Recognizing the Symptoms of Infant Colic
26th July 2009 by Babies No CommentsInfant colic is when a baby cries for longer than three hours at a time, more than three days per week, for more than three weeks straight. New parents may feel alarmed, but it is not as serious as it sounds. Although physicians differ over the exact cause of this frustrating condition, they mostly agree that there are particular remedies that may console the colicky baby.
Although it is only a hypothesis, it is believed that gas in the intestines and stomach becomes trapped which might explain the cause of newborn baby colic. The baby experiences sharp pain shortly after feeding because they are unable to breakdown the milk sugar content properly, and consequently experiences painful stomach acids and a bloated feeling. In addition, swallowing too much air during feeding may add to the general discomfort that the infant experiences. For these infants, it is advocated that a homeopathic remedy such as Colic Calm gripe water be used for infant colic treatment. Colic Calm is a homeopathic blend of chamomile, fennel, caraway, peppermint, ginger, aloe, lemon balm, blackthorn and vegetable charcoal. Besides offering calming relief for baby, the natural ingredients also encourage the body’s digestive processes. Likewise, a colon massage or burping the baby might help ease the symptoms too.
Another possibility for the root cause of baby colic is the lack of gut flora, which are the healthy microorganisms that assist in digestion. Up to one thousand species of gut flora, live in the stomach of the average human body. Infants have been found to be deficient in the microorganism that assists in milk sugar breakdown specifically, which can be a huge issue considering a baby’s early diet comprises of milk. In such instances, probiotics such as Lactase or a Lactobacillus acidophilus supplement can help restore that deficiency.
Different scientific schools of thought suggest that painful gas and colic in infants is merely a baby’s healthy expression of birth trauma and stress, instead of suppressing feelings. Warm baths, massages and essential oils may naturally offer relief for the baby. It is also important that the parents seek colic help to talk out their frustration. It is easy to become frustrated or feel detached during this period and it is essential that parents get some time away from the situation to recoup.
While some infant colic cases are treated with an anti-spasmodic drug found in anti-diarrhea medication called dicyclamine, other physicians say the “Five S” treatment is a more naturally effectual solution. With this remedy, Swaddle the colicky baby, place the baby on their side or stomach, make a “shhhh” sound in the baby’s ear and give the infant something to suck on, like a pacifier.
