What
is it?
Acute abdominal pain probably
caused by abnormal bowel functions and wind.
What
to look for
Colic is thought to occur when
the bowel in a baby contracts more regularly than an adult’s slower peristaltic
movements. It is characterised by:
·
loud
screaming lasting for hours, three or more days a week and the baby is usually
difficult to comfort.
·
Crying for
long periods after a baby has been fed.
·
while crying,
the baby draws his knees up over his stomach as if he has a stomach ache.
·
bowel
movement or wind at the beginning or end of crying episodes
It is very common for children to experience colic and although uncomfortable for the child and exhausting for the parents it is a relatively harmless condition that ends after the child is 4 months old.
Causes
The cause of colic is not known. Experts attribute it to any number of things, including an infant's immature digestive system, weaning the child too early, allergies, hormones in breast milk, and overfeeding. It is worsened when the baby cries as he or she takes in extra air which can exacerbate the problem.
Traditional
Treatment
There is no actual cure for
colic, although you can often find relief from many at-home remedies have
proved helpful in soothing colicky babies. Always try to be calm and curb your
anxiousness as this can inadvertently be communicated to your child and it will
make the condition worse.
Do not ever punish a child with
colic. If you feel you cannot cope, leave someone else with the child for a few
moments while you relax calm yourself.
If you suspect your child has
colic, call your paediatrician. After ruling out possible medical causes of
prolonged crying, most doctors recommend simple remedies you can perform at
home.
Some encourage parents to talk with other parents for support. Give the baby something safe to suck, this will distract them from the pain. Also rhythmic rocking or walking with the baby is soothing.
Alternative/Natural
Treatments
Herbal Remedies -
Teas made with herbs containing carminative oils, which reduce inflammation
in the bowels and lessen gas production, may help a colicky child.
(Try teas made of chamomile, lemon balm, peppermint, or dill).
Homoeopathy - Homoeopathic
medicine offers several over-the-counter colic remedies that are considered
safe to use without prior consultation with a Homoeopath. Seek help from a
professional if your child does not respond to a remedy within 24 hours.
Aromatherapy -
Try massaging your child’s stomach with chamomile or peppermint in a clockwise direction.
Never give aromatherapy oils to children younger than 2 weeks. (see our section on
aromatherapy).
At-Home Remedies -
-Be
consistent with the ways in which you pacify the child
-Give your baby things to distract him or her.
-Motion can relieve colic. So take them for a walk, or drive
or gently rock them.
-White noise may soothe your child.
-Wrap the child snugly in a blanket to provide a sense of
security and comfort.
-Use a warm water bottle to sooth the pain
-Ask a relative or friend to take over when you feel yourself getting frustrated or exhausted.
When
to seek further professional advice
-your
baby has never had colic before
-bouts of colic are accompanied by fever, diarrhoea,
vomiting, or constipation.
-your baby's crying sounds painful, not fussy - indicating
injury or illness is causing the distress.
-your baby is older than three months and still acting
colicky; behavioural problems or illness may be the cause.
-your colicky child fails to gain weight and is not hungry,
which suggests illness.
-you're exhausted or fear stress might lead you to hurt your
baby.