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Colic Babies and Colic Symptoms
Colic Babies: The Signs of Colic
What is colic?
Colic babies often experience symptoms of colic as sharp, intermittent abdominal pains caused by cramping of the abdominal muscles as a result of an immature digestive system or trapped gas. You have to remember that up until birth babies are fed through the mother's circulation and do not have to digest foods. At birth as they receive either mother's milk or formula, their digestive system starts to function and in some babies this causes distress. It has been noticed that bottle-fed babies suffer from colic more so than breastfed babies because the compositions of cow's milk is different than that of mother's milk and colic babies can be sensitive to the cow milk proteins.
Baby colic is often considered as a merely physical problem, but I would like to point out that colic babies have a very delicate emotional and mental balance and this can play an important role in them. Babies who have suffered during a difficult birth or that have been separated from their mother at birth may become more sensitive to develop baby colic. So, it is very important to make sure mother and child have the opportunity to spend as much time together and that the mother has enough sleep. Breastfeeding moms should rest and get lots of help. If your baby has colic pains often, take as much time as you can to be close to your baby and enhance your bonding with him.
The following are the most commonly observed signs of colic in babies:
1. The most common signs of colic in baby are inconsolable and continuous crying most commonly starting in the evening hours going into the night.
2. Colic babies may pull their legs up toward the abdomen and clench their fists. Some colic babies arch their backs and move their hands arms and legs as if in a struggle.
3. Some colic babies a temporarily better by feeding, rocking, repetitive motions like car rides or being on a baby swing.
4. Symptoms of colic seem to worsen around the same time each day or night, and after eating are more pronounced. Colic in baby can come on suddenly and leave suddenly.
5. Colic in baby is associated with signs of gas discomfort and abdominal bloating. The baby's abdomen feels hard and distended.
6. Colic babies with colic that are normally happy, become really irritable and very fussy when experiencing a colic episode.
7. Some colic babies bring up milk especially between meals. This is due to acid stomach conditions.
8. Colic in baby is usually worse by lying the baby down flat on his back.
9. Usually clears up by the time the baby is 3 months old. By this time the baby's digestive system is more mature.
Colic Babies and Feeding Time
When breastfed or bottle-fed babies develop signs of colic, many practitioners advice parents to make sure their babies do not swallow air while feeding. If your baby is breastfed and you have a very fast and strong let down, your baby cannot keep up with the milk flow and will end up swallowing air. Try to adjust your feeding position so that the baby is not completely laying down on his back but kept a little up (inclined position).
Also, many colic babies need to be fed more often to prevent over eating and gulping milk all at once. Sometimes just shifting from 3 hours to 2 ½ hours between each feed can make a difference. If you think that your baby is gulping milk and air either change feeding position or burp the baby more often. Colic in baby may be greatly helped by burping the baby often and by carrying the baby upright over your shoulder.
If you nurse your baby on demand, make sure the baby is really hungry and nor tired or needing cuddling. Sometimes putting the baby on the breast too often can cause overfeeding and trigger more colic in baby.
Feeding Position for Babies with Colic
Colic in baby may be worse after or during feeding. Put a firm pillow beside you and hold baby facing you, tuck the body under your arm with baby's head held facing the nipple, so that baby is in effect sitting up to drink.
Change breastfeeding position if you nurse your baby because a change in the feeding position can make a world of difference in some cases. Experiment with what works for you but make sure the baby is in a upright position as much as possible while drinking.
Bottles for Colic Babies
There are many different type of baby bottles that help reduce the amount of air that the baby swallows. Experiment with what works best for your baby. I recommend the following baby bottle to reduce air ingestion.
Best Baby Bottles for Colic Babies
What Are The Known Causes of Colic?
Immature Digestive System
For the first time after birth babies have to digest food. While in their mother's tummy, during gestation, they were fed through the mother's circulation and never had to digest food. So, during the first few months after birth, babies have to learn how to efficiently digest and assimilate nutrients from either breast milk or formula.
The muscles that support digestion have not developed the proper rhythm for propelling and moving food efficiently thought the digestive tract. In addition, newborns lack the presence of friendly bacterial flora also called probiotics. Intestinal bacterial flora develops over time to aid digestion.
Allergies
Breastfed babies are sensitive or allergic to certain foods eaten by their mother. Through lactation, trace elements of cruciferous vegetables (cabbages, cauliflowers, and broccoli) and other gas producing foods may be passed via breast milk to baby causing digestive upset like gas and bloating.
Swallowing Air
Infants often swallow air while feeding, which creates gas and bloating. When the gas gets trapped inside the digestive system, colic pain develops.
Sensitive Nervous System
Infants' nervous system is still developing and they are very sensitive to external stimuli like noises, light, and too much stimulation. Colic babies will experience more severe abdominal pain, fussiness, and difficulty sleeping.
Hylands: Colic Homeopathic Remedy
Even if the reason for colic in baby can be related to a certain degree of allergy to milk or to some other food in the mother's diet, the focus should also be at the constitutional weakness of the baby. From a homeopathic perspective, a food allergy id not of importance, what matters is the susceptibility of the baby to the food. Babies with colic tend to assimilate and digest food poorly. This factor is what causes the symptoms.
Homeopathic remedies should be able not only to treat the acute condition, but also to address the underlying weaknesses and re-establish health in your baby.
Hylands colic remedy is very effective in soothing colic babies. You can dissolve the tablets in water and spoon feed the solution to the baby every 15 minutes for up to eight doses until the baby beefs better and then repeat less often (every two hours) when needed. Many parents have given very positive reviews for this remedy. As a homeopathic practitioner I often recommend this products to parents who call me and wan to know what they can do for their colicky baby.
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