Meet Peter.
This poor little guy. If you're just catching up with us now please read the last six or seven posts below because for the past two months this little boy (who is well worth it) has occupied a lot of our time and energy and SOOOO MUCH has been going on and we haven't posted it all until now. The poor thing was in a LOT of pain since he came home from the hospital. He couldn't spit up and wouldn't burp either after feedings and so he would just scream. Scream and scream and cry and scream.
No position, sound or anything would soothe him enough or consistantly with the exception of a bath, and you know how unrealistic it would've been to give him a bath for two months straight. At first we thought it was reflux. We tried the meds (all of them), they didn't work. Then we thought it was just Colic, my pediatrician was convinced it was only that and I just needed to wait it out. But Peter was in SOOO much pain! I knew it wasn't just that. Then I thought he was lactose intolerant or had another milk allergy so I went off dairy for two weeks, but still he was so uncomfortable. Finally, seeing no change in his comfort levels and knowing we would be moving in mid- May, I decided to get him into a GI specialist and boy am I glad I did! He listened to me tell him what had been going on, checked Peter out and then unleashed the mystery. He told me that Peter didn't just have one thing going on but THREE! He does indeed have reflux, colic AND a type of ischemia in his rectum which made it so that instead of his muscles relaxing when he needed to dirty his diapers, they would contract. About 5-10 percent of babies have this condition. NO WONDER my little baby was screaming all day, every day for two months straight! The good news is that all three of those things should ware off. Annie had reflux as well and it faded off as she became more active and upright, so I'm hopeful in that regard. Colic they say peaks at 8 weeks ( I have to admit that was almost my cracking point) and now we're at 11 weeks old. And the Ischemia should be gone between three and four months of age. The bad news was that the doctor couldn't give me anything for any of them. Yes there were reflux medicines but none of them (not even the strongest) were alleviating any pain. After to talking with SO many doctors, nurses and moms about what could possibly help my poor baby (and yes our sanity levels) a friend of mine suggested using a probiotic, something a doctor had previously labeled as "hocus pocus". I was desperate, nothing more and so I gave it a go and let me say this PROBIOTICS ARE NOT HOCUS POCUS!! They have given me every reason to think that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Seriously for over a month I wondered if I would ever see me child do something other than scream while he was awake, or sleep (if we could get him to sleep). In using the probiotic, I not only discovered that my little Peter could be content, but that he could actually SMILE. I've been using the probiotic for two weeks now and still, when I see his eyes light up and a smile spread across his face, it brings me to tears. I really didn't know when or if I would see that. And believe you me, when I forget to give him some probiotic, I pay big time. Thank you Becky for bringing sanity back into my life (as well as my family's) in suggesting a probiotic. Now, if you don't mind I'd like to show-off my sweeter Peter in the pictures below: all pictures of him content or smiling. Truly miraculous to me.I
Love this one! Hilarious!
Loving Peter, now that they can interact with him. All three of them can enjoy it. Yeah!
THERE IT IS! LOOK AT HIM BEAM! THERE IS NO GREATER FORM OF THERAPY FOR A MOTHER....I AM CONVINCED!
AND AGAIN!
Snuggly and loving it. We're not 100% yet, but we're sure on track to getting there. Oh how I love you Peter. I'm so sorry it's been so hard. As a friend told me "You'll never remember it, and I'll never forget it." It was quite a challenging road for us all, but you are worth it. We love you so much. We're glad your here. And now, we're glad you're happy. Isn't smiling fun? Let's do it more often, okay? Done deal.
6 comments:
oh you guys are truly saints! but we all already knew that. way to be persistent for the little guy. hoping restful nights will shortly be in your future!
How hard and exhausting....I'm so sorry for all of you and that poor baby! So glad you found something to help. Hope he is all the way better soon.
I'm so glad you found probiotics!! We use them when the kids have diarrhea or have to take antibiotics (to counteract/prevent the lovely diarrhea). It's taken me a while to come around to the benefits of homeopathic remedies (and some of them still make me laugh), but a few have definitely made me change my mind!
Wendy!!! It's been a long time. I didn't even know you had a third. Congrats, yet I'm so sorry for the hard times this little guy has had to pass through (you, too). I'm so glad that things are on the up! He is absolutely darling. I'd expect no less from the Richards:)
Oh Wendy I am so sorry. When I read your post it sounds exactly like what we went through with Jet. Dr after dr and no answers. I am glad you found something that is working. Someone told me to go see a chiropractor who works with babies. I never did it, but think it is worth a shot. We had so many tests done on Jet and tried so many medicines and nothing ever worked. He eventually grew out of it around 12-13 months. I hope and pray Peter grows out of it sooner. I just kept telling myself the Lord wouldn't give me such a trial if he knew I couldn't handle it. You are doing an amazing job I am sure. We will keep you in our prayers.
I just read all your updates (I love that you put up lots of photos like me) and I am so glad that Peter is feeling better and that you are getting some smiles. :) Thank goodness for that GI specialist (sometimes it helps a lot just knowing what is going on) and for Becky giving you awesome advice! He is one cute boy!
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