The C Word

When you become a parent, you learn about this little five-letter word that every parent dreads to hear.  This word alone can make any parent shiver with fear.   

 Colic.  According to the Mayo Clinic website, "Colic is often defined as crying more than three hours a day, three days a week for more than three weeks in an otherwise well-fed, healthy baby. What is most important for the diagnosis is sustained crying in an otherwise healthy baby for a regular period of the day lasting for several weeks."

Bristol was fine the first week or so of life.  Then, the screaming for hours began.  It is horrible!  I'm a researcher.  There has to be a reason for things.  A child just can't cry because of nothing.  Since I'm nursing Bristol, I eliminated dairy from my diet.  That seemed to help a little bit, but did not completely eradicate the crying.  I made sure to feed B from the same boob throughout the day, just in case I was producing too much foremilk (which causes baby not to get the fatty and much needed hindmilk).  This did not eliminate the crying, either.  

After a week or so of her colic spells, I lost it.  My child has colic.  There's nothing I can do to help my little lady, but just be there for her.  We have 3 months to deal with this.  WTH.  Not only is this hard on me and everyone around, but it's so hard on Bristol.  You can tell her belly hurts her so much.  Her stomach is hard, she's super gassy, and just not comfortable.  Nothing consoles her.  Her longest crying spell has lasted from 9 PM until 330 AM!  It was horrible for all of us.  I can tell you that one of the most frustrating things to go through as a parent is not being able to alleviate your child's pain, especially when they don't understand what is going on.  Heartbreaking.  

We have tried so many things to help ease the pain.  Gripe water, warm bottle warmer, laying her on her tummy, bicycle exercises, car rides, swaddling, shhhhing, slight shaking, bouncing, swinging, singing, everything!  Some things work, some don't.  The thing that works one night, does not work the next night.    I can't tell you how many times I cry right along with Bristol.  I cry for her and from my own exhaustion and frustrations.  I really hate to wish my child's life away, but I cannot wait until the 3-month mark, October 12th, gets here.  :(