Colic is a non-scientific term used to describe inconsolable
crying or screaming stemming from tummy pain of an
otherwise healthy infant. It usually starts when baby
is around 3 weeks old, peaks when baby is about 6
weeks and ends when baby turns 3 months old. Colic
can be a traumatic time for the whole family.
Colic is not a bad word..
• Colic
is not your fault. Despite your efforts you can
at the most ease the discomfort for a while but
not make the pains vanish for good.
• A colicky baby doesn't mean baby has health
issues.
• Colic doesn't mean baby is going to have
a difficult personality later on.
• Colic doesn't mean you as a parent are incompetent
and failing in your love and care.
• Colic is not damaging to the baby in the
short or long run.
• Colic in most instances will end by 12 weeks.
Colicky facts..
• Colic may last for hours and hours and mostly
happens in the evenings.
• Baby tends to draw up his knees and passes
wind often.
• Although the crying spells are distressing,
in all other respects baby is thriving normally.
• One theory suggests that colic is triggered
by sensitivity to a particular food.
• A more substantial find suggests that colic
is a result of baby's immature nervous system being
on an overdrive which would explain why it seems
to happen in the evening when both mother and baby
are both most tired and stressed.
• Though for most babies colic subsides after
the third month, some babies go on to suffer from
it at 4, 5 or 6 months.
• In a breastfed baby colic can be caused
by poor positioning leading to what is termed temporary
lactose overload. The break down in sugar is not
complete and will ferment in the bowel causing gas.
This is the likely situation if baby's poo is green,
watery with a lot of wind, both bottom and top.
The solution is to offer more fat-rich hindmilk
- increase the time on the breast to ensure baby
gets the hindmilk.
• Some babies swallow more air when they feed
and still others do not burp well enough.
• Abdominal discomfort leads to even more
swallowed air, unfortunately.
Are
Wind and Colic the same?
• Wind means baby has swallowed some air which
is now trapped in his tummy or digestive system
causing him pain. Doctors themselves are not sure
why colic occurs but they partly attribute it to
painful gut contractions caused by trapped wind;
in fact not much is known about colic and some experts
choose to refute its existence.
• Wind is not the cause of colic although
a screaming baby would undoubtedly swallow a lot
of air - this can worsen the problem since air gets
trapped. The trapped air in the intestine loops
intensifies the problem during spasm and only gets
better after a good burp.
• Wind can be relieved by getting your baby
to bring up the wind and burp. Colic being not as
straightforward has to run its course of hours of
incessant crying and screaming for weeks at end.
Coping
strategies with a Colicky baby
• One theory hinges on colic being caused
by wind build-up. Try giving your baby an anti-wind
treatment such as gripe water.
• Burp your baby. Rest your baby over your
shoulder with belly flat against you or sit him
down on your lap and pat and rub her back until
a burp comes out. This way baby experiences gentle
pressure on her tummy and relieve some of the tummy
pain. Burp your baby mid-way during a feed if he
seems uncomfortable. Keep a cloth handy as along
with the burp some squirts of milk may be expelled.
• Breastfeeding mothers should try eliminating
certain foods such as chocolate, cabbage, broccoli,
beans and milk products etc. Give this a try.
• Get help with your latch on technique as
poor latching is the number one cause of windy babies.
• For bottle fed babies check with your doctor
if a change in formula might help. Try different
teats and bottles. Tilt the bottle and ensure the
teat is filled with milk. Seat baby in a more upright
position.
• Try and avoid evening stress by giving baby
an evening bath or a massage in the day or by going
for a walk together.
• Have proper meals and naps yourself to help
build your own energy level.
• Reduce your chores or activities and in
turn reduce your frustration level as these get
easily transmitted to your baby.
• Make sure your movements are relaxed and
slow as these vibrations can be caught on by your
baby.
Tips to try with your crying
child..
Since the cause isn't clear, preventive measures are
hard to find. If issues like hunger, dirty nappies
are not the cause try these measures to prevent you
from losing your mind:
• Snuggle baby close to your body; try different
holds to see which one best suits.
• Move while holding him close either by bouncing
or swaying gently.
• Play music. Experiment here again coz different
babies take on to different type of music.
• Try white noise. Place him by a washing machine,
dryer or vacuum cleaner.
• Let him suck your clean finger or his thumb
or fingers.
• Have a bath
• Let someone else handle him. Different vibes
sometimes work wonders. New smell, face or touch may
distract him from crying.
• Give him a massage. Lie him down on a warm
towel in a warm room and stroke his body with gentle
and firm strokes using warm oiled hands.
• Change his nappy and clothes - maybe the familiar
changing routine may just work at quieting him down.
• Lie him down. Maybe that's all he wants, to
be put down.
• Use a baby sling and carry him around while
you go about your chores.
• Take a walk outside to give her a change of
temperature, atmosphere and noise.
• Go for a drive, but only as a last resort
as babies tend to become accustomed to this rather
easily.
• Get practical help. Make sure that somehow
you get some time out for yourself, everyday if possible
even if its just for 10 minutes
• Try all the methods, tricks and ideas you
can think of to soothe your baby. Something may just
work even if it's just for few minutes. Short relief
is better than no relief.
