Colic and the Crying Baby: What Can Parents Do?

Colic and the Crying Baby: What Can Parents Do?

by | Jun 29, 2015 | News

By Pediatrician Amber Morgan, MD, Vibrant Health Family Clinics We’ve all heard the stories.  Our girlfriend might say “My child was colicky.”  Your mother might say “You were colicky.”  As a new or prospective parent what does this actually mean?  If you’re reading this and you are a seasoned parent and do not know what I am referring to, then you are lucky.  (Up to 1/5 of all infants may experience colic.)   I am talking about an otherwise healthy infant who cries for at least 3 hours per day (three hours! That means only 21 hours or less of potential non crying moments!), more than 3 days per week, and lasting more than 3 weeks.  It often starts around three weeks of life and spontaneously resolves by 3 months of life.  The classic, and very much dreaded, rule of 3’s.   The crying is intense, as if your baby is trying to tell you that something is hurting.  These babies do tend to have increased gas and bloating, draw their legs up to the abdomen and cry intensely- to the point of screaming.  So something must be hurting right?  Maybe.  Probably.  But most likely if there are no other symptoms present such as vomiting, poor weight gain, blood in stool, etc.; the likelihood of finding the root cause of the ‘colic’ is less likely.  Most studies on colic have not had any consistent results for a root cause. So what can we do? First and foremost, respond to your infant. Crying is a survival mechanism that has developed over time to protect us, so our infants don’t become ‘tiger food’1....

River Falls Days 10k 2mi Run

by | Jun 25, 2015 | Events, News

Vibrant Health Family Clinics proudly sponsors the River Falls Days 10K 2 Mile Race on July 11, 2015.   There is plenty of time to sign up and train for this amazing community event! Click here to sign up for the race online Printable sign-up forms and more information Join Vibrant Health employees at the race. Several employees are currently training and taking on the #VibrantRunningChallenge   What is the Vibrant Running Challenge? The Vibrant Running Challenge is Vibrant Health’s way of saying, “we feel your pain.” We understand the real-life challenges that may serve as a barrier to being powered by health and wellness. In that way, we want to share the struggle by providing insights into running, training, recovery, nutrition, sleep, self-care, and personal motivation through the real and personal stories of our employees who are working through their own challenges as they set their eyes on the River Falls Days race. Read Bios of the participants taking part in the Vibrant Running Challenge...
Vibrant Running Challenge

Vibrant Running Challenge

by | Jun 18, 2015 | News

Powered by health and wellness is more than a tagline at Vibrant Health with Family Clinics in River Falls, Ellsworth and Spring Valley, it is a way of being committed to a lifestyle and approach that embodies the good life. In the upcoming posts, we will follow a team of folks who have accepted the Vibrant Running Challenge. What is the Vibrant Running Challenge? The Vibrant Running Challenge is Vibrant Health’s way of saying, “we feel your pain.” We understand the real-life challenges that may serve as a barrier to being powered by health and wellness. In that way, we want to share the struggle by providing insights into running, training, recovery, nutrition, sleep, self-care, and personal motivation through the real and personal stories of our employees who are working through their own challenges as they set their eyes on the River Falls Days race. The Vibrant Running Challenge Team consists of Dr. Greg Miller; Dr. Carrie Torgersen; Samantha Bluhm; Dr. Keri Lijewski;  Jeff Schuman; Kensey Schultz and Chad Cernohous. Bios below. Let’s begin with setting a goal and creating accountability. Some experts suggest a loft goal. Reach for the moon – set your sights high. I disagree. I believe in setting a reasonable goal. With the demands on our time and the balancing act between family, work and friends, it can be daunting to even think about taking a step back and setting a new course.  Setting a reasonable goal helps us move into action because it helps us feel like we can accomplish. Small steps are what we’re looking for – not a rocket launch. Setting a goal...