Pain Medicine Can Cause This
While not crying after birth does not mean that a child will never cry, this can still be a big concern for moms and dads, and they should know that there are some perfectly normal reasons as to why this can happen.
For example, when a mother receives some pain medication during labor, that can have an impact on the baby as well. This can result in them feeling a bit calmer than they normally would have if their mom did not receive medicinal pain relief. In addition, some parents might have trouble figuring out why their baby is crying if and when they do start doing that but there is an app that can help with that.
Coping With A Crying Colicky Or Unresponsive Baby
You already know that no two babies are alike, but this reality may still hit you hard when you hear other parents talking about how easy their babies are or how their newborn sleeps peacefully through the night. Try to avoid comparisons and specific expectations, as they can create negative feelingsespecially if you have a very challenging baby. Give yourself a break if you are having feelings you didnt expect. It may take a bit of time to get in sync with your baby, but the extra work will be worth it!
For stressful situationswhen your baby wont stop crying or wont respond to you, and when you are feeling frustrated, tired, and angryyou need to develop some strategies for taking care of yourself. When youre calm and centered, youll be better able to figure out whats going on with your child and soothe his or her cries.
Recognize your limits. Pay attention to internal warning signs when you are feeling overwhelmed. The sooner you spot your personal limits, the easier it is to plan aheadfor extra help, a break, an excursion outside, or a quick pep talk from a friend or loved one. These small steps to prepare will help you get in the best frame of mind to care for your baby.
Remember that time is on your side. For most babies, crying peaks at six weeks and then gradually eases off. There is an end to the crying on the horizon! You may have to put in a little extra work right now and be very patient, but things will get better.
Need urgent help? .
Taking Care Of Yourself Too
To take the best care of your baby, you have to take care of yourself. If your baby wont stop crying, its OK to leave him or her in the crib or bassinet for a few minutes to see if he or she will cry it out . And dont hesitate to enlist help. Its important to remember that mothers who have recently given birth are experiencing the fourth trimester, when they are healing from the emotional and physical changes they have gone through. Sometimes you need a break, so ask your partner, a family member or a friend to step in so you can step out for a few hours to get a break.
And perspective always helps, Dr. Bristol says.
The fussy, crying stage wont last forever. It may not feel like it at 2 a.m. when your baby has been crying since midnight, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Looking to talk to a doctor about your baby? Find a pediatrician near you.
Recommended Reading: When Does A Newborn Become An Infant
What To Do About Colic
Pediatricians may be sympathetic and recommend Mylicon drops or gripe water, but often doctors will tell parents to just be patient, because colic is not harmful and will go away on its own. Of course, in the midst of all that crying, having someone tell you to be patient may seem impossible to consider. In order to make it through, you will have to develop some great self-care strategies and enlist support.
Focus on one day at a time .
Ask your doctor to consider the possibilities of food allergies or acid reflux , which can be remedied. If you are breastfeeding, you can try adjusting your diet to see if that affects your babys crying spells.
Ask for helpsupport from your spouse, family, friends, and a babysitter or nanny will be essential to getting through the first few months of your babys life.
Living With Colicky Baby
Having a colicky baby can be very stressful for parents. It can make you feel tired, guilty, and even depressed. Your baby’s healthcare provider can suggest some things to do that may help to calm your baby. Its important to know that colic is a common condition in young babies. It will go away on its own, often by age 3 months. In most cases it is gone by age 6 months.
If possible, have someone else watch your baby when you become stressed. If no one else is available, make sure your baby is safe and go into another room. Distract yourself from your baby’s cries. Crying will not hurt your baby. Some communities have free or low-cost care called respite nurseries. You can leave your baby there for short periods of time.
Recommended Reading: How Can You Tell If A Newborn Has Autism
How To Know If He Has A Dirty Diaper
The first sign will be the smell of feces. Also, if its been a while since he soiled the diaper, the baby will look uncomfortable and restless. Instead, when hes asleep, hell wake up suddenly. Youll be able to see tension and anger in his face.
If your baby still doesnt know how to communicate through tears, you can interpret his signs without crying. Finally, if you still doubt if its normal that your baby doesnt cry, ask your pediatrician.
Newborn Crying: What To Expect
Crying is a newborns main way of telling you what they need. Its a sound that can spur you into action, even when youre asleep. If youre a breastfeeding mother, it can trigger your let-down reflex.
Crying peaks at about 6-8 weeks. This period of intense newborn crying is hard, but it will pass.
Babies cry and fuss on average for almost three hours a day. Some cry for a lot longer than this. Most of this crying and fussing seems to happen in the late afternoon and evening, although every day will probably be a bit different.
As babies get older, they spend less time crying. The crying is also more likely to be spread throughout the day. And its easier to understand what babies need when they cry.
Crying is often a sign that your baby is tired or overstimulated. But newborns also have other tired signs. For example, newborns might pull at their ears or suck on their fingers when theyre tired.
Also Check: Do You Have To Swaddle Newborns At Night
Indicators That The Baby Wants To Sleep
On the other hand, if your baby looks tense or paralyzed with closed fists and rubs his eyes, he wants to sleep. He might yawn frequently or be unable to keep his eyes open. Those are also signs that its time for him to sleep.
Its essential that the mother learns to take care of all of her babys needs.
Baby Blues And Postpartum Depression
Having a baby who is difficult to comfort can increase parents stress and can contribute to the baby blues and/or postpartum depression. As many as 50%80% of new mothers experience the baby blues in the first 10 days after childbirth. Symptoms may include tearfulness, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, and feelings of loss. The baby blues usually get better after about 10 days.
Approximately 8%15% of new moms experience postpartum depression in the first year of motherhood, which is different from the blues. With depression, symptoms last more than 2 weeks and include feeling down and hopeless, increased crying, feeling little pleasure or interest in activities one used to enjoy, and loss of energy. If you are experiencing these feelings, it is very importantfor you and your babythat you seek help from a trusted health professional.
You May Like: What To Buy For A Summer Newborn Baby
How Is Colic Treated
There are many tips for helping to soothe and deal with a colicky baby. Know that this is a common problem for new babies. Talk with your child’s healthcare provider to find out more about colic and what you can do.
If your baby is bottle-fed, it may help to use a curved bottle. This lets you hold your baby in an upright position.
To reduce the amount of air your baby swallows during feeding, burp your baby often. Using a bottle with a collapsible bag or liner may also help.
Learning how to understand your baby’s cry can help in dealing with colic. It takes some time for parents and babies to get used to each other. Also remember that its normal for babies to cry for a certain amount of time every day.
What works for one baby may not work for another. Other suggestions to try include:
If your baby is bottle-fed and these methods dont work, your childs healthcare provider may recommend a 1-week trial of a non-milk-based formula.
If you breastfeed your baby, the provider may suggest that you avoid foods that are likely to cause an allergic reaction. This means that you should not have milk, eggs, nuts, or wheat for a period of time.
Dealing with a colicky baby is stressful. It may help to let someone care for your baby from time to time. Ask an adult family member, friend, or a responsible babysitter. Its important to take a break. Taking care of yourself and reducing your stress level may help your baby as well.
When Should I Call My Child’s Healthcare Provider
Before assuming your child has colic, look for other signs of illness. These may include:
- Not sucking or drinking a bottle well
- Drinking less milk than usual
- Vomiting
- Becoming more irritable when held or touched
- Having a strange-sounding cry
- Having a change in breathing rate or using extra effort to breathe
- Being more sleepy or sluggish than normal
- Fever of 100.4°F or higher, or as directed by your child’s healthcare provider
Recommended Reading: How Many Packs Of Diapers Should I Buy For Newborn
Its Important To Stay Calm
While it is true that babies are typically expressing a need when they cry, sometimes it is hard to figure out how to soothe your newborn. But its important to try to remain calm as a parent.
The human body is made to feel uncomfortable and stressed when a baby cries, says Tranter. A crying baby is one of the most challenging situations to adapt to in parenting.
Its common to feel frustration, but you should never do anything unsafe. If you find yourself growing more irritable and are worried about your ability to remain calm, its best to put your baby down in their crib and walk away to give yourself a break, says Tranter.
Also Check: How To Get Medical For My Newborn
All Babies Cry But How Much Is Too Much
Babies with colic can be incredibly challenging, but thankfully the condition ends on its own.
This guide was originally published on June 13, 2019 in NYT Parenting.
The best part of having friends and family with a new baby is the chance to hold the adorable infant as he sleeps and then hand him off as soon as he starts to cry. Of course, parents dont have this option and must become adept at deciphering whats wrong and learning how to soothe their child.
Infants typically cry about two hours each day, but around 20 percent of babies are colicky. These champion criers spend three or more hours each day fussing and wailing inconsolably. For mothers and fathers, being unable to comfort your child is extremely frustrating, making the first few months of parenthood even more challenging.
I searched through the scientific research and spoke with two pediatricians, a pediatric gastroenterologist and a child neurologist to learn how to comfort a crying infant and to examine some of the factors that may contribute to colic.
Read Also: When Can You Let A Newborn Sleep Through The Night
Stuffy Nose And Abnormal Breathing
A mother brought her 2-week-old girl into the ER because the baby always sounded congested. Mom had a cold, and she initially worried that she’d given it to her daughter, although the baby had no other cold symptoms. At night, her breathing became very loud, and the mom soon feared that her newborn had something worse than a cold.
It turns out that this normal form of stuffiness is caused by the hormone estrogen, which stimulates the nasal passages a mother passes it to her baby in utero and while breastfeeding. This condition generally subsides within two months, whether your baby is breastfed or formula-fed. And by 6 months, when a baby’s nasal passages have doubled in size, stuffiness is hardly noticeable, if it’s there at all.
When to Worry About Stuffiness and Breathing
Go to the emergency room if your child is flaring their nostrils as they breathe , or if their chest or tummy is pulling in. These are signs of respiratory distress.
How To Identify A Hungry Baby
Crying is a babys last resort, even if he has been hungry or its been a while. Crying is, then, his violent way of showing hes hungry. To prevent the baby from going too long without eating, pay attention to these signs:
- The baby turns his head to find the mothers breast. Most newborns instinctively seek their mothers nipple for food. By observing this behavior, youll understand that hes hungry.
- If you notice the baby shaking or moving a lot, it may indicate that something is wrong. He might not be hungry, but he might need a diaper change or has gas.
- Another way to recognize that your baby is hungry is if you hear him sucking with his tongue. It might sound like him sucking on a bottle or your chest. Its a sign that its time to eat.
Also Check: How Many Ounces Of Breast Milk For Newborn
Key Points About Colic
- Colic is when a healthy baby cries for a very long time, for no obvious reason.
- It affects some babies during the first 3 to 4 months of life.
- Colic usually begins suddenly, with loud and mostly nonstop crying.
- Colicky babies can be very difficult to calm down.
- Changing how your baby is fed, and using different calming methods, can help to soothe a colicky baby.
- Colic goes away on its own, sometimes by age 3 months. In most cases it is gone by age 6 months.
Why Some Newborns Dont Cry
At birth, most babies will cry due to the trauma of being born. If your labor was quick or you had a cesarean section, the hormonal changes might not have occurred.
Being heavily sedated can also affect your baby, too . If you receive pain medication, your unborn baby is likely to feel the effects as well, causing them to feel sleepy.
In such cases, your newborn may need some help getting their lungs going. Doctors and nurses can encourage your baby to breathe by physical stimulation. This will clear their airways so they can breathe on their own.
Babies born through cesarean section will typically cough or yawn instead of crying. Still, not crying during birth raises alarms, which is why doctors will examine your baby to check for abnormalities.
A doctor performs an Apgar test to evaluate your baby immediately after birth, usually within the first minute. The Apgar test will determine how well your baby tolerated birth and how they adapt to the outside world. Your doctor will look at five criteria, giving each a score of zero, one, or two.
The criteria are:
If your newborn isnt breathing, for instance, doctors will give a score of 0 in that category. If theyre breathing well, they score a two.
After the initial Apgar test, another test is done five minutes post-birth to see how theyre adapting . If your babys score is low, doctors know to administer oxygen and will evaluate if further treatment is necessary.
Consult Your Doctor
You May Like: What To Do For Jaundice Newborn At Home