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Actress Sarah Chalke Shares Her Son’s Three Month Battle With Colic

Kylie McConville — Tue, 28 May 2013 17:16:11 +0000

When her beautiful baby boy Charlie was born on Christmas Eve in 2009, new mom (and star of the hit TV show How to Live With Your Parents for the Rest of Your Life) Sarah Chalke was head over heels for her little guy. She and her fiance, Jamie Afifi, were filled with every experience a new mom and dad could be — and then some.

The actress told Us Weekly that shortly after being born, Charlie had colic for the first three months. Looking back on that time, she said, “I did not sit down… literally just carried him for three month’s straight.” Unfortunately for the actress, Charlie’s colicky problems weren’t his only issues. At just 12 months old, he was diagnosed with Kawasaki Syndrome, which is a rare autoimmune disease that mostly strikes kids under the age of 5. Because of the symptoms (fever, bloodshot eyes, red, cracked lips, rashes, swollen hands, feet and lymph nodes are commonly found in other viruses, kids affected by Kawasaki Syndrome are often misdiagnosed.

Earlier this year, the creators of Grey’s Anatomy featured Sarah, Jamie and Charlie’s harrowing story. The show’s creator, Shonda Rhimes, hoped to educate parents and adults about Kawasaki Syndrome. She ended up devoting an entire episode to the Sarah’s experiences.

But now, at age 3, Charlie is happy and most importantly, healthy. Sarah said that her little guy has a big appetite — especially when it comes to kale! She said, “I make green juice for him with kale, apple, cucumber, celery and lemon. He’s 3 and I’ve just kind of done it since he was little. I don’t know how long it will last… and he will also eat kale chips. I just take kale with a bit of olive oil and a tiny, tiny bit of salt, you don’t need that much, and bake it in the oven.”

Did your baby have colic? What worked for you?

Plus, more from The Bump:

Tips for Surviving Colic

Moms Share Their Tips for Surviving Baby’s Colic

5 Tricks I Used to Soothe My Colicky Babyara

5 Tricks I Used to Soothe My Colicky Baby

Shannon Guyton — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 18:52:19 +0000

After a year of trying to conceive, enduring multiple miscarriages, and a miserable pregnancy, I thought the hardest days of becoming a mother were behind me. I was ready for the happiest time in my life. Everyone loves their new babies, right?? I had no idea what I was in for. I had a tough time going from spreadsheets to spit-up, my baby refused to sleep longer than twenty minutes at a time, I tried and failed at breastfeeding, and I was super uncomfortable with post-birth medical issues.

But the one thing that really destroyed my new-baby euphoria was how absolutely distraught he always seemed. He cried inconsolably for hours every day, and I had no special mommy powers to help him. “He has colic,” my pediatrician said, and I looked at him blankly. Say what? What’s Colic? I could tell at the time it was something tummy related – when he cried, he pulled up his legs, and he sounded like he was refluxing, too. He hated to eat, he hated to sleep, he hated… well… everything. Being desperate for peace, for rest, I ordered everything I could find that made promises to eliminate colic. From gas drops to a contraption that attached to the crib that made it seem like the car, to a trip to a chiropractor, I tried it all.

Did anything cure it? No. But here are the top 5 things that helped us survive:

What worked for you?

Plus, more from The Bump:

Moms Share Their Tips for Surviving Baby’s Colic

15 Ways to Deal With a Fussy Baby

Tips for Treating Colic?

Is This the True Cause of Colic?

Rachel Sylvester — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 21:18:17 +0000

Any parent with a colicky baby will tell you that dealing with colic is heartbreaking, aggravating and, well, pretty much your worst nightmare. Thankfully, a recent study shed some light on a possible cause of colic among newborns.

Researcher Dr. Abdelrazak Mansour Ali from Cairo studied 55 infants of varying age, sex and ethnicity that showed symptoms of colic. Of those chosen, 45 babies (81.8%) tested positive for Helicobacter pylori — a type of bacteria found in their stomachs. This bacterium can cause stomach discomfort, cramping and ulcers (ouch!). Dr. Ali noted that these infections may be considered the “etiologic pathogenic organism of infantile colic,” meaning there may be a legitimate cause of baby’s discomfort — it’s not “just crying.” Now if only researchers could fine a definitive cure!

Even though baby can’t communicate what’s wrong, there are some possible treatments to ease his pain. Dr. Ali recommends a daily dose of a probiotic to stimulate your baby’s stomach — but discuss any treatment or medication with your doctor before giving it to baby.

How did you deal with your baby’s colic? What do you recommend for other moms?

Plus, more from The Bump:

Why Is Baby Crying?

Tips for Surviving Colic

Calming a Colicky Baby