Unless you had a colicky baby, it is something that those parents who have not experienced it won’t understand. An experience that I wish on no parent, especially a first time mom.
Experiencing motherhood for the second time, had to be a breeze. Or so I thought. She was a full term baby, healthy and breastfed. This was completely opposite to our first birthing experience.
Remembering our first experience with colic 8 years ago. When our second daughter, Mika, developed it at 4 weeks old. Crying non-stop from 18h00 – 22h00 at night. Colic was something unforeseen as we didn’t go through it with our first daughter. Creeping up on us out of the blue. It was a predictable scene that played off in front of us every single night.
Our pediatrician confirmed that our baby had colic. Although there is no factual evidence of what causes colic, there are factors that can influence the excessive crying. These factors are an immature digestive system, acid reflux and lactose intolerance.
Thinking that we would get a quick fix for this colic problem, only to be told by our pediatrician that it is normal, that there is no cure and that it will eventually end. We were given some soothing strategies to use to ease the colic. Which included baby massage techniques, colic drops and to use a probiotic. Some of the strategies offered comfort and some didn’t.
We swaddled her, put her in a baby sling and rocked her to the sounds of Michael Bublé and Kenny G. Putting her in the car seat and driving around helped. But the minute we pulled into the driveway and the car came to a stop, the crying would start all over again.
Colic really tests your ability as a parent. Knowing that there is nothing you can do to ease your baby’s plight with colic. It causes frustration, anger, doubt and an emotional breakdown. To be honest, I didn’t enjoy mothering this baby. Sometimes I just walked away, leaving my husband to take care of the situation.
As a mother, I was on the brink of losing my marbles but I had to keep it together for the sake of my child and my family. It was exhausting to say the least. Although the colic scenes played off at night, she was also a light sleeper during the day. Taking short naps of about 45 minutes. Slight noises would wake her. She wanted to sleep in my arms and the minute I put her down she would wake up. Making it very difficult for me to do anything else around the house or even take a nap during the day.
I wanted to go nowhere with her. The questions and stares of people irritated me when my baby cried. People tried to be helpful and offer advice but this was in vain.
Finally around 4 months, the crying subsided. Her daily sleeping routine improved and she slept for 3 hours at a time. By 7 months, she was sleeping through the night.
We survived it and so can you. Just hang in there. Take care of yourself and rely on support. Not all babies are the same so don’t compare your baby to another who does not have colic.
Colic is a mystery, doctors have no cure, it is something that is unexplained. What is important to note is that it is just like a stormy season that does not last forever. Once you get through the storm, the clouds will eventually fade and the sun will shine.
None of my children suffered with colic but I can’t imagine how difficult it must be to try and sooth such an irritable baby and deal with it mentally at the same time. Its almost more frustrating that theres not any more info about colic out there@ #fortheloveofblog
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It is the worst for any parent – knowing that you child is suffering and there is nothing you can really do to make it stop. Even trying to soothe it doesn’t always help – thanks for reading my post #fortheloveofblog
https://anywaytostay.com/this-plus-that-equals-rural-living/
L had colic and though it seems like a distant memory now it was so hard ay the time. It really did try to break me. #stayclassymama
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Very difficult for any parent to go through – it tests your parental skills. They so tiny and can’t say what is really wrong – we can only just soothe them and try to ease whatever is bothering them #stayclassymama
I myself, have never experienced colic with my children. A friend of mine, however, went through the worst time and suffered from depression as a result. It really took its toll on her. I couldn’t imagine how helpless and distraught one must feel.
Luckily never experienced but know how hard and tiring it is for all. X #stayclassymama
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It is a difficult time for those parents who are going through it as baby is so tiny and can’t really say where they are experiencing discomfort. Colic will probably always remain a mystery – luckily it does pass #stayclassymam
I had one who cried all the time but never vomited and one who projectile vomited without any pain…and one who did neither!Indeed a mystery #Stayclassymama
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The projectile vomiting was the worst and it always happened when my husband fed her #stayclassymama
Ah, I’m so sorry to hear you had a tough time, but yes, as difficult as those initial months are, it does not last forever. I guess a good support system and knowing it will end soon is what keeps one going. Thank you for sharing this with #itsok; I’m sure it will help so many mums who are going through the colic baby phase.
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Yes a good support system is essential when your baby has colic. I think often without a support system moms go into a depression #itsok
Well done for getting through it, it’s so hard and as new parents for the first time when this happens we often end up overthinking everything especially when we are really tired. Colic is so difficult to deal with, my daughter had it, and eventually grew out of it without me really noticing. For anyone going through it at the moment, just remember it does go. Thanks so much for linking up at #fortheloveofBLOG. Claire x
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So true but also having a support system helps – for me my husband and mom was my biggest support when it happened as I had a toddler to see to as well during this time #fortheloveofblog
Our daughter had colic and to say it was a traumatic start to life as a new parent is an understatement. It lasted for about 7 weeks but felt like a lifetime and sadly it’s all I remember from that newborn phase even 7 years on! #fortheloveofBLOG
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Not knowing how to help your baby is the worst. Yip it’s a memory that doesn’t seem to fade but thank goodness we got through it #fortheloveofblog
It’s awful – you feel so helpless as you watch your child crying. You just cycle through the whole range of emotions – sadness, desperation, frustration, heartbreak. Well done for writing such an honest post with a positive message #blogcrush
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Thanks – I think you just summarised all the emotions that a parent goes through when your child has colic, perfectly. It’s that helpless feeling, knowing that nothing can make it better at when the flare ups happen #blogcrush
I was lucky as neither of mine had colic but I am sympathetic to those parents who have to go through it; it must be tough. #twinklytuesday
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It is a tough period and when you are in that moment experiencing it – it seems as if it will never pass #twinklytuesday
Both mine had mild colic. As I was breastfeeding I was told to stop eating lactose and actually it really did help. Funny enough none of them in lactose intolerant now. Thank you for sharing with #StayClassyMama
Back from #globalblogging 🙂
I’ve always said that if my youngest had been first born, we would never have had any more children. She had both colic and reflux and the first six months or so were incredibly hard. Unless your baby has had colic, its hard to understand just how tough it is. Thanks for sharing and linking up #twinklytuesday
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I said exactly the same thing – if my youngest had to be my first child I don’t think I would’ve wanted any more children #twinklytuesday
I had one that screamed all time for ages with colic, one that didn’t show any signs of distress but would projectile vomit (that was fun with no warning) and one that didn’t seem to get it at all. So know it’s them and not you. You can do a few things to ease it but nothing to stop it. And then it just goes?! Good post #Triumphanttales
Oh colic is so nasty, I was lucky mine didn’t have it but I saw so many of my friends suffer with their babies and you feel their pain #Twinklytuesday
Colic is the worst! Both of mine had it and it’s one of the (many!) reasons I would never have a third!
Ugh, I know how that feels. Both my twins had colic and it was hideous! Thanks for sharing. #ItsOK
No first hand experience here, but I’ve seen colicky babies and mums of those babies and I feel for them so much. Parenting a newborn is hard enough – add colic to the mix and it’s just terrible.
When I worked in daycare the colic babies would always test everyone’s sanity because it was so hard to watch a baby cry and know there was nothing we could do to help. I can only imagine being the parent and having to watch the struggle. #DreamTeam