My notes about colic... something all pediatricians should know

My son had a fussy period every day, but it would start at 10am and end at 5pm. Those hours between 4am and 10am were precious. After that, my baby would not sleep unless he was held and rocked while I walked or if I took him for a stroller ride. And he would fuss if he wasn't bathing, sleeping or rocking (while I walked, not sitting - that was not allowed apparently).

And when I say fuss I mean deafening ear-piercing, did-he-watch-the-exorcist-while-I-was-not watching-scream. That is colic. I went to the pediatricians office for some help and basically just bawled my eyes out. His first day of colic he cried 6-8 hours - and he was 2 weeks 6 days old. There might have been a few ok days after that.... but it was pretty bad for awhile. He got a stroller ride every afternoon in January, 2-3 baths per day, and I lost all my baby weight in about 6 weeks and I had gained 40 lbs. Not a weight loss plan I would endorse.

Then starting at 8 weeks I decided to let someone else help with the load - I started going to the YMCA and let them deal with his crabby self every day for 1.5 hours while I walked my worries away. Eventually the colic ended, 2 weeks before he was to start daycare.

I was probably at risk for post-partum depression (strong family history), but having a colicky baby just about put me over. As it does for most people who have colic. It is amazing that baby and I bonded so well given how hard that was. Way harder than internship. Not that I don't have stuff to cry over with that, but at least I get some sleep 4/5 nights instead of 0/5 nights.