A Truly Rotten Word
30Jun2010 Filed under: General Author: Daynaby by Maria M. Minten Taylor
When my daughter was 3 weeks old, she started crying one day. I mean really crying and she cried and cried and cried…really – if she wasn’t asleep or being feed, she cried. After 2 days of desperately trying to console her, I take her to see her doctor…. “Oh, she’s just colicky.” he says….JUST colicky?!?! That one word is all he gives me to explain the hours of screaming and my vain attempts to console her and keep myself from going completely crazy!?! How easy it was for him to say it – with a smile no less! And then, to add insult to injury, he gently tells me, “Don’t worry, it will pass. It usually does.” WHAT!?! Again, I was sitting in his office, tears streaming down my face and that was the best he could give me. Couldn’t he have been a little more specific?
So, on the drive home (during which my darling daughter DID sleep), I gave this all some serious thought. And I came to the conclusion that “colicky” is a truly rotten word. To begin with, it just sounds ridiculous. But more than that, I think that it really doesn’t tell us anything and it seems to cover any number of reasons why some babies cry more than others. My Isabella did cry for a reason – her little tummy hurt. She seemed to have a bit of trouble digesting food so, after a feeding, her tummy hurt and she cried. Now, why couldn’t the doctor have told me that? Then we could have started to try different things to help her tummy.
It took 3 more weeks and a lot of unhappiness before we figured out the little tricks to make our baby girl less miserable. As month 4 came to a close, Izzy was a different baby – so happy and easy-going AND completely able to digest her food without a problem. Now I know loads of parents go through this and, I suppose that doctor was right – it did pass; however, dear doctors of the world, I beg you, be more specific! It is is easier to get through it when we have a better idea of what IT is!
Maria M. Minten Taylor, is a writer for a trendy baby clothes boutique. They have a perfect assortment of flower headbands and baby hats.
Rebecca is Thrilled by the THought
June 30th, 2010 at 3:27 pm
So frustrating! I think doctors get so used to seeing the same thing all the time, they don’t realize how big a deal it is to the people going through it. Glad she eventually got through it, but sad you had to go through so much time not knowing what to do for your little girl. =(
Alisa
June 30th, 2010 at 5:06 pm
I can empathize. My little one had severe acid reflux (with very little spit-up), but it was passed off as “colic”. After a LOT of persistence, and three doctor changes, we finally diagnosed the problem. I now believe that there is no such thing as “colic,” it is simply a doctor’s way of saying “I don’t know.”
Kim
June 30th, 2010 at 8:14 pm
I am with Alisa….. to take it further, I think alot of time it is digestive, my 1st course would be to try lactose free formula or quit dairy if breastfeeding….horrible pain for the mom i know but you will soon know this is just the beginning of the things we moms will pass on for our babies….the best bosses ive ever had!
marcia campbell
July 1st, 2010 at 12:41 pm
Thankfully you were able to help soothe your baby and the colic ended rather quickly. I kept getting the story it would pass as well, but my daughter is just always has a lot of gas, like her dad. I was not so lucky and nothing really did help, it was a tough first year and doctors should tell you they dont know, because usually that is the case. there is no cure for colic!!!!
marcia campbell
July 1st, 2010 at 12:42 pm
Thankfully you were able to help soothe your baby and the colic ended rather quickly. I kept getting the story it would pass as well, but my daughter just always has a lot of gas, like her dad. I was not so lucky and nothing really did help, it was a tough first year and doctors should tell you they dont know, because usually that is the case. there is no cure for colic!!!!
Patty Reiser
July 6th, 2010 at 5:21 pm
I agree, it is a truly rotten word. I once had a daycare provider tell me my son was colicky because all he would do was cry. Truth was my son just didn’t like all the noise from all the other kids. I didn’t blame him. Once I found a new provider that only had 2 kids in her care, my son thrived and was happy as he could be.
I learned a long time ago to trust my instincts because I am the one who knows my child best. I am with them practically 24/7.
kayla mccree
July 7th, 2010 at 8:33 pm
This is so interesting I hear so much about acid reflux and colic. I think i must have been very lucky that both kids didn’t have either. But it is really tough, especially on the care giver! Thanks for the valuable info!
Jo-Ann
July 12th, 2010 at 8:00 am
My baby was colicy also from 2 weeks to 7 weeks old. Finally, I decided to change formulas against my doctor’s advice from Soy to Gerber Good Start (Gentle Plus) & also use Playtex ventAire bottles. You wouldn’t believe it’s the same baby ! Doctors only give advice, parents make the final decision. But it’s tough as a single, first-time mother like myself. It’s all trial & error. Good luck…………
Jo-Ann