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Understanding Infant Colic
- A common problem in infants.
- Colic defines periods of inconsolable crying without any discernible reason although the baby is healthy.
- Onset is usually within a few weeks of birth and disappears, often very suddenly by the baby’s fourth month.
- It is important that a doctor first rules out other causes of crying before a baby is considered to be colic.
- Colic is not a serious problem but distresses other family members – it is important to take breaks and support each other!
Signs and Symptoms
- Excessive, intense crying or screaming episodes, lasting for few hours and is often worse in the evenings
- Baby draws up legs, clench fists and grimace
- Passing of wind, usually at the end of a ‘colicky’ period.
- Flushed face.
- Stomach appears distended after feeding.
- Other symptoms may include refusal to eat and difficulty falling or staying asleep.
Causes of Infant Colic
- Cause not completely known.
- Infant colic is thought to be caused by:
- Excessive amounts of air swallowed during feeding or crying
- Spasm of the intestine
- Indigestion and hunger
- Food allergy
- Lactose intolerance
- Gut flora
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Self-Care Measures
- Reduce air swallowed by the baby during feeds:
- Use a slow flow nipple for feeding
- Feed babies in an upright position
- Burp them adequately after feeds
- Soothing measures (e.g. pacifiers, rocking etc.) are often effective to calm babies during colic periods.
- Cuddle cure (5 S’s) :
- Swaddling the baby
- placing baby on Side or Stomach,
- Swinging the baby,
- whisper a Shh sound in the baby’s ear
- give the baby something to suck on (e.g. a dummy).
- Gentle rubbing of the baby’s tummy in a clockwise direction using almond oil.
- Apply warmth on the baby’s stomach with a warm towel.
Dietary changes may help in some colic cases where allergies are the cause
Avoid
- There is no generally accepted treatment but to provide comfort until the baby outgrows the colic period.
- Colic drops
- contain simeticone an anti-gas agent that breaks down bubbles in milk feeds in the stomach thus allowing swallowed air to be brought up more easily by the baby.
* Consult a pharmacist at Lovy Pharmacy when choosing a supplement for your condition.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”10vh”][/vc_column][/vc_row]