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Today\u2019s show covers a topic of great concern and high stress for many parents. Many of us don\u2019t understand colic and how to soothe a colicky baby. Today\u2019s guest shares how her experience raising her colicky newborn daughter affected her life and her mental health.\nJacqueline 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\u2019s a wife, mother of two, and doggy-mom to a chocolate lab.\xa0\nShow Highlights:\n\nIn 2016, Jacqueline\u2019s first child was born after a great pregnancy and birth experience; the all-day crying began immediately and lasted about seven months\n\nEven though her daughter was a good eater, with every bottle came the intense crying that lasted for hours\n\nThe only soothing for her baby came from bouncing on a yoga ball, running the vacuum, and Justin Timberlake\u2019s song, \u201cCan\u2019t Stop the Feeling\u201d\n\nHow Jacqueline\u2019s daughter would cry for two hours after every feeding but would sleep through the night quite well\n\nWhy Jacqueline felt helpless, isolated, and guilty\n\nWhy Jacqueline decided to see a therapist\n\nHow Jacqueline dealt with the frustration of a constantly crying baby\n\nThe expectations for parenthood---and the grief that comes from realizing \u201cthis is not what I expected\u201d\n\nThe need for education, resources, and help for parents who are dealing with colic\n\nHow other parents and even doctors don\u2019t understand what dealing with a colicky baby is like\n\nHow therapy helped Jacqueline normalize her experiences, thoughts, and feelings\n\nThe biggest lesson learned for Jacqueline was that all moms are on the same level\n\nHow Jacqueline was led to specialize in perinatal mental health\n\nWhat Jacqueline has learned about the effects of colic on parents\n\nJacqueline\u2019s tips for parents who are dealing with colic now:\n\nPrioritize self-care\n\nAsk and accept help from others\n\nEducate yourself and advocate for yourself\n\nThe nervousness and anxiety that came with a second child, wondering if colic would be a problem again\n\nHopeful messages from Jacqueline: \u201cYou\u2019re doing a wonderful job even if your baby doesn\u2019t stop crying. That\u2019s not what determines your value as a parent. There is help and support if you\u2019re dealing with colic.\u201d\n\nResources:\nConnect with Jacqueline: Jacqueline DelVecchio\nInstagram: @butletsberealistic