Stress of Colic
Colic in babies is severe crying episodes usually caused by pain. It is said to last quite a short time but for parents taking care of babies who cry for hours every day, it can seem like forever. The exact cause of colic is not known although most people put it down to trapped wind. Babies seem to be in dreadful pain and cry for a number of hours in a day. It can be stressful for both baby and adult especially as there often seems to be no way of soothing the child. It appears to be unexplained crying but it is upsetting for the family to deal with.
For years, gripe water was seen as the answer but these days mothers often buy anti-colic teats for their baby’s bottles and breastfeeding mothers keep an eye on foods that may trigger colic in their baby. Swaddling, massaging and gently swaying the baby in the arms on their stomach is said to ease the suffering of many colicky babies. The good news is that it doesn’t last forever and a good night’s sleep will come again, hopefully before you have gone totally insane.
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This entry was contributed by Claire Connolly.
May 17th, 2007 at 5:22 pm
Thank goodness my three children did not suffer with colic. I feel so bad for parents who have to deal with it. It can be very stressfu and demanding which takes its toll. Any an all inforamtion to help parents cope is great.
May 22nd, 2007 at 1:06 am
This is really great information. It seems like it’d really be worth investigating the foods that trigger colic, and steering clear of those. Motherhood is streeful enough, and anything that can help lessen the pressure is such a great thing.