Colic and Teenage Depression
What is Colic?
Colic is continuous crying in a healthy newborn baby wherein the infant shows irritability and tetchiness. The cause of this condition is not known yet but researches say that it is harmless, although it can be very distressing for parents or caregivers. This is a very common disorder that affects two out 10 babies.
This condition is present among affected babies during the first few weeks of life, but over time, it will disappear. The infants crying can be strong and angry, and this may last for several hours, occurring for a few days to a few weeks. This can happen anytime and when it does, it may happen suddenly and often after feeding. The crying spell may continue for a few hours.
Pain is hardly the complaint of a baby with colic, though the baby may be very uncomfortable during the crying spell. They often arch their backs, draw up their legs to their abdomen, their feet are often cold, their limbs are clenched and their faces may become red. This is not a serious condition for it will generally disappear as the infant grow older. Even if babies with colic spend hours crying, their eating habit is not quite affected. They still get to feed enough so their weight gain will not be much of a problem.
What can be done then to minimize the crying episodes of those who are afflicted with colic disorder? First, you should control the feeding that you give to your child. Follow your regular feeding schedule. Also, continue with the amount of feeding that your baby is having. If you are breastfeeding, avoid taking in some milk products since this may cause allergies within the child. Remember that what you take in is also what the child gets. To avoid being distressed with the endless crying of the baby, try to find time to rest. Let your partner or other significant other to take care of the baby so that you can take care of yourself.
Colic and Depression
Having a baby who has colic may lead a person to develop depression, especially among teenage parents. The mother can suffer from post partum depression when faced daily with the stressors of having to deal with an infant who has colic. If the parents do not know how to cope positively, then they may develop depression. Considering also their age as teenage parents, then the likelihood is even bigger.
To avoid having post partum depression as a result of having a baby with colic, you have to deal with these things in a positive way. When you get exhausted, ask for help. Your family members are always there to assist you so you will not have to worry much about your baby’s care. Talking with someone is also very important. Talk to your partner, your parents, and your therapist about what you are going through. Also, you have to bear in mind that you are not at fault for your child’s disorder. No parent would ever want his child to be this way.
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