Karp Schmarp
February 23, 2009 | Clark
So, having no previous babies to compare Clark to, I thought his fussiness was normal baby fussiness. We could almost always talk him out of it, though sometimes the gymnastics required was exhausting. Then my mother-in-law came to visit and kept commenting on how gassy he seemed, and how SB had colic, blah blah blah…
You see, I had it in my head due to Dr. Karp and his Happiest Baby on the Block that colic does not exist. According to him, it doesn’t exist in non-western cultures and it’s our western practices that create unhappy babies. I read his book years before I had kids, employed his practices while babysitting other’s children, and smirked internally whenever anyone said their baby had colic, or whenever my mother-in-law talked about SB’s. Colic doesn’t exist!
After she pointed out how he arches his back all the time, how his body is often very stiff, and his tummy very hard, I started noticing these things more. Then his cries changed to these horrible cries of PAIN. Not cranky, please entertain me or change me or I’m tired cries, these were, “This really hurts!” cries. He started whimpering in his sleep. About a half an hour after he ate, he would go from calm to screaming instantly, and then not stop for hours. And yes, Dr. Karp, we 5 S’d like crazy. Swaddling, shushing, swinging, side lying, sucking… um, yeah. Dr. Karp can kiss my smote-for-my-smugness ass.
It got REALLY bad. I was crying a LOT because he cries were KILLING me. It was like something was reaching inside my chest and tearing at my heart. My baby was IN PAIN. God. Kill me now.
We took him to our hippie pediatrician who is not one to prescribe meds willy-nilly, but she gave us a prescription for something that would start working in 2-3 weeks. This was obviously depressing on several levels. I wasn’t super stoked about giving him drugs and also, TWO TO THREE WEEKS?!? Are you kidding me?
I twittered about how I wouldn’t wish a reflux-y baby on my worst enemy and was reminded by a couple of people (THANK YOU!) that chiropractics sometimes works for that. Dude. By this point my sanity was so fragile I would have tried ANYTHING.
So I took him to my chiro. Apparently, having an adjustment helps all of your stuff work better, and he also adjusted something that releases the pressure around that immature esophageal sphincter that is supposedly the cause of all this distress. It works about 60% of the time.
You guys, IT WORKED. (cue angel chorus) He hasn’t cried for more than a few minutes since. I’m telling you, the difference is night and day. Seriously, if Dr. George is interested in any sexual favors, SB and I would be willing to provide.
We even attempted a meal in public and it was a great success!
So, what have we learned?
1. Sometimes my mother-in-law knows what she’s talking about.
2. While Dr. Karp’s 5 S’s are awesome for most things, not so much for the reflux.
3. Smirking internally is asking for trouble.
4. Chiropractics once again saved my life.
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February 24th, 2009 at 2:02 pm, TheGoriWife Says:
The pouty lip picture killed me. I am dead now.
February 24th, 2009 at 2:55 pm, tacomachickadee Says:
Yay! So glad it worked! I was always amazed and grateful for what chiropractic trips did for our kids when someone recommended the same. My children have never (knock on wood) had an ear infection, either … something I was plagued with as a kid. Congrats on the peaceful evening out with baby, too!
February 24th, 2009 at 3:12 pm, Camille Says:
Me: Matt, ohmygosh, come look this picture of Clark!
Matt: Aw, is Clark upset?
Me: I wonder what’s going through SB’s mind in that first picture…
**scroll down**
Both of us: AWWWWW!!!!
February 24th, 2009 at 3:38 pm, Victorian Says:
As I was reading I thought to myself “they need to go to the chiropractor” and as I got to the end “woohoo I was right!”
I tell you, all babies should go.
Glad you are all feeling better.
V.
February 24th, 2009 at 4:50 pm, Kelly T Says:
That second picture of the little pouty face is entirely too priceless (if there were such a thing). Aoife was crazy screamy…chiropractics/cranio sacral therapy worked within 1 week! I’m so glad he now really is ‘The Happiest Baby On The Block!’
kelly
February 24th, 2009 at 5:46 pm, tia Says:
When your kids cry like that it DOES just kill you. Congrats on finding peace. Chiropractor? I never knew! Pretty interesting.
February 24th, 2009 at 7:27 pm, tacomachickadee Says:
BTW … this is a primo example of why all parents, new or otherwise, should not be afraid to speak up when they’re overwhelmed, having a problem, etc. Even if they think it’s normal. The more we talk, the more we share, the more we learn, the more we can deal with the struggles of parenthood and actually appreciate our little miracles all the more. Kudos to you for putting it out there.
February 24th, 2009 at 7:49 pm, NEAL Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 9:20 pm, peaches Says:
Aww man…I wish someone had told me about the chiro thing when I was suffering through three months of a colic-y Audrey, both of us in tears on the couch every night for HOURS.
February 24th, 2009 at 9:31 pm, Jenny Says:
Well done problem solving. If you have any wise ideas for my son who insists on waking up at 4:30 every morning raring to go, please pass them on
The nice thing is, now that you have a good idea what is causing his pain, you can take the steps to fix it (wrap around slings work nice for keeping them upright post meals).
We like PC too.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:41 pm, beth c Says:
I tried for EVER to get a picture of Liam sporting that pouty lip like Clark has in pic #2. Every time I whipped out the camera he switched to grins (followed by howls when I put the camera away). That is an awesome shot!
February 25th, 2009 at 6:05 am, Amy Says:
Oh, I am soo glad the chiro worked! Hooray! Peace has been bestowed – enjoy! Those pictures just killed me….magnificent.
February 25th, 2009 at 8:18 am, Sarah Says:
reflux suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucks. With a capital SUUUUUUCKS. Prevacid has SAVED OUR LIFE and I am not looking forward to the trial off of it in a couple of weeks. And that’s with a FOUR YEAR OLD, yo. It was *so much worse* when she was an infant.
February 25th, 2009 at 11:40 pm, Jenny Says:
The GoriWife: I know. I was SO STOKED to get that shot. Even though it is deadly.
chickadee: Yes! Thanks for the reminder. When I got your tweet, I remembered that I had heard that before, I was just so insane it hadn’t occurred to me yet. And you are TOTALLY right about parents speaking up more. I think everyone is just so afraid to be judged.
Camille: Ha! Thanks for the recount!
V: Thanks for the further reinforcement. Miss you.
Kelly: That’s right! I had forgotten Aoife benefitted from chiro as well.
tia: I know! It’s nuts.
NEAL: *high five*
Heather: I had no idea that Audrey had reflux too. That is encouraging as she is such a chill kid now. I was so worried I had and anxious agro type kid on my hands.
Jenny: Oh god. Please don’t tell me your kid is STILL not sleeping through the night. I am choosing to believe this is a short term issue.
beth: yes, but your kid is a guaranteed smiler. It is much harder to catch a smile on clark. They are fleeting, whereas he holds the pouty lip for longer.
Amy: Thanks. They are sort of hard to look at actually, aren’t they?
Sarah: Shut UP! Four? That is so lame and sad for her! poor you, too.
February 26th, 2009 at 4:48 am, JR Says:
Holy crap, that pouty picture just made my uterus start knocking on my brain.
Does the chiro thing work on adults with reflux, too?
February 26th, 2009 at 1:41 pm, dahli Says:
Relflux does suck. My cousin’s little one, Wyatt had that when he was about Clark’s age..it was heart breaking to see him in such pain.
So happy you found a solution! The photos in this blog are fantastic! love you. miss you.
xoxo