes ma'am, 6 weeks minus your 'elimination' period of 7 days". Bastards. I'd like to show them what elimination really means. Yeah. I mention to John frequently that Canada is a brighter option for so many reasons, this just one of them.
Oh, and hon? If you read this? Happy Anniversary :) And yes, let's seriously consider Canada, ok?
Anyway, I didn't write this to be a kvetch-fest, but rather to talk about gas - because really, what mother doesn't want to discuss her child's GI tract on the Internet? And I've done that, so now to the pictures - because that's why you're here, isn't it?
Nice shoes, huh?
posted by K|nneret at 9:23 AM
8 Comments:
Just as a thought, one of my boys was a gassy baby too and mylicon itself didn't work near as well as the rite aid brand did. I don't know why, they should be mostly the same thing, but the rite aid brand helped tremendously. The only other thing that seemed to help was when I switched from tap water to bottle water (for me and him) He missed out on a bit of flouride for a while, but not enough to harm anything the Dr said.
Just my unasked for two cents :)
missing you,
maggie~
Nice everything, he's got so big! Sorry I cannot help w the gas. Er, I say rite aid brand. Right.
I can't help with the gas - yes this too will pass.
I find your comments about maternity leave interesting as they mirror my experiences. I have lived in many parts of the world and now believe the best countries are the ones that look after their citizens the best. Countries like Canada, Australia, Denmark, and Sweden really excel in this regard. There was an interesting article on the BBC website a few months back rating the cities of the world. 4 of the top 10 were in Australia, 3 of the top 10 were in Canada (Vancouver was #1, Toronto, and Calgary), Switzerland had 2. Ratings were based on quality of life, safety, educational standards, health care, climate, and income. While we often think income is the most important issue, once we have children, other issues such as health care, maternity leave, and education become much more important.
Nevertheless, the US is still a very fine country - I particularly love the areas out west (Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon) which can be wonderful places to live and raise your children. Please don't knock the US; it is going through challenging times. Canada is also going through challenging times - you and I both know that things are far from perfect there as well.
Oh Sara...
He's sweet as he can be. You know, there was a meme on someone's blog and one of the questions was: What was the first IF blog you ever read... and of course, for me it was you.
Thanks for helping me start this journey. I'm so thrilled to have been (and continue to be!) audience to yours.
-D.
I'll pass a gas tip as well. I don't usually have good luck with gas drops either but my husband (of all people!) has done this with all 3 of our kids.
Take a receiving blanket and fold it over and over till you have a long rectangle then place it as tight as you can against his belly and then lay him down with the ends behind him so it doesn't come loose. Kinda like a swaddle for his belly? I guess that pressure helps because as soon as he does this he would put them in the bouncer or swing and they'd fall right to sleep or stop crying!
Take Care!
I've never visited your blog before today, and this has nothing to do with anything, but I was reading BrooklinGirl's archives and you mentioned a while back that you may have a copy of Grrl's big list of things babies need saved somewhere. Do you? If so, I would love to read it.
By the way, your baby is adorable.
Have you tried the poopy chair?
Fisher Price Calming Vibrations rocker is the ticket for bringing out gas and getting our little Simon to poop. He had similar gas problems when he was Imri's age. I could never figure out if passing gas surprised and scared him or hurt him - it was probably a mixture of all. Eating was tough...I'd burp frequently but sometimes it didn't help at all. When he wasn't eating though, I used to try to distract him by laughing and squealing every time he passed some air. Now he knows the game and cracks up whenever he rips one. Anyway, it gets better. Poor little guy will outgrow it.
More pics please!
What a doll baby!!!! So precious!
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