Being a new mom is rewarding and equally challenging. As the baby learns a new thing each day, similarly parents learn to take care of the little one with each passing day. One gets to know about new challenges and then learns how to take care of those. There was one thing that was common in both my pregnancies and their newborn stage, pieces of advice or suggestions, kept pouring from everywhere. Cow milk was a topic that was discussed quite often. Chances are you have already heard that cow milk is not good for newborns and yet the elders in the family have a different story to tell.
For around 3 to 4 months every time my newborn cried I followed the same regime – feed, burp, change, and swaddle. There were many days when she decided to cry for no reason apparently and I had no clue how to tackle this situation. I live in a nuclear family which means it was me who was with the baby for the major period of the time in a day or night. The situation resulted in me being really exhausted physically and emotionally.
It is not easy to take care of a newborn when there is no set guideline, each baby is different.
Just like always, I retorted to reading online to find out the reason for my baby’s crying routine and I also wanted other moms to give me a little empathy for it. There is nothing more comforting than listening to a mom going through a similar phase.
While reading about crying, I came to know about the term called colic. It is a term that refers to long crying or unsettled periods for no apparent reason in the first few months of life.
The rule of three
The “rule of three” is the commonly used definition of colic. This means crying that lasts for more than 3 hours a day, more than 3 days per week, and persisting for longer than 3 weeks may be considered as not normal and may be due to colic. The crying episodes in colic usually start suddenly and concentrate during the evening.
I decided to visit my baby’s pediatrician to confirm whether my little one was going through a similar phase or not. Somewhere I read that this colic may be triggered by cow milk. To get my doubts clarified I had to visit the person who could tell me the truth behind this colic, cow milk, and unstoppable crying of my baby. Here is what I learned and hope that any new mom out there facing similar trouble may find some answers:
- All babies cry, but some cry louder and longer than others, even when they’re not hungry, tired, or in need of a nappy change. If the baby has a cow milk allergy then they would have other symptoms besides colic such as eczema, vomiting, and diarrhea.
- Colicky babies have set patterns, however, a baby with cow milk allergy would not follow a pattern like crying particularly in the evening.
- Colic is relatively common in babies and usually begins within the first few weeks of life but often stops by the time the baby is 4 months old. Cow’s milk allergy is much less common and can mimic colic.
If you think that your colicky baby might have a cow’s milk allergy, make an appointment to see your doctor and discuss your concerns.
Looking after a baby with colic can be exhausting. It is important that you look after your own wellbeing too. Please don’t be afraid to ask for help from family members or friends when you start to feel overwhelmed.
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