Author: Gray Rollins
Any parent will tell you that colic is one of the most excruciating experiences
of early parenthood. The baby cries as if in dire pain, and there just seems to
be nothing for a parent to do. A baby is suspected to have colic if, around the
age of three weeks, the baby starts crying inconsolably for hours at a time. The
condition is termed ‘colic’ because it was assumed that babies were crying due
to stomach pain. Doctors are no longer sure that a stomach ache causes colic,
but the term continues to be in use.
The first step is to ascertain the cause of distress. Newborn babies often cry
because of hunger, earache, wetness or cold. If these factors can be safely
ruled out, crying can be attributed to the mysterious colic. Sometimes little
tummies do not agree with the protein in traditional baby formula or from a
mother’s milk. After consulting your doctor, change the formula. Switch to a
soy-based formula. Even in breastfed babies, an excess of cows’ milk products in
the mother’s diet can cause tummy aches. Root vegetables and highly acidic food
products like chocolates, tomatoes, or grapefruit in the mother’s diet can also
upset the stomach of a feeding infant. Gas producing food like broccoli,
cabbage, onions, cauliflower, peppers, and citrus fruits may all become suspect
at such a time. Your doctor may advise you to go on an exclusion diet for some
time. Most newborns outgrow their sensitivity to food and become naturally
vigorous and robust within three to six months.
If the baby is being breastfed, it is necessary to feed on demand. The evening
hours see a decline in production of milk. Feeding the baby often during these
hours will ensure an abundant supply of milk. If the baby is being bottle-fed,
care must be taken to hold the bottle properly, so that there is no swallowing
of air. Patting the baby gently on the back after each feeding is another
effective method of releasing gas. With the increasing incidences of cot deaths,
doctors advise parents to put their babies to sleep on their back. However
sometimes babies with colic like to lie on their stomachs. This is safe, so long
as you are awake and vigilant.
Doctors sometimes attribute colic to maternal stress. It’s only natural for
mothers to get stressed when little babies cry until they are red in the face.
But babies are very sensitive to stress and a mother whose nerves are frayed
cannot calm a distressed baby. At such a time, mothers should get extra help and
spend some time away from the scene. Take a warm bath or go for a stroll.
Traditionally, colicky babies have been fed with gripe water approximately half
an hour before feeding. But these products should be checked for their
ingredients. Some may contain artificial ingredients and preservatives.
Sensitive digestive systems of colicky infants can definitely do without such
irritants.
A warm aromatherapy bath calms and soothes the baby. Add a few drops of lavender
to warm bath water and gently massage the tummy. This will help relieve
painfully trapped gas. Babies also like to be in water.
Small babies need a lot of warmth and security. Swaddling the baby in warm
clothes and holding it against the steady soothing rhythm of a parent’s
heartbeat can sometimes soothe the baby’s pain. Walking, rocking, and repetitive
movements also have a calming effect. Applying gentle pressure on the abdomen
will help relieve stomach ache. This position is known as the ‘colic hold.’
Finally, remember colic is a stage in the growth of your baby. This too will
pass.
Gray Rollins is a featured writer for AboutColic.com. To learn more about colic
remedies and colic relief, visit us. |
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