Skip to main content

Ooh Aah OUCH!!

I approached my first night at the hospital after delivery with trepidation. I had heard so many stories about babies crying all night that I was petrified of what awaited me. Instead I had a virtually full night’s rest with the baby sleeping through almost the entire time. Surprise! Surprise! The same was true of the next and the next night. In fact my little angel lent credence to the phrase “sleeping like a baby” And then started the Week Three.

For those parents who have gone through it, the word Colic strikes terror in our hearts. That five letter word sums up a world of non stop crying, sleepless nights and undiluted helplessness at not being able to do anything. After seeing my baby transform into a shrieking being night after night I finally read up about this ailment. I was not happy to note that it seems to have a particular penchant for the number 3- it starts at 3 weeks, goes on till 3 months, its characterised by the baby crying for more than 3 hours a day, 3 days a week!! I suppose we should be thankful Colic didn't take to a higher number.

There were times when I would just look at my baby, her face all red and scrunched up, bawling with all her might and wonder “Who is this creature? Whatever happened to that sweet sleepy bundle I brought home from the hospital?” Well apparently Colic happened. Or as my mom says it’s just the law of Karma coming back to haunt me (I kept her awake so now it’s my turn)

There is nothing worse than watching your baby in distress without being able to help. Nothing seemed to ease her discomfort- from modern medicinal drops to age old remedies. Like clockwork she would start at 6pm and sometimes go on till 3am. I spent nights shuttling between home and my mom’s trying to give my husband and mom alternate nights of rest. My sleep would be the two hours shut eye in the mornings when she slept after her massage/bath. It came to a stage where I started dreading evenings the way a prisoner dreads the gallows. I saw my life as an endless series of nights filled with crying (sometimes I just joined her in wailing). So much so that the first time she slept at 11pm at 7 weeks of age, I was convinced she was sick! It turned out that one of the medicines finally seemed to have settled her tummy to a large extent.

But yes, I still view evenings with apprehension. Since the 3 month mark has not passed I am tensed and awaiting the Return of the Colic Attack (film title anyone?) Am I better prepared this time? Not really. Except that I now know that my baby is capable of sleeping perfectly. Hopefully I have exhausted the bad karma I accumulated by keeping mom awake.

Note: The two medicines which work wonders are Colicaid and Colimex. The former is milder so if your baby doesn't stop crying with it you might need to try the latter which most definitely settles the baby. Once you feel that colic is waning, shift the baby back to Colicaid before stopping the medication completely.





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Miracle

The ringing of the phone cut into Aadya's concentration. She sighed in irritation, she so wanted to finish this portion of her thesis before Ankit came home from school. "Hello? Yes, this is Aadya. Oh hello, Mrs. Gupta. Really? Today? Oh wow. Yes, yes, of course we will be there. Give us a couple of hours please. Thank you!" Aadya hung up in a daze. It was happening. It had taken five long years but they had finally got a call. She couldn't believe it. With trembling hands she dialed her husband's number. "Sunil? Its me. We got the call. They want us to come as soon as possible. I'll ask Papa to pick up Ankit. How soon can you pick me up? Perfect. I'll be ready. " Sunil and Aadya were married since 2007. They had been blessed with a baby boy Ankit who was now seven years old. One of the main things that had cemented their relationship was their shared desire to adopt a baby girl. They both felt very strongly about issues of gender discrimination ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Gender Bias-Fight it First at Home.

My daughter was a few weeks old when a friend dropped in with her child and nanny. As my friend sat cooing to the baby, her nanny started chatting with me. Within a few minutes she asked me when I was planning a second baby. My pregnancy and delivery traumatized body actually shrunk away in horror from her words. I laughed and said I wasn't even sure if I would have a second baby! Before I knew it she had scooted near me and told me in no uncertain terms not to be foolish. According to her if I didn't have a second baby (read son) then who would I leave everything to? I didn't know whether to be shocked or amused but told her I would leave it to my daughter. I can still still see the look of horror on her face. She told me in no uncertain terms that daughters weren't supposed to be left anything to, they belonged to their husbands. When I asked her what if my second baby was also a girl she said so keep having till you produce a son. She apparently had 4 daughters and h...
Post a Comment
Read more

The 1st Step

It’s a journey which began with the news that I was pregnant.  While I was hoping for it, there was a frisson of apprehension which ran down my spine.  What next? What would I need to do now to ensure that the baby developed well? What to eat? What to avoid? How much to sleep? To exercise or not and how much? And thus began the saga of questions which is so much a part of becoming a parent. Nothing really prepares you for the months to follow. The nervous anticipation of the first visit to the doctor. The poignancy of the first ultrasound. The dread of the endless blood test reports. And of course all the horror stories of childbirth and delivery. Somewhere down the line I realised that the more I read and talked to people the more apprehensive I got. Everyone had something different to say; little snippets of wisdom which became a gigantic mass of nerves within me. Should I opt for a C-sec or a natural birth? Would I be able to withstand the pain? Should I take an epid...
1 comment
Read more