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Ask any mom who has paced the floor for three hours soothing a colicky, crying baby how she feels and you are likely to hear the following words: desperate, hopeless, helpless, teary and at a loss. Ask a woman suffering with postnatal depression how she feels and you are likely to hear: desperate, hopeless, helpless, teary and at a loss. The question is, do PND and colic share more common ground that mere semantics?
Colic or unexplained early infant crying affects many babies in the first three months of life. The crying typically begins by two weeks old and by six weeks old the baby is crying up to three hours a day, more than three days of a week. For many babies it is even worse than this but luckily there is hope, as ‘normal' colic dissipates by twelve to fourteen weeks old.
PND: Recent stats show that up to 85% of mothers experience some form of mood disruption in the weeks following their baby's birth. Ranging from tearfulness to feelings of despair, these feelings normally resolve within a few weeks. In its more severe form, however, it's called post natal depression (PND). PND can appear within three months of the baby's arrival and last for up to 18 months, interfering with a mother's ability to properly care for her child. Up to 18% of moms may suffer from PND.
Research by the University of Toronto shows that there's a direct link between PND and fussy (abnormal attention-seeking) babies. The first year of a baby's life is a period of major transition and turmoil for many mothers. According to the university's findings, PND is related to how often a baby cries and whether it wakes more than three times during the night.
Whether or not you label your emotions as postnatal depression or in fact are diagnosed with this condition, a fussy baby will lead to feelings of despair. The important thing is to manage both the colic and the potential PND.
Colic:
Calming a crying baby is not an easy task, especially when you are coping on your own. Try the following strategies to help calm your baby:
• Read your baby's signals to determine when they are becoming over stimulated and fussy. Sucking vigorously on her hands, looking away and arching the back may all be signals that your baby is over stimulated.
• Remove your baby from a stimulating environment and help her settle to sleep to avoid over stimulation.
• Swaddle your baby to calm her and make sure she remains asleep for longer stretches.
• If your baby won't settle to sleep once swaddled, hold her in a sling or pouch. Keep her against your body until she is calm. Do not worry about spoiling a colicky baby as your baby is young and does not learn bad habits at this young age.
• Stick to one strategy for 5 minutes as changing calming strategies and over feeding an already fussy baby can also contribute to overestimation and further crying.
Postnatal Depression
If your baby is very fussy and not sleeping well and you suffer from any of the symptoms below, seek help . The Postnatal Depression Support Association of South Africa provides education and information to health professionals and care providers and to the public. You will find support and appropriate referrals by contacting PNDSA or speaking to your doctor.
If you feel:
• Out of control, frustrated and very irritable
• Anxious and worried most of the time
• Scared or panicky
• Sad or miserable
• Unable to laugh or to feel joy
• Unable to cope
• Afraid to be alone
• Unusually tearful
• As though you are going crazy
If you have:
• Difficulty in sleeping
• No sex drive
• Thoughts about harming yourself or your baby
You may be suffering from postnatal depression. Please seek help.
Tel: PNDSA (Postnatal Depression Support Association) Help line: (021) 797 4498
For more info see www.babysense.co.za.
