Colic is defined as benign, self-limiting, inconsolable crying in an otherwise healthy baby
CAUSES
The causes are still not completely understood. While colic will usually resolve on its own by the time your baby is three to five months old, it’s always important to seek medical advice as it can be extremely distressing for parents and may result in significant psychosocial consequences such as maternal depression and child abuse.
Signs of colic
“Fussing and crying are normal for infants, and a fussy baby doesn’t necessarily have colic,” Predictable crying episodes. A baby who has colic usually cries at the same time every day – either in the late afternoon or evening. Colic episodes may last from a few minutes, three hours or more on any given day.
- Inconsolable crying. Colic crying is intense, sounds distressed and is often high pitched. You will find it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to comfort your baby.
- Crying that occurs for no apparent reason. It’s normal for babies to cry, but this is usually a signal that your baby needs something such as food, a nappy change or even a cuddle. Crying that’s associated with colic occurs with no clear reason and attending to her usual needs does not console your baby.
- Posture changes. Curled up legs, clenched fists and tensed abdominal muscles are common during colic episodes.
Other potential causes of unrelenting crying need to be excluded, such as:
- Gastro-oesophageal reflux
- Food allergies or sensitivities to something in your diet if you breastfeed
- Discomfort, like being too hot or too cold
- Hunger or fatigue
- Pain due to injury
- Pain due to an illness.
Treating colic
At present, there is no cure for colic
Due to limited knowledge about the causes of colic, treatment is often hit or miss and there are a wide range of treatment options offered by medical professionals. According to Dr Adewuyi these include:
- Dietary modification: If you’re breastfeeding, you may be advised to avoid cow’s milk and dairy products, and to take adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals to see if this will improve your little one’s colic.
- Formulas: If your baby is bottle-fed, you may be advised to avoid giving your baby formulas that contain partially or extensively hydrolyzed whey or casein based-proteins.
- Probiotics: Some studies are reporting significant relief from colic symptoms by using the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri, especially in breastfed babies.
By Dr Adewuyi
