The War on Colic, a.k.a. The "C" Word

[SalBac]

Usually when people talk about colic they recount the agonizing crying, screaming, and bone-numbing feeling of helplessness. And sure, all of that is ab-so-lutely humbling and psychosis-inducing.

But I think the worst thing about colic is finding a cure. Yeah, because once you find something that works, you think it will work again. Parents of colicky infants think that if they exactly replicate the conditions that quieted the kid once, it will quiet them again, so we tweak (everything!) in micro-intervals - our arm position, respiratory rate, pace and direction of motion, vocal timbre, ambient sound - in pursuit of impeccable re-creation. We re-trace our steps, we repeat our words, we eat the same food... anything we can think of to re-create the experience during which our screaming kid last surrendered to sleep.

Ha! Joke's on us!

Colic is a science fiction nightmare. It's like one of those super-creatures that constantly morphs to survive, sucking energy from every opponent and growing smarter and more powerful with every threat.

Colic is crafty. It knows when to lay dormant (in the doting public eye, when Grandparents are visiting, at the pediatrician's office), hiding masterfully behind the innocent "Who? Me?" eyes of its host, and when to roar back into action, cruelly crushing the desperate hope of those who would dare whisper "I think we did it!"

In truth, there is no cure for colic. Colic never goes away, it just moves on. It invades another host - younger, fresher... maybe yours. Maybe yours...

[mama4Christ361]

Apr. 19, 2009 at 6:12 PM

Oh yeah I remember those days! I actually had to buy one of those breathing pet figurines, from the mall, set it under the bouncer, make an arm shaped rice sock, wrap it under her butt, and then get a sound machibne with a heartbeat sound toi simulate her being held by me so she would sleep. It was insane and one of the main reasons I will never have another child.

[we2angels]

Apr. 20, 2009 at 3:02 PM

Me too.  I thought if I moved and she woke up crying, even if she was sleeping in another room, that it was my fault and I upset the "system".  I'm also considering being done after one, I don't know if I can handle another colicky baby along with a child.  Those nights were horrid!!!  (and days too)  I don't think I slept for the first 5 months.