| How Isla and I are feeling these days |
I think I sort of forgot what this stage was like. You're kinda in a honeymoon period for like the first 2 weeks. All your baby does is sleep, nurse and cuddle. You usually have family and spouse around to help with everything, people are bringing you food and gifts. It's pretty much Norman Rockwell perfect.
And then the crying starts. And sometimes doesn't stop....for months.
It's too soon to say if Isla has colic. When Archer was 3 weeks he started crying loudly and for what seemed like a long time and we were TOTALLY FREAKED OUT. Would it end? What was happening? Why did he hate us so much? We started playing the game all new parents play - Let's Try and Read our Baby's Mind.
It goes something like this:
"Do you think he's hungry?" husband asks.
"No, I just fed him. Maybe he's cold?" wife responds.
"Hmm, I'm actually pretty warm... maybe he's overheated," husband adds.
"He's really scrunching his fists - he probably has gas."
"He could be overtired. We should have told people to leave earlier - he got overstimulated."
"Have you changed him in the last hour?"
"Yes, but we should probably check again."
Said conversation is all happening over the screams of your little one who is probably just getting totally frustrated by how clueless you both are and why you, the supposed "grown-ups," just can't figure this out and make it better.
For Archer, the phase really only lasted for 2 weeks but it was a looong 2 weeks. I'm going to remain optimistic that with Isla, this will also be a short phase. But there is always that fear that you could have a colicky baby and it could last for months. I have a whole new level of respect for those parents who endured this for that level of time. You are good people.
So it was partly this reason and partly because I find her so darn funny and insightful that I asked my mama buddy, Melanie, to start writing for this blog. Who knows when I'll come back up for air!
We have a lot to learn from Mel. She has a 3 year old, an 8 month old and is always freakin' smiling and being funny. She and her hubby are always on the go, doing all sorts of cool things in the city with kids in tow. It's pretty annoying actually. But it makes me think that we can all learn from her. And she's on her way back to work which makes her story even more interesting I think.
Her first post follows this. So read on and enjoy. I need to stop this posting stat, which I have only been able to do because Isla is finally sleeping peacefully. Off to nap and possibly prepare for another long night ahead of us!
I know it is difficult at times, but babies cry... It is very frustrating when we try to find the answers as to why this happens, but sometimes we just can't. The inability to settle your baby can be a very trying thing for parents. What are we doing wrong? The answer is - probably nothing. You try everything you can, and that is about the best you can do. Babies go through growth spurts, they get hungry, they get gas, they get overstimulated etc. Sometimes there is just no apparent reason. You can't second guess everything - it just happens. I remember with AJ I just prepared myself for the "witching hour" which came around 6:00pm and lasted well into the night hours. We would go for walks, go on outings, go for car rides...anything to try to settle him, give him some room to "vent", and give me a chance to escape the house. He would usually fall asleep when we were in motion - not for long - but at least it gave me a break from the crying. This "phase" lasted for weeks - many. I never said he was colicky though - I don't really like labels. It did get better, eventually. Andy was wonderful - he was often able to work his magic with AJ. We did spend alot of time "problem solving" together. We even went on to make another baby - go figure...and then came Eryn!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this Ally! It really helps.
ReplyDeleteOmg, that picture, that lip, that hair, is adorable!
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