Want to Learn Colic? Look No Further
Oh no! Not again!
The baby was crying uncontrollably. Not even breastfeeding calmed him. I spent the better part of the night cuddling, singing lullabies to lure him to sleep. I almost called the ambulance, but I checked his body temperature. It was okay, no fevers. What could be the matter?
Could be it colic? You must wonder what colic is, right? Here’s what I found out…
What is Colic?
This is a condition whereby a healthy baby experiences perennial, painstaking, and intense crying. This can last up to three hours. Infants as young as two weeks suffer from colic.
How would you differentiate between normal crying and when the baby has colic?
- A colicky baby will cry clenching fists, pulling up his legs, and moving his arms and legs more.
- The crying happens always at the same time every day.
- Sleeping and eating are disrupted by crying. This happens; the baby is breastfeeding, then suddenly stops and rejects the nipple once sucking has begun.
- He/she may have increased bowel activity, he may pass gas or spit up often
- Colic crying is louder, more intense, and piercing, almost like screaming
Why do Babies Experience Colic?
The actual cause of colic is unknown. However, there are probable reasons that may contribute to colic in infants.
You won’t believe what I discovered…
- Food Allergies
Experts believe that colic may arise from a reaction to the specific foods in a mom’s diet like cow’s milk, soy, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, and fish. You should go for a week without consuming the foods to gauge whether there is a difference.
2. Infant Acid Reflux
Infant acid reflux happens when milk moves up the baby’s stomach after feeding, which leads to spiting out. It may happen several times a day, hence irritating the baby’s stomach.
3. An Immature Digestive System
An immature digestive system is a system that isn’t fully developed, meaning it cannot process and absorb the food fully that the baby consumes. Thus, the baby cannot have normal bowel movements.
4. Tobacco Exposure
Exposing the baby to tobacco smoke either when the mother is expectant or when the baby has been born raises the gut hormone called motilin. Motilin increases the contractions of the stomach and intestines, hence escalating the movement of food through the gut.
A high concentration of motilin may contribute to colic.
Tips for Soothing a Colicky Baby
It can be heartbreaking and stressful for parents to control colicky babies. However, take precautions not to sway your baby vigorously to avoid damage to the brain, which may lead to death.
Stick with me here as I show you amazing tips on how to soothe a colicky baby:
- To help pass the wind and stool, massage your baby’s tummy gently and perform bicycle kicks on him/her.
- Sing to your baby or play soft music immediately he/she cries.
- Do a warm bath.
- After every feeding, ensure that you have burped your child correctly, especially at night
- Apply skin-to-skin contact.
- See that your baby doesn’t swallow too much air by following the correct breastfeeding techniques.
Colic may be traumatic to both the parents and the infants. It doesn’t last forever. The good news is colic will vanish after 4 months.
Worked out as you may be, salute yourself since you survived the first most demanding part of parenthood. In as much as there are challenges like colic, being a parent is great, isn’t it?
You can apply the above mentioned techniques to soothe your colicky baby. I wish you the best in your parenting journey.