Colic--myth or real?

A friend of my was upset her daughter is colicky, and my friend's sister was telling her that colic is not real, she's just not doing something right The sister has always been a PITA and kinda mean to my friend (her sister)...but anyways...I don't know much about colic, but is it real or not? Is there any truth to what she's saying?

Just wondering...

Message edited 9/17/2009 2:32:12 PM.

Re: Colic--myth or real?

it's very real....and honestly not something you can understand unless you've experienced it...

NOTHING i did calmed emma down. from 5:00 - 9:00'ish every single day - she screamed. I'd hold her, rock her, lay her down, play with her - take her outside, try the carseat, swing, bouncer, stuffed friends, play gym....ANYTHING.

if that wasn't real - then it was the worst part of my imagination for a month and a half...

Re: Colic--myth or real?

I believe colic is undefined and a catchall phrase for something else that hasn't been discovered yet.

But there is no question in my mind that is VERY real. If she used the phrase "a little colicky" then I'd say no the baby doesn't have colic. Because there is no in between with colic. It is full on crying all of the time. My niece had it. Her parents were like zombies. If that little girl wasn't screaming, it was only because she wasn't eating or sleeping.

Re: Colic--myth or real?

Uhm, if I knew this woman I would have invited her over during one of DSs colicky afternoons and let her tell me what I was doing wrong. I would love to have known! Maybe this is what your friend should do.

What a bit**. Please tell your friend yes it is very real, and maybe read something like Happiest Baby on the Block to learn how to deal with it rather than listening to such an uninformed person. Also, she is doing nothing wrong. I think this is one of the damaging things about colic in terms of developing confidence in your parenting abilities and developing a strong bond with your baby, the feeling that you must be doing something wrong as a parent. So please reassure your friend that this is not her fault.

Re: Colic--myth or real?

Yeah, the sister of course doesn't have any children She says she just knows a lot because she's done a lot of reading about babies (because she's preparing for when she is ready to have them)

What is it with people who have no children or think they know it all before they even have one!!!!!!!

Re: Colic--myth or real?

OMG REAL!

Re: Colic--myth or real?

Message edited 11/29/2011 3:50:14 PM.

Re: Colic--myth or real?

Re: Colic--myth or real?

I happen to think that the term colic was used back in the day for the unexplained.

Ds has reflux and before we realized this, my aunt kept saying he had colic. Back in the day, reflux didn't exist and no one really knew about it.

I think reflux is the old colic.

Re: Colic--myth or real?

I think the term colic is way overused, honestly. I think most babies have a witching hour and I think that often gets confused with a baby having colic. I also agree with my pediatrician that many, many doctors use the term colic when they just can't figure out what else is wrong, but I do, in my heart, believe there is some underlying reason for colic in a baby. What that underlying reason is, I don't know. So, I guess to sum up my feelings, I think colic is most definitely real, but the term is overused and there is usually an underlying cause.

Re: Colic--myth or real?

Posted by aliwnec10

I happen to think that the term colic was used back in the day for the unexplained.

Ds has reflux and before we realized this, my aunt kept saying he had colic. Back in the day, reflux didn't exist and no one really knew about it.

I think reflux is the old colic.

Re: Colic--myth or real?

ppl have said this to me and want to laugh (or scream?) in the face of the ppl who say this! unless you have a colic baby, you will never understand. my LO was colic for the first 6 months of his life, and some days where pure he!!. Turned out he had acid reflux but was still very colicky even with his meds. It's a real thing, I carried my baby 24/7, (my entire family) did everything we possily could for him. thank goodness he is one of the happiest babies ever now

Message edited 9/17/2009 4:20:42 PM.

Re: Colic--myth or real?

Posted by aliwnec10

I happen to think that the term colic was used back in the day for the unexplained.

Ds has reflux and before we realized this, my aunt kept saying he had colic. Back in the day, reflux didn't exist and no one really knew about it.

I think reflux is the old colic.

Re: Colic--myth or real?

real. x2 for me! It's a medical condition.
Colic is not only reflux it also has to do with the intestines; gas...

Message edited 9/17/2009 4:40:42 PM.

Re: Colic--myth or real?

Colic is overused definitely, and your friend should also tell her pediatrician about these bouts to see if there is a medical explanation. It may be reflux, or it may not. Often people do not know what causes this crying.

In DSs case, my gut tells me he had sensory overload at times, and he also may have had problems digesting food (gas), but there was no medical issue identified.

So technically, there really is no condition you can call colic, but it can be any number of things.

Re: Colic--myth or real?

Very real!

I think it's a combination of reflux and gas.

Re: Colic--myth or real?

Coming from a mom who had 2 w/ colic I would be ******. Guess she has never picked up any baby book b/c they all address it. In fact my ped said mine had classic colic.

I think some people don't get it if they haven't experienced it - like if you have a quiet child that sits easily in their stroller or always follows directions - it is hard to understand another child who is say high spirited or who doesn't listen or sit.

Re: Colic--myth or real?

Colic is real - sure, it's a term that probably masks an underlying issue, like reflux, gas, overstimulation, or just a sensitive baby - but it exists, and has absolutely NOTHING to do with someone's parenting skills.

My little Alex had it for 6 months straight. She rarely slept, and if she was awake, she was always fussing, screaming and crying. I tried EVERYTHING. I bought EVERYTHING people suggested to me. I held her in my arms and rocked/shushed/jiggled her for 6 months straight.

And absolutely NOTHING consoled her. Nothing.

Truthfully, I blocked out a lot of those memories - I have quick visions of those days, and all I can remember is DH walking back and forth in the house, with her in the football hold in his arms, while she's screaming.

It was god awful, and the truth of the matter is that I was slightly traumatized from the experience. For a long time, I had difficulties accepting that it wasn't my fault, and that I had somehow created a "broken" baby. But eventually I learned to just accept that this was my little girl, and there was nothing I did to cause it. And eventually, with some time, she came out of it, even though she's still a fiery, stubborn, strong willed little sucker.

She's been a challenging child her whole life, but that personality existed in her from the day she was conceived. And now, I consider it a privilege to be a parent to such a spirited little child, because I know that, with my guidance, she will blaze through this world like no other.

Re: Colic--myth or real?

As a pediatric dietitian I will tell you that Colic is 100% REAL! New research is suggesting that it is actually due to inflammation in babys gut - which is why products like nutramigen that have hydrolyzed proteins work great!