WHAT IS COLIC?
According to many experts, colic is inconsolable crying in an infant that lasts many hours a day, starting in the second week of life and lasting until about 3 months of age.
WHAT CAUSES COLIC?
After all these years, doctors and researchers still have no definite answer to what causes these long crying bouts in some babies. The following is just a short list of things that may increase the chances of colic or cause colic:
- Immature nervous system
- Unusually sensitive to stimulation
- Breastfed babies may be bothered by foods in their mothers’ diets. (Studies have shown colic and cow’s milk in mother’s diet to be related.)
- Bottle-fed babies may be intolerant of certain proteins in their formula.
- Overfeeding the infant or feeding too quickly
- It appears that infants whose mothers smoked during pregnancy have twice the risk of developing colic
- Intestinal gas (resulting from too much air swallowed while having crying fits)
- Not burping after a feeding or incorrect positioning after a feeding
- A low birth weight baby
- Hunger
- Acid reflux
WHAT ARE THE TREATMENTS FOR COLIC?
There is no proven cure for colic, since there is no definitive cause. Many of the treatments are aimed at reducing the intensity of the crying and eliminating any factors that could be making it worse. The following list is some of the most common things used to relieve crying or decrease colic:
- Holding your child is one of the most effective treatments. The more hours held, even when they are not fussy, the less time they will be fussy in the evening.
- Place a warm water bottle on your baby’s stomach (make sure it’s not too hot).
- Breastfeeding mothers may reduce colic by making sure baby is getting lots of “hindmilk” at each feeding and not just “foremilk.” This can happen by making sure one breast is finished before offering the other or only offering one at a feeding and emptying it completely.
- Breastfeeding mothers may need to evaluate what they are eating by keeping a food and crying diary.
- Gently rub your baby’s stomach, in a clock wise direction. (This is the direction the intestines work.)
- Bottle-fed babies may have an allergy or reaction to ingredients in their formula and may need to be switched to something different.
- Lay your baby tummy-down across your knees, while gently moving your legs to massage the abdominal area.
- Burp your baby often.
- Hold your baby upright as often as possible.
COULD COLIC BE SOMETHING MORE SERIOUS?
There are those times when a baby that cries a lot has a true medical problem or condition. Some medical conditions that can result in excessive crying include:
- Reflux or GER (Gastroesophageal reflux)
- Hernia
- Food allergy
- Intestinal obstruction
WHAT ARE NOT SIGNS OF COLIC?
Colic symptoms do not include:
- Fever
- Mucus or bloody stools
- Vomiting or projectile spit up
- Decreased appetite
- Limp or pale skin
WHY KIMS?
KIMS, being one of the foremost paediatric gastroenterology hospitals in Hyderabad, has some of the best paediatric gastroenterology specialist in Hyderabad dedicated to treating infants with colic and other gastrointestinal problems. Our new branch has the best paediatric gastroenterology specialist in Kondapur who is recognized around the world for treating paediatric gastrointestinal problems.