Today’s show covers a topic of great concern and high stress for many parents. Many of us don’t understand colic and how to soothe a colicky baby. Today’s guest shares how her experience raising her colicky newborn daughter affected her life and her mental health.
Jacqueline DelVecchio is a licensed mental health counselor in Salem, MA. She works in a private practice setting and specializes in perinatal mental health, certified through Postpartum Support International. She’s a wife, mother of two, and doggy-mom to a chocolate lab.
Show Highlights:
- In 2016, Jacqueline’s first child was born after a great pregnancy and birth experience; the all-day crying began immediately and lasted about seven months
- Even though her daughter was a good eater, with every bottle came the intense crying that lasted for hours
- The only soothing for her baby came from bouncing on a yoga ball, running the vacuum, and Justin Timberlake’s song, “Can’t Stop the Feeling”
- How Jacqueline’s daughter would cry for two hours after every feeding but would sleep through the night quite well
- Why Jacqueline felt helpless, isolated, and guilty
- Why Jacqueline decided to see a therapist
- How Jacqueline dealt with the frustration of a constantly crying baby
- The expectations for parenthood—and the grief that comes from realizing “this is not what I expected”
- The need for education, resources, and help for parents who are dealing with colic
- How other parents and even doctors don’t understand what dealing with a colicky baby is like
- How therapy helped Jacqueline normalize her experiences, thoughts, and feelings
- The biggest lesson learned for Jacqueline was that all moms are on the same level
- How Jacqueline was led to specialize in perinatal mental health
- What Jacqueline has learned about the effects of colic on parents
- Jacqueline’s tips for parents who are dealing with colic now:
- Prioritize self-care
- Ask and accept help from others
- Educate yourself and advocate for yourself
- The nervousness and anxiety that came with a second child, wondering if colic would be a problem again
- Hopeful messages from Jacqueline: “You’re doing a wonderful job even if your baby doesn’t stop crying. That’s not what determines your value as a parent. There is help and support if you’re dealing with colic.”
Resources:
Connect with Jacqueline: Jacqueline DelVecchio
Instagram: @butletsberealistic