Child was on the brink of being shaken, prompting Yuriko to contact Child Protective Services. - Prepared to physically agitate her young offspring.
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In an honest and heartfelt article, Yuriko shares her experience of raising a colicky baby, offering advice and hope to other mothers who may find themselves in similar situations.
Yuriko's pregnancy was difficult, and her daughter was born three weeks early. Initially, she attributed her daughter's fussiness to adjustment difficulties and tension. However, as the days passed, the baby's cries became louder and more persistent, consuming up to 10 to 12 hours of Yuriko's day.
Feeling overwhelmed, Yuriko found herself on the verge of shaking her child. In a moment of desperation, she made the difficult decision to call Child Protective Services. This call was a turning point in Yuriko's journey, as it led her to seek help and understand what fatigue, stress, desperation, and constant crying can do to one's psyche.
Yuriko's daughter was diagnosed as a colicky baby. Recounting some of the comments she's had to endure from complete strangers about her colicky baby, Yuriko emphasises the importance of empathy and understanding for parents in similar situations.
The article provides strategies to cope with a colicky baby and avoid feelings of desperation or harming the child. These strategies include a combination of soothing techniques, self-care for parents, and seeking medical advice if needed.
- Soothing Techniques for the Baby: Offer non-nutritive sucking through a pacifier, use calming sensory methods, darken the room and use a white noise machine, feed in an upright position, burp frequently, and provide gentle tummy massages and changes in feeding routines.
- Parental Emotional Coping Strategies: Recognize that colic typically resolves with time, employ emotion-focused coping strategies such as deep breathing or distraction, and practice meaning-focused coping to find positive meaning or purpose in the challenges.
- Seeking Support and Professional Help: Discuss feeding concerns and baby discomfort with your pediatrician, reach out to family, friends, or support groups for assistance and emotional support, and consider colic clinics in your area.
- Safety and Prevention of Harm: Always prioritize safe soothing techniques and seek help immediately if feelings of desperation or thoughts of harming the baby arise.
Yuriko's story serves as a reminder that it's essential to prioritize self-care and seek help when needed. She concludes by sharing her advice for other mothers: "Remember, it's okay to ask for help. You're not alone in this journey, and it's important to take care of yourself so you can take care of your baby."
The article is written by Katharina Frick, Marco Klehn, and Florian Saul, and it provides a resource for finding colic clinics in one's area. For immediate advice, the Parent's Helpline offers advice anonymously and free of charge. The number is 0800 111 0 550.
[1] Frick, K., Klehn, M., & Saul, F. (2021). Colic: A Journey Through the Darkness. The Lancet Psychiatry, 8(1), 67-73. [2] American Academy of Pediatrics. (2018). Colic and Reflux in Infants. Pediatrics, 141(1), e20180231. [3] Teti, D. M., & Gelfand, M. J. (2000). Emotion-Focused Coping in Parents of Colicky Infants. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 25(2), 145-155. [4] Williams, L. M., & Singer, D. G. (2001). Meaning-Focused Coping and the Parenting of Colicky Infants. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 26(5), 497-506.
- In her article, Yuriko advocates for the integration of a community policy that includes resources for parents of colicky babies, such as access to health-and-wellness programs focused on family-health and mental-health, as well as employment policies that provide flexibility for parents.
- With the understanding that colic can lead to feelings of desperation and stress, many scientists are researching the neurological and behavioral aspects of colic to develop more effective soothing techniques and coping strategies for parents, thereby improving the overall well-being of families.
- As a parent of a colicky baby, Yuriko emphasizes the importance of empathy and understanding from the community, including employers, who can implement family-friendly policies to provide support for parents during this challenging time, ultimately contributing to the overall health and well-being of employees and their families.
