Colic In Babies

What Is Colic in Babies?

When the doctor told you that you have a baby with colic, you likely panicked. Your neighbor's horse was diagnosed with equine colic and died within the year! Your sister-in-law had biliary colic and needed a gallbladder removed, while your uncle suffered from renal colic as a result of kidney stones! However, there's good news about infant colic. What characterizes all forms of "colic" is a sharp, spasmodic pain that sometimes moves in waves of increasing intensity. Colic in babies is the least worrisome of all forms and is usually a natural phase of digestive woes that occurs with roughly 25% of all babies and persists for the first four months of the infant's life.

Dealing with a colic baby can be very stressful for new parents. It's hard to stomach the idea that there is simply nothing you can do. Suddenly, you feel like a scientist, scrambling for any new tactic or product that will soothe the colicky baby. Treating symptoms of colic depends upon the root problem, which is disputed and may vary from infant to infant. First of all, take note when your baby is shrieking. Is the baby crying mostly after a feeding? Try burping the baby or giving a light tummy and intestinal massage. If you are unsure of how to do this, then there are DVDs out on how to do it properly to facilitate effective waste movement.

Additionally, Colic Calm gripe water has been known to help ease colic pain in some babies. Colic gripe water provides the baby with a natural remedy composed of peppermint, fennel, aloe, lemon balm, ginger, chamomile and caraway. These homeopathic herbs have been used to treat digestive troubles for centuries and are perfectly safe for infants. If you suspect the baby may have trouble digesting lactose from the milk, then you can try a Lactase supplement, which is a natural substitution that will help the baby breakdown complex sugar. This has proven very effective as well.

If your baby is waking in the night and crying incessantly (as most babies do), then you can treat this colic in babies by adjusting some of the external components of the room. Try playing a CD at bedtime. Lullabies, baby heartbeats, waves or other monotonous, soothing sounds are best. Sometimes, even the sound of a washing machine can lull a colicky baby to sleep. Other babies respond well to movement, such as a car ride or an infant swing, as they are comforting and ease colic pain.

Luckily, colic in babies is not as serious as other types of colic. Babies are merely trying to adapt to their new environment and overcome the shock of being born. Some psychoanalysts suggest that crying is a natural expression of birth pain and that the baby is learning how to cope with feelings and sensations in a healthy manner, rather than simply repressing pain. Don't be afraid to let your baby "cry it out" sometimes when you know the infant has had all food and diaper needs met. Other times, you may want to try some of the products out on the market intended to help infants regulate their natural body processes.