Colic

Any blogging absence on my part can probably be explained by the following:


Colic

"Episodes of crying, irritability and fussiness" in healthy babies that:

• Begin within the first three weeks of life [does 4 weeks count?]
• Last up to or more than three hours a day [3 hours? on a good day...]
  
• Occur at least three or more days a week [6 out of the last 8 days]
  
• Continue for at least three weeks [not yet]
• Disappear at about three months of age [say it isn't so!]
  

Colicky infants often seem unresponsive to attempts by their caretaker at typical soothing. Other colic baby symptoms include drawing up their legs, passing gas, sleeplessness and a red face. Most colic outbursts occur primarily in the early evening.

Yep. That pretty much describes it. :-(

Pearl is nearly inconsolable from about 6 to 10 (both AM and PM) just about every day. Unfortunately, no one but me ever sees her in the mornings, and no one but me and JM see her in the evenings (except on Sunday and Wednesday when we're at church - or rather, when we're in the cry room). Thus, to the rest of the world she is a sweet, calm, happy baby. The pediatrician looked at her on Tuesday and said, "Well she obviously isn't inconsolable, since she isn't crying now." Yes, well. Had she been in my house two hours earlier she might have thought differently.

Next steps: infant chiropractor, dairy-free diet (although it has been pretty close to that already), and reflux medicine.

(Because I know my mom will ask: I cut chocolate out of my diet. It didn't help.)