Babies and colic
Everything’s been going well until the late hours of the afternoon... and then baby starts to cry. You pick him up, soothe him, check his nappy, and check he’s not hungry, but nothing seems to calm him down... could it be colic?
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Commonly known as colic – inconsolable crying with bouts of fussing and what appears to be abdominal pain in an otherwise healthy baby. Many people will tell you to be patient... colic usually calms down once a baby reaches three months of age. The time needed for her young digestive system to settle down and get used to life outside the womb., but in the meantime…
What causes colic?
Despite many years of research, the causes of colic are still not 100% clear. Specialists give various hypotheses. Here are some of the most credible theories:
- Immature intestines still adapting. Many paediatricians believe that colic can be caused by a newborn’s immature digestive system, which is getting used to functioning for the first time. This is normal and should improve over time.
- Colic is caused by trapped air in the stomach. Another theory states that a baby accumulates air in the stomach when sucking milk. This air could irritate nerve endings and cause pain and crying. This “gassy colic” can be treated using medication to help reduce trapped wind and evacuate it.
- Colic could be caused by environmental factors. Other research has revealed that colic could be caused by environmental factors relating to the parents. For example, a mother who smokes during her pregnancy or while breastfeeding is likely to have a more ‘colicky’ baby.
Other possible causes include:
- Allergy to milk protein. Some researchers have observed that colic can be reduced in certain cases by:
- replacing cow’s formula milk with soya milk.
- limiting lactose intake in the breastfeeding mother's diet to 200g a day.
- Immature cardia muscle. Colic could also be caused by gastric reflux, a problem caused by immature or poor functioning of the cardia, the opening which connects the oesophagus and stomach and which should close after feeding to avoid milk returning back up into the throat. Theoretically, if your baby is suffering from reflux, other symptoms should also be apparent, but some light forms of reflux can go unnoticed. It’s more easily noticeable when a baby regurgitates large quantities of milk. Smaller regurgitations can still cause discomfort and make it more difficult to diagnose reflux.
Some of the most frequently asked questions about colic
What is colic?
Colic is described as uncontrollable crying, with bouts of fussing or what appears to be abdominal pain for varying amounts of time in an otherwise healthy baby. Colic generally occurs more than once a week and often in the late afternoon/early evening.
When does colic appear?
- Colic usually begins early on at two weeks of life until 3 months of age.
- Colic is often more frequent between 5pm and 6pm.
- Colic can occur once or several times a week.
How many babies suffer from colic?
Around 15 to 20% of babies are considered to be ‘colicky’. Of this percentage, 1 out of 2 babies will have colic once a month, 1 out of 5 babies will have two episodes a month and 1 out of 7 suffer from more than 3 episodes a week, for a minimum of 3 consecutive weeks.
Is my baby in pain when she has colic?
Colic is thought to be caused, amongst other things, by a baby’s immature digestive system that can cause wind, bloating, and discomfort.
Is “anti-colic” massage useful?
Yes it is. By massaging and cuddling your baby, you provide soothing reassurance. You can also try walking around with your baby in your arms or in a baby carrier. Sometimes laying your baby stomach down on your lap can also help. Massage can also help parents to strengthen their bond with their baby and increase the baby’s awareness of his own body and of the sense of touch.
Can medication help?
There are some over-the-counter remedies that help to relieve colic symptoms, such as Infacol and Gripe Water. However despite the many attempts, an actual cure is yet to be found...
Copyright © 2010 Doctissimo
Posted 31.05.2011
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