Womb to Bloom - Maternity & Beyond

I think every woman has moments like this. Sure babies are cute and adorable, but to be honest, they are also the most selfish little creatures on Earth. Of course this only makes sense. Without being selfish a baby won’t fuss and cry and let you know that she needs something and she needs it NOW.

I can remember times where my daughter would cry and fuss and cry for hours in the evenings. The worst is that I had no idea what she wanted. She was fed, changed, comfortable. There was nothing obvious that she needed. Yet she cried.

They like to call it colic. For older babies they say they are teething. I don’t know, sometimes it seems that the baby just wants to drive you insane. Walking around the house jostling a screaming baby as images of jumping in front of moving traffic flash through your head definitely put to rest all those dreams of sweet cooing little ones who melt you heart. At that point in time it’s more like the demon child is melting your ears, not your heart.

If you sometimes feel this way you are not alone. The best thing you can possibly do is to put some distance between you and your baby. With your hormones still unsettled from your pregnancy and the lack of sleep a young baby brings a screaming crying baby is enough to drive you over the edge.

If you have any friends or family who can give you hand this is the time to call them. Let them take your baby for an hour or two and just get away. If you are bottle feeding give them a bottle and head out to a movie or to the mall to go shopping without your baby. If you are breast feeding you won’t be able to disappear as long, but if you can pump some milk to be given while you are out you can extend your break.

Of course not everyone has the benefit of close family or friends. If that’s the case you still need to find a way to get away. Put your baby down in a safe place such as her crib. Leave the room and close the door. While listening to a baby cry can be heart wrenching, there has yet to be a baby who died of crying. That baby is far better off out of your arms for a few minutes so that you can spend some time taking care of yourself.

Try running a hot bath so you can soak for a while. Scented bubble baths or oils are a wonderful addition to help you relax. Sometimes taking an interesting paperback in to read as you soak can distract you from your difficulties. If the noise of the baby is getting to you try a shower instead. The running water will drown out the sound of crying and the warm water can relax your tense muscles.

Another option is to put your baby in a stroller or carrier and go for a walk. The baby will be out of your arms and the movement of the stroller or your walking stride will lull your grumpy baby. Fresh air is a great way to put things back into perspective and the noises of the great outdoors can help you ignore the sobbing of your little bundle of joy.

Even half an hour of getting away from your baby can be a great way to refresh yourself and give you the energy you need to go back to being a parent. If you are really lucky your baby will decide to pass out for a while and you can get a much needed few moments of sleep for yourself at the same time.

If you are truly desperate don’t be afraid to seek out professional help. Sometimes the frustration can get to be too much and could be a sign of more serious problems such as post partum depression. There are several safe options for medications to control depression which can make a huge difference to your feelings about yourself and your baby. Your baby needs you to be at your best, so be sure to take the time to give yourself a break and take care of yourself. Remember, this too shall pass. Babies do grow up and as they mature the crying and fussing decreases significantly.