I never really thought about what it meant to have a colicky baby. I knew it wasn’t good but I didn’t really think much about it.
When my husband and I brought our baby girl home from the hospital after having her five weeks earlier than expected, we looked at each other in disbelief. Did we just bring life into this world? The first couple of weeks were rough but I didn’t even think about what lied ahead for us. After about the second or third week, my husband said, “at least she’s doesn’t have colic.”
The next day, it happened. I know it’s ridiculous to blame my husband for saying that but it really did happen that way. It was horrible. I didn’t know what to do and at that time, there wasn’t a mommy community out there for me to get support from. I turned to a couple of my friends. One friend went through the same thing. She offered me CD’s of white noises like the ocean, rain and wind. I played them on my player all day long. It didn’t help.
I was told by another friend to sit in the bathroom with the running shower. That didn’t help either.
We tried gas drops, changing her formula, changing my diet because I breast fed most of the time, but nothing helped. In the middle of the night I would take her on long walks in my front baby pouch. She loved that but I was totally exhausted.
I felt very isolated and alone. I knew how to publicize a client but I didn’t know how to calm my baby and I felt inadequate.
The only thing that helped was time. As she grew and developed the gas got less and less and once she was on real food it started to go away.
I felt like those days would last forever. I never saw it getting any better. And then, one day it did.
I’ve been thinking about this lately because I have a friend who is going through this right now and I totally feel for her. If you’ve never experienced this, it’s really hard to understand. My second one was so easy. I could take him anywhere and he never cried. I waited five years to have him because my first was so difficult. If I had known, I would have had him earlier. But, as it worked out, my kids are very close and love spending time with each other.
The experience I went through with my daughter, although very difficult, made our bond so much more special and deep. For all of you mothers out there who are going through this right now, take a deep breath. It will get easier. Just take it day by day and cherish the time when you child is not crying and not in pain.
