Colic: causes

It has been said indeed that breastfed babies get colic lesser than those of formula fed babies.

Upon reading the article on colic at kidshealth.org though, It seems that baby Joram did have his bouts with colic as well.

So What Causes Colic?

Doctors aren't sure what causes colic. Milk intolerance has been suggested as a possible culprit, but doctors now believe that this is rarely the case. Breastfed babies get colic too; in these cases, dietary changes by the mother may help the colic to subside. Some breastfeeding women find that getting rid of caffeine in their diet helps, while others see improvements when they eliminate dairy products.

Some colicky babies also have gas, but it's not clear if the gas causes colic or if the babies develop gas as a result of swallowing too much air while crying.

Some theories suggest that colic occurs when food moves too quickly through a baby's digestive system or is incompletely digested. Other theories are that colic is due to a baby's temperament, that some babies just take a little bit longer to get adjusted to the world, or that some have undiagnosed gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It's also been found that infants of mothers who smoke are more likely to have colic.

I did think of GERD too. I even kept my baby's regular spitting up or sometimes even forceful vomiting a secret to our pediatrician for fear that baby will have all of those expensive tests not to mention that it may be invasive too. 

Anyway, our baby has been feeding well and has a constant increase in this weight which had alleviate my worries and reasoned that the vomiting is either due to overfeeding (which I admit that we're guilty of at times) or to his own poking of his mouth (you know how babies tend to put their hands in their mouth).

I try to keep baby upright and not to overfeed to prevent this though.

Colic: treatment

I remember that the key word for this is PATIENCE!

It was during these baby crying times that I thank God for the 9 months of preparation... 

It was during one of these times that I realized that 9 months wasn't so long after all... and that indeed God knows best.

Treating Colic

No single treatment has proved to make colic go away. But there are ways to make life easier for both you and your colicky baby.

First, if your baby is not hungry, don't try to continue the feeding. Instead, try to console your little one — you won't be "spoiling" the baby with the attention. You can also:

• Walk with your baby or sit in a rocking chair, trying various positions.
• Try burping your baby more often during feedings.
• Place your baby across your lap on his or her belly and rub your baby's back.
• Put your baby in a swing or vibrating seat. The motion may have a soothing effect.
• Put your baby in an infant car seat in the back of the car and go for a ride. The vibration and movement of the car are often calming.
• Play music tapes — some babies respond to sound as well as movement.
• Place your baby in the same room as a running clothes dryer, white noise machine, or vacuum — some infants find the low constant noise soothing.
• Some babies need decreased stimulation and may do well swaddled, in a darkened room.

Caring for a colicky baby can be extremely frustrating, so be sure to take care of yourself, too. Don't blame yourself or your baby for the constant crying — colic is nobody's fault. Try to relax, and remember that your baby will eventually outgrow this phase.

In the meantime, if you need a break from your baby's crying, take one. Friends and relatives are often happy to watch your baby when you need some time to yourself. If no one is immediately available, it's OK to put the baby down in the crib and take a break before making another attempt at consolation. If at any time you feel like you might hurt yourself or the baby, put the baby down in the crib and call for help immediately.


I did that more than just a couple of times... put baby down for a minute or so on the bed/crib just to compose myself before another attempt at consoling our baby.
At that time, I really prayed more... since there was this kind of feeling of helplessness and maybe even desperation (not really ;).


And I remember that Dennies would ask me "Kaya pa?"
"Kakayanin", was my reply.

If the baby has a temperature of 100.4° Fahrenheit (38° Celsius) or more, is crying for more than 2 hours at a time, is inconsolable, isn't feeding well, has diarrhea or persistent vomiting, or is less awake or alert than usual, call your doctor right away. You should also call your doctor if you're unsure whether your baby's crying is colic or a symptom of another illness.

my baby still has to get his first rattle!

Believe it or not... our baby Joram still has to get his first rattle!

We had thought of foregoing any shopping for toys for our baby since gifts would be coming in as in his Christening last September and this December for his Dedication and of course... Christmas!

Joram had gotten a lot of gifts last month... toys and clothes. Surprisingly, none was the ever common rattle!

Yes, aybe they thought that we had already bought one or that somebody will probably give it. So, at the end of the day, there's none. :)

And yes, I think December is a lot of days away to wait for a rattle until then... we would be getting Joram one this weekend and that means today ;).

i am not a fan of this particular play

But I have to prepare for this...

Sometime between 4-7 months, babies develop a sense of object permanence and begin to learn that things and people exist even when they're out of sight. This is when babies start playing the "dropsy" game — dropping things over the side of the high chair and expecting an adult to retrieve it (which, once retrieved, get dropped again!).

... which means that I'll have more exercise coming soon!

what to expect on Baby's check-up: 4 months

I am just reading on to know what to expect and have this list in mind on what to ask or say to Joram's doctor on his fourth month.

I know that he just turned 3 months but what can I say... I am excited!

Also, this includes some of the expected milestones of which I am excited about.

And Joram is already able to do all of those at this time! Thank you, Lord!

Anyway, I got these from kidshealth.org. You should visit their site!

more on what to expect on check-ups from the site mentioned.

KidsHealth> Parents> Doctors & Hospitals> Checkups> Your Child's Checkups

From your baby's long-awaited arrival until those first days of school, you'll be visiting the doctor regularly to make sure that your child is healthy and developing well. It can be tough to remember everything you want to discuss with the doctor and everything the doctor tells you.

These sheets give you a sense of what to expect at each visit and help you keep track of the guidance your doctor provides. Print them out and take them with you!

• Your Child's First Checkup: The Hospital
• Your Child's Checkup: 2 to 4 Weeks
• Your Child's Checkup: 2 Months
• Your Child's Checkup: 4 Months
• Your Child's Checkup: 6 Months
• Your Child's Checkup: 9 Months
• Your Child's Checkup: 12 Months (1 Year)
• Your Child's Checkup: 15 Months
• Your Child's Checkup: 18 Months (1½ Years)
• Your Child's Checkup: 2 Years
• Your Child's Checkup: 3 Years
• Your Child's Checkup: 4 Years
• Your Child's Checkup: 5 Years

EPI

Expanded Program on Immunization (Philippines)

The Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) in the Philippines began in July 1979. And, in 1986, made a response to the Universal Child Immunization goal. The four major strategies include:

1. Sustaining high routine Full Immunized Child (FIC) coverage of at least 90% in all provinces and cities,
2. Sustaining the polio-free country for global certification
3. Eliminating measles by 2008,
4. Eliminating neonatal tetanus by 2008.

Routine Schedule of Immunization

Every Wednesday is designated as immunization day and is adopted in all parts of the country. Immunization is done monthly in barangay health stations, quarterly in remote areas of the country.

Routine Immunization Schedule for Infants

The standard routine immunization schedule for infants in the Philippines is adopted to provide maximum immunity against the seven vaccine preventable diseases in the country before the child's first birthday. The fully immunized child must have completed BCG 1, DPT 1, DPT 2, DPT 3, OPV 1, OPV 2, OPV 3, HB 1, HB 2, HB 3 and measles vaccines before the child is 12 months of age.

Vaccine	Minimum Age at 1st Dose	Number of Doses	Dose	Minimum Interval Between Doses	Route	Site	Reason
Bacillus Calmette-Guérin	Birth or anytime after birth	1 dose	0.05 mL	none	Intradermal	Right deltoid region of the arm	BCG given at earliest possible age protects the possibility of TB meningitis and other TB infections in which infants are prone
Diphtheria-Pertussis-Tetanus Vaccine	3 weeks old	3 doses	0.5 mL	6 weeks(DPT 1), 10 weeks (DPT 2), 14 weeks (DPT 3)	Intramuscular	Upper outer portion of the thigh, Vastus Lateralis (L-R-L)	An early start with DPT reduces the chance of severe pertussis.
Oral Polio Vaccine	6 weeks old	3 doses	2-3 drops	4 weeks	Oral	Mouth	The extent of protection against polio is increased the earlier the OPV is given. Keeps the Philippines polio-free.
Hepatitis B Vaccine	birth or anytime after birth	3 doses	0.5 mL	4 weeks interval	Intramuscular	Upper outer portion of the thigh, Vastus Lateralis (R-L-R)	An early start of Hepatitis B vaccine reduces the chance of being infected and becoming a carrier. Prevents liver cirrhosis and liver cancer which are more likely to develop if infected with Hepatitis B early in life. About 9,000 die of complications of Hepatits B. 10% of Filipinos have Hepatitis B infection
Measles Vaccine (not MMR)	9 months old	1 dose	0.5 mL	none	Subcutaneous	Upper outer portion of the arms, Right deltiod	At least 85% of measles can be prevented by immunization at this age.

General Principles in Infants/Children Immunization

• Because measles kills, every infant needs to be vaccinated against measles at the age of 9 months or as soon as possible after 9 months as part of the routine infant vaccination schedule. It is safe to vaccinate a sick child who is suffering from a minor illness (cough, cold, diarrhea, fever or malnutrition) or who has already been vaccinated against measles.
• If the vaccination schedule is interrupted, it is not necessary to restart. Instead, the schedule should be resumed using minimal intervals between doses to catch up as quickly as possible.
• Vaccine combinations (few exceptions), antibiotics, low-dose steroids (less than 20 mg per day), minor infections with low fever (below 38.5º Celsius), diarrhea, malnutrition, kidney or liver disease, heart or lung disease, non-progressive encephalopathy, well controlled epilepsy or advanced age, are not contraindications to vaccination. Contrary to what the majority of doctors may think, vaccines against hepatitis B and tetanus can be applied in any period of the pregnancy.
• There are very few true contraindication and precaution conditions. Only two of these conditions are generally considered to be permanent: severe (anaphylactic) allergic reaction to a vaccine component or following a prior dose of a vaccine, and encephalopathy not due to another identifiable cause occurring within 7 days of pertussis vaccination.
• Only the diluent supplied by the manufacturer should be used to reconstitute a freeze-dried vaccine. A sterile needle and sterile syringe must be used for each vial for adding the diluent to the powder in a single vial or ampoule of freeze-dried vaccine.
• The only way to be completely safe from exposure to blood-borne diseases from injections, particularly hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is to use one sterile needle, one sterile syringe for each child.

vaccines: BCG

Since tuberculosis is common in the Philippines, the BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (or Bacille Calmette-Guérin)  is one of the immunizations given at birth or soon after birth among Filipino babies (and even to foreigners born on the Philippine shores at that).

This is also included in the government's EPI thus, is covered by the Philhealth on hospital deliveries.

Below is an information on this vaccine from the CDC.

Vaccines and Preventable Diseases:

Tuberculosis (TB) Vaccination

BCG is a vaccine for TB. This vaccine is not widely used in the United States, but it is often given to infants and small children in other countries where TB is common. BCG vaccine does not always protect people from getting TB. If you were vaccinated with BCG, you may have a positive reaction to a TB skin test.  This reaction may be due to the BCG vaccine itself or due to infection with the TB bacteria. Your positive reaction is more likely to mean you have been infected with TB bacteria...More

What You Should Know:

• About the Disease
 
• Vaccine Information
 
• Who Should Not be Vaccinated?