Colic
Definition:
Colic or cholic is a form of pain that starts and stops abruptly. It occurs due to muscular contractions of a hollow tube (colon, urethra, gall bladder, etc.) in an attempt to relieve an obstruction by forcing content out. It may be accompanied by vomiting and sweating.
Signs & Symptoms:
Fussing and crying are normal for infants, and a fussy baby doesn’t necessarily have colic. In an otherwise healthy, well-fed baby, signs of colic include:
Predictable crying episodes. A baby who has colic often cries about the same time every day, usually in the late afternoon or evening. Colic episodes may last from a few minutes to three hours or more on any given day. Your baby may have a bowel movement or pass gas near the end of the colic episode.
Intense or inconsolable crying. Colic crying is intense, sounds distressed and is often high pitched. Your baby’s face may flush, and he or she is extremely difficult if not impossible to comfort.
Crying that occurs for no apparent reason. It’s normal for babies to cry sometimes. But, crying usually means your baby needs something, such as food or a clean diaper. Crying associated with colic occurs with no clear cause.
Posture changes. Curled up legs, clenched fists and tensed abdominal muscles are common during colic episodes.
Colic is common. It usually starts a few weeks after birth and often improves by age 3 months. By ages 4 to 5 months, the majority of babies with colic have improved.
Cause:
Experts suggest wind or indigestion may be involved but nobody really knows what the causes of colic are. Some wonder whether the baby’s gut is immature and sensitive to some of the substances in breast or formula milk. Milk allergies and lactose intolerance have similar symptoms to those of colic. These theories are not supported by evidence, however.
Twice as many babies have colic if their mother smoked during pregnancy.
Colic does not occur more commonly among first, second or third born children. Breastfed and formula-fed babies are equally likely to have colic.
How To Cure:
- Chamomile Tea:
Chamomile has antispasmodic (19 different antispasmodic constituents) and sedative (5 sedatives) properties that help to relieve intestinal cramping and induce relaxation.
Take a teaspoon of chamomile flowers and place them in a cup
Then fill the cup with boiling water and cover it
Allow it sit for about 10 15 minutes and strain the tea.
Give it to your baby by pouring the tea in a bottle unless and until the tea is warm or at room temperature.
Or a nursing mother can also drink this tea unless she is allergic to pollens.
Or you can also use pre-packed chamomile tea bags instead of flowers.
Repeat this once or twice a day till the baby get relief from colic problem.
- Soy Products:
Protein found in cows milk is the culprit for this problem. This protein is also found in many baby formulas containing dairy and in the milk of breast feeding mothers. Research says that there will be an improvement in colic after eliminating the dairy products from your babies diet. So, try to eliminate the dairy products for 2 weeks and in that place of dairy, you and your baby switch to soy products (if youre breast feeding) and youll notice the improvement in 3 4 days. If not then assume that milk isnt the culprit in this case.
- Running Water:
Water is one of the simplest techniques to calm your baby. Make them to hear the water sound that can help to soothe themselves.
Take a bowl and place it in the sink
Now turn on the faucet and hold the baby next to the sink
This process helps them to hear the water cascading into bowl.
If your kitchen sink is not producing the enough volume to hear the sound then you can try bathroom sink, as this may accentuate the soothing sounds of water.
Or place a warm (but not hot) water bottle against the babys stomach to get soothing effect to them and get relief from the colic.
