PPD and Colic

jacqibay · Mar 15, 2008

I haven't been around much-I've been dealing with PPD-and still trying to deal with the situation with my mom *which at this point means just ignoring her and the problem for now*. But, anywho, I'm starting to feel better and now the baby has colic. I think. It just started yesterday. (I'm afraid that not getting enough sleep is just going to exacerbate the PPD situation.) 
Babybay does not usually cry. Even when she is hungry and is waking up, she just looks around and smacks her lips until I pick her up. Well now-for the last 2 days-around 6pm she starts screaming and kicking her legs until oh, about 1am. She'll finally fall asleep in my arms or daddy's and as soon as we move or try to put her down, she is wide awake. OR, you get her down-walk away and then 15 min she is screaming again. 
I've tried everything in the book (including Mylicon drops, bcs we can hear her tummy bubbling), but I wanted to see if any of you had some advice. We're exhausted and so sad that she is going through this. 
Thanks! jacqi

diablita · Mar 15, 2008

Jacqi, 
I'm sorry you're dealing with the PPD, let alone the colic. Have you talked to your doctor about what you need for yourself? 
As for poor babybay, I'm sure you'll get better advice here than I can give, but maybe she'd like to be held over your lap, face down, while you rub her back? Or maybe she likes movement? 
Good luck with this!

hally · Mar 15, 2008

{{{{{{{{{{{{{Jacqibay and baby and DH}}}}}}}}}}}}}}} 
Got nothing but hugs and good vibes for ya.

jebba · Mar 15, 2008

<img alt="sad.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/sad.gif"> 
I wish I could make it better. It will get better, no matter what.

luckylily · Mar 15, 2008

Hi Jacqui, 
Some suggestions: one, buy the book "the happiest baby on the block" if you haven't already!!! 
Swaddle babybay tightly anytime its time to sleep. A miracle blanket, or a kiddopotamus "Swaddleme" is great for this. She'll fight you at first, but then she'll relax. 
Almost every baby gets fussy in the evenings--that is totally normal. Its possible that she is getting herself overstimulated during her "fussy" period and having trouble falling back to sleep. Again, this is normal!! Swaddle, provide white noise (shhhhhhing loudly in her ear should work), rock and bounce her. When she falls asleep, first stop bouncing, but keep rocking and holding. Then stop rocking but keep holding and shhhing. Then, still shhhing, lay her down to sleep. Shhhh slowly away from her. 
Good luck! And see your doctor about the ppd!!!

mrscoby78 · Mar 15, 2008

For my son, something warm on his tummy always helped. Me laying on my back with him on me on his belly helped too. 
This sucked but I had one of those combo carseat/carrier things. I would take him for a drive until he fell asleep. Then pull the whole carrier out and set him on my bedroom floor. I let him sleep still in his carrier. 
You will make it. It only gets better from here.

Buxtehude · Mar 15, 2008

I don't have any wise advice. 
(((jacqi)))

seattlegirl · Mar 15, 2008

I'm sorry. Hang in there. 
When I babysat for a baby with colic many years ago, his parents had me run the dryer and place him in his car seat on top. It was the only thing that soothed him.

Suesquatch · Mar 15, 2008

Oh, poor things. Both of you. <img alt="sad.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/sad.gif">

fox-runr · Mar 15, 2008

another carseat person. My son slept in a carseat in his crib, after going for a car ride and him falling asleep, I brought him in the house, carseat and all and put him in the crib. Otherwise, I put him in a swing, put him in the carseat, and off to bed. Of course 2 weeks after I figured this out, I met a woman that told me her baby girl could only sleep in a carseat

merigayle · Mar 15, 2008

((((((((jacqi)))))))))))

pace2race · Mar 15, 2008

So this is old school but DW and I survived colic with DD. It was like she was having stomach cramps nonstop. Dr. gave medicine but we don't remember what it was. (21 years ago) Car-rides helped. So did having her strapped into her seat while we stood next to her with her on the washing machine as it ran. Glass of wine for Mom is okay too. You just have to outlast it.

Martin · Mar 15, 2008

My son only slept in a car seat also. 
Took me quite a few months to figure it out.

refinnej10 · Mar 15, 2008

Hang in there Jacqibay! 
One thing that helped DS was when we put him down in his crib, we'd keep our hand on his tummy for a few minutes (or until he calmed himself down). This gave him a nice transition from being held to being on his own in his bed. 
And, if it starts to feel too tough*, don't be afraid to set BabyBay down in her crib while you take a break - even if she screams the whole time. It's not going to hurt her. In fact, all that screaming can be good for her lungs. Take a break and then go get her when you're feeling calmer. 
*as in the oh-my-god-someone-make-this-baby-shut-up place. You wouldn't be the first and you won't be the last mom to get to this oh-so-unhappy place.

Diane95 · Mar 15, 2008

Some babies just need to be held while they sleep. Baby carriers (slings or baby bjorns) are great for this. 
Also, babies tend to display new behavior when they're going through developmental changes -- I seem to remember something about 3 weeks and 3 months. So this might be just a short phase. 
Anyway, I don't know whether either of these applies to your situation, but good luck! Very empathetic thoughts are moving your way.

luckylily · Mar 15, 2008

I just wanted to come back and add another suggestion--take a bath WITH babybay! 
Many babies are calmed by being in the warm water, and being in the warm water with warm mommy is even better!!! And its nice and relaxing for you too. After the bath, massage some baby lotion into her skin and make the shhhing sleepy noises. 
I also second Diane's suggestion of a baby carrier or sling. When Roman is fussy and won't settle, he will absolutely sleep in the sling. With Joel, he'll sleep in the front carrier. From there, I can usually lay them right down in the crib with no trouble.

bikegirl72 · Mar 15, 2008

Did you eat something different that might be triggering an allegery in the baby? Dairy tends to do this to a LOT of babies. 
Do some kangaroo care- skin to skin. Babies love this. 
As for the PPD: having the baby blues is normal. But please call your OB to get checked out to make sure things don't get worse.

diablita · Mar 16, 2008

LL, a question about the shhhh white noise: we're planning to move our server (the ultimate white noise) to the other room when we set up the baby's room. Should we maybe leave it in her room for white noise? I know that thing puts us to sleep with no problem!

Tim · Mar 16, 2008

Take care of yourself.

luckylily · Mar 16, 2008

Sure! It might help her sleep better! 
If you can, leave it as close to her crib as possible. 
We keep a loud fan running in the bedroom at night (the boys sleep in a crib next to our bed), and during the day they nap in the living room, with the aquarium (loud motor and water noise). They like the noises, and if we need more, we can run the dryer, the vacuum, etc. 
Of course, if Mr. Lucky is trying to sleep, me shhhing loudly in their ears is a little more whole-family friendly than running the vacuum at 3 am. <img alt="wink.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/wink.gif">

PPD and Colic

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