One Mom's Story: Jessica and Baby Jacob

This week's One Mom's Story is from Jessica, who sent me her story and it brought tears to my eyes. She's the mother of two boys, PJ, who is 3, and Jacob, who at the time that this was sent to me, was 27 days. Her story is so emotional, that I thought it was best to keep it in her own words. . . From Jessica: My son Jacob was born August 27th, weighing 7lbs, 6 oz. At Jacob's first doctor's appointment, the doctor stated that Jacob was very healthy, nothing was wrong. He never even suggested anything about acid reflux or colic. I had some understanding about colic and acid reflux, because my first son (PJ) had colic that was manageable just by changing his formula. My family and I are believers on putting a baby on a schedule, so I started a schedule with Jacob, and it was working great. He would sleep from 11am to 2pm. Jacob was also taking a 4oz bottle, but he was only pooping every 2 to 3 days and his hiccups were horrible. He always had the hiccups, and they took over his body. And then, about a week later,

Jacob started spitting up his bottle feedings. I took Jacob back to the doctor, who stated that Jacob had acid reflux. The doctor then prescribed me Zantac (.7), which I would give him twice a day. A couple days later, Jacob started his constant screaming. The first day, he started screaming at noon time. I just thought he was hungry, but when I fed him, he spit it back up. I tried putting him to sleep, he would fall asleep in my arms, but then when I tried to put him down, he started screaming again. I tried his binky (which he would spit right out), a warm bath, the swing, the swaddler, skin to skin, putting him his car seat on top of the dryer, laying him on my arm on his stomach--nothing was working. I was getting very frustrated and started crying. My mom who has 6 kids all together, was out of ideas too. Each time we thought we had him calmed down, he screamed like he was in pain. My mom was also concerned about me getting frustrated with Jacob because I am bipolar (I take Wellburtin) and I had postpartum depression with my first son. She would take Jacob when I would sit on the couch crying, as Jacob was screaming. I called the doctor once again, and they had me bring him in right away. The doctor came into the room, and said that Jacob has a severe case of colic and acid reflux. Along with the Zantac, he prescribed me Prevacid, which Jacob was to take twice a day. The doctor stated that Jacob isn't losing weight, his stomach is soft, his lungs sound great, that there is no cure for acid reflux or colic. Jacob is a very healthy baby. When I left the doctor's office, I was broken hearted and Jacob was screaming. I cried all the way home. When I got home, my mom ask me if anything was new. I told her they prescribed Jacob more medicine. PJ started feeling left out, because I was spending all my time with Jacob. PJ tried to help me with Jacob--he would try to give him his binky, help me feed him, etc. The cutest thing PJ would do is get real close to Jacob and whisper in his ear " Jacob, everything will be okay, Mama is here."  About 8pm, when I put PJ to bed, Jacob would start calming down. I was able to feed him a bottle and have him laying on my chest putting him to sleep. While he was laying on my chest, I would just think about the day and try to determine what I was doing wrong. Why couldn't I calm my baby down or take away his pain? I started asking GOD to give me answers and to help Jacob and me get through this. The next day, I dreaded when it came to noon time. Jacob started screaming again, his little face was turning beet red and his crying was nothing like I heard before. I can't count on my hand how many times I called the doctor's office, and them just telling me this is normal. I started thinking maybe something else is wrong with him. I decided to take him to the ER. After spending 6 hours at the hospital, the ER doctor told me he has acid reflux and colic together. They gave him the same medicine I have been giving him, but upped his Zantac from .7 to 1.0. I was relieved that it wasn't something else wrong, but felt dumb for coming to the ER and being told the same thing that his doctor has been telling me. I went back home with no answers, just information that I already knew and ideas that the ER doctor gave me to help calm him (which I already knew). Normal routine for bed time came, Jacob was calm, eating and sleeping on my chest. I sat in bed with Jacob crying, thinking again I am a horrible parent. I spent most of the night up, just thinking that if the doctor can't do or come up with anything. Then I need to take this into my own hands and come up with a solution. The next morning, I approach my mom and ask her to help me search on the internet for ways to help reduce colic and acid reflux. We searched such things as Indian remedies, what other people were using to help colic, etc. and then my mom found Colic Calm. She researched the information, watched the videos, and read the comments and stories. Jacob had another appointment with the doctor that morning, so I told my mom I would stop by CVS on my way home. His appointment went the same way it had been for weeks, with the doctor telling me the same thing. I left the appointment again with no answers, but was eager to start Colic Calm. I went to my local CVS to the pharmacist, and asked where I could find Colic Calm. The pharmacist had a huge smile on his face and told me that he recommends this to moms which complain to him about colic and acid reflux. He showed me where I could find this, and also told me to read the directions. When I got home, it was about noon time. Jacob started screaming. I gave him his medicine, and had my mom help me give him the Colic Calm. I was holding him, he cried (not screamed) and then he started falling asleep. I sat there, crying just in relief that he was actually sleeping. I was afraid to put him down, just because I didn't want him waking up. I finally put him down in his crib and just stood there waiting for him to wake up. I was relieved that he stayed asleep. When he woke up from his nap, he didn't scream. He ate a 4oz bottle, he didn't spit it up. Throughout the rest of the day, it was like I had a whole new baby. The next couple of days were the same. After a week of giving him Colic Calm [when this was written], he is eating regularly, and I only have to give him Colic Calm every couple of days. He is pooping regularly and his hiccups have calmed down a lot. I give Jacob Colic Calm around 10am (full dose) and at night time before he goes to bed. Jacob's acid reflux still flares up during the night, but I only have to give him half a dose. Jacob's doctor wanted to see him a week later, so I took the Colic Calm with me to his appointment. The doctor asked me how Jacob was doing and I stated,  "Great!". The doctor looked at me like I was crazy and asked me to explain myself. I showed him the Colic Calm and I told him how this has helped Jacob with his acid reflux and colic. He told me that this isn't going to make it go away, and if I feel like he needs this [Colic Calm] then to continue giving him it. But, that he doesn't recommend the medicine. I told the doctor I do understand that it [colic and infant reflux] won't go away, and that he does spit up once in awhile, but not all the time like before. I still give Jacob his medicine that the doctor prescribed, but along with Colic Calm. Jacob is 27 days today, and I still give him Colic Calm, but not as much as I did in the beginning. Colic Calm has given me my sanity back, relief and hope that there is a solution for colic and acid reflux. Might not get rid of it, but it does help ease it. Are you a Colic Calm user and would like to share your story? Just let us know by leaving a comment below and we’ll be in touch! As a thank you, Colic Calm will send you one bottle when your story goes live.