Colic is not a disease - it is a temporary physical disorder. However it can be confused with genuine medical conditions such as a milk-protein allergy, a lactose intolerance or gastro-oesophageal reflux.
Colicky babies do not fail to thrive. Despite the tears, babies with colic are otherwise healthy and happy. Professionals still don't have a conclusive answer, or solution, to colic.
Causes of Colic:
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The baby swallows air causing heartburn and gas pains, coupled with inadequate burping, causing gas to be trapped.
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Immaturity of the baby's digestive system with intestinal muscle spasms causing abdominal cramps.
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Physiological problems such as insufficient friendly gut flora.
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Overfeeding or an overactive breastmilk let-down reflex providing too much milk too quickly.
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Anxious or tense infant from stress in the home or a stressed mother.
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Mother's diet is too rich in simple carbohydrates and too low in quality protein, or needs nutritional supplements.
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Food Intolerances including: Wheat, yeast, sugar, chocolate, coffee, tea, eggs, peanuts, dairy products. Some fruits particularly citrus. Many vegetables including onion, cabbage and garlic.
Symptoms of Colic:
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Starts between 1 and 4 weeks of age.
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Prolonged crying, irritability, restlessness and writhing movements.
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Baby wails when laid down but fine when upright.
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Loud, intense, continuous, shrill, high pitched shrieks for prolonged periods of the day or night.
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Attacks usually occur around the same time each day.
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Baby draws its knees well up to the stomach, taut tummy - hard and swollen, flailing arms and/or clenched fists.
Possible remedies for colic in babies:
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Effective burping techniques are most important. Learning how to bring up wind is the key to a calm baby.
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Feed your baby in a calm, relaxed atmosphere away from stimulation environments and bright lights.
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Warmth is very soothing - feed your baby in the bath together. It is both relaxing and a wonderful skin to skin bonding experience.
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Use a couple of drops of Lavender Essential Oil to calm the senses. Massage is soothing, rub the tummy clockwise, rub the back anti-clockwise, do bicycling motions with baby's legs, give a foot massage.
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Use Qbaby ColiCalm to ease the spasm and distress associated with colic.
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Herbs such as aniseed, chamomile and fennel are beneficial for easing the symptoms of colic and can be made into a tea from the dried herb and given directly to the baby.
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Use a high quality Acidophilus probiotic supplement to replace the good bacteria in the gut.
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Breastfeeding mothers to take EFA Essentials (vitamin supplement), or give a formula fed baby a teaspoon of EFA's daily.
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Breastfeeding mums to use Totally Devoted Lactation Tea which contains herbs such as Fennel which help to reduce symptoms of wind in babies.
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Consider having baby's wellbeing checked by our naturopath.
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Consider having baby checked by a neonatal cranial osteopath.