colic +respond with sensitivity

vanceke08

so where does colic fit in here? DD has terrible colic and will sometimes cry for upwards of two hours, screaming in her cries like she is in pain. I do everything I can think of to calm her, i hold her, rock her, sling her, drive her in the car, put her in her bouncer, I try everything I can and sometimes literally nothing helps. I have taken her to the pediatrician a few times, but she just says "welcome to colic, she will outgrow it eventually." 

How do I comfort a baby who cannot be comforted?  

Bride2b2004

I had EXACTLY this experience with my first.  I just held and walked him and it was torture then, but barely a memory now.  So from one mom to another, it will pass.  

FWIW, I will share our experience.  After 12 weeks, I went around my pedi and took DS to a Pedi GI Specialist... I just felt like he was in pain... turns out he was.  In about 2 min (after a simple stool sample) I found out he was having digestive issues with something I was eating (he was bf).   Some babies have difficulty digesting certain proteins, and it is like jacks tearing through their system.  With an elimination diet lead by the GIS, we discovered he was allergic to dairy and soy.  He also had reflux.  Honestly, he was a new baby within a week of cutting all dairy sources.  Food allergies and sensitivities run in families.  Both of my other two sons had the same exact thing, but I was able to help them immediately because I knew what to do.  Partly based on our experience, I am convinced that there is no such thing as "colic" but instead "colic" is simply the label given to an undiagnosed issue that eventually is outgrown in an otherwise thriving baby.  In our case, food sensitivities.  

One thing I learned is if you don't feel like something is right, don't worry you are being a paranoid FTM, push and push until you feel comfortable.  Some babies are sensitive and cry a lot...  but screaming like that, at least in my experience has a source.  Likely she will simply outgrow it... but it wouldn't hurt to look for some clues and answers in the meantime and maybe see a specialist if you are up for it.

Good Luck!

BoilerUp1

You don't.  Sometimes you just have to hold them while they cry.  It breaks your heart but if nothing you are doing is working you will just stress yourself trying to figure it all out.  DS wasn't necessarily colicky but was/is particularly fussy at times.  Just last night, he cried for an hour straight.  I tried to help him for 40 minutes by doing all of his favorite things but nothing helped.  Eventually, I just held him on my chest while he screamed.  It broke my heart that there was nothing I could do but the outcome was going to be the same regardless of any intervention I tried...  Good luck, I know it's SO hard.  I cried right along with DS last night...

Damiensmommy45

You should really look up Purple cry. I seen this on a board here the other day because I thought my daughter had colic. Aparantly many babies are mis diagnosed

terri_doula2010

As PPs have said, babies often "have colic" until the magic age that colic goes away is reached and are still having problems.

My doctor told me DS had colic and was just spitting up. It was all normal. I didn't believe her and went on an elimination diet and found out he was allergic to (at that time) dairy, fish, pineapple, and eggs. He became a new baby.

To answer your overall question of how to handle a high needs baby, regardless of the reason, you spend a lot of time doing nothing but holding/rocking/soothing baby. When it gets to be too much, you hand the baby to someone else and leave for a while, or if you are alone with the baby then you put the baby in a safe place (crib, etc), and lock yourself in the bathroom. Run the shower for noise pollution if you need to. Read a few pages of a good, happy book or a short article. Do something for YOU, so that you will have more energy to do something for your baby.

msenginerd

I'm so sorry you are going through this. My DD had colic. She would cry from 4-7 pm pretty much every night regardless of what I would do to comfort her. She was the happiest baby outside of those three hours. Many nights I would cry with her because I felt like I was failing her since I couldn't comfort her. Sometimes a bouncy walk in the moby would help. It was at least good for me to get some fresh air. I don't really have any words of wisdom but offer support. You are not alone and it will get better.

jaymiegerard

I'm so sorry :-( I hope it passes soon. 

A know a shaman who told me the cure for colic is boiling fresh chamomile (it needs to be fresh) to make a tea, and to give it to the baby (luke-warm) by the dropper-full a few times a day.  I also used to make fennel tea for my son - it calmed him and he loved the taste.

Just remember - you are the perfect parent for you baby.  Even when it feels like you aren't helping, you are.