Colic: Facing a baby’s most painful stage

It has been called nightmare but it can get even worse. A baby just won’t stop crying. And the most annoying thing about it is that it happens most at night, when we expect them to be tenderly asleep. Colic is every mother’s dreaded period in babyhood. Unfortunately, it is natural.It is probably the worst pain a baby can experience, usually manifested as an acute abdominal pain with intense spasmodic cramping. However, colicky babies cannot describe what they are going through, leaving parents at guessworks. The causes of colic are unknown but medics suspect that it’s presumed abdominal pain babies have that makes them cry agitatedly.According to Colic Calm, a neonate web site, while there are many theories about colic, there is no single consistent cause that experts all agree upon. The interactive chart on the right illustrates eight possible causes.“A lot of evidence suggests that colic may be caused in different ways in different babies. There appear to be several contributing factors that, when occurring in combination, are likely to result in colic pain and discomfort,” the web site says.How colic happensIt usually happens from the time babies are born to when they make one month but sometimes, in rare cases though, it can go on up to three months.Dr Stephen Musime, a paediatrician at King Faisal Hospital, Rwanda, said sometimes when babies are suckling the breast while feeding, they may swallow air which ends up causing them gas thus causing abdominal pain which leads to crying.The baby swallows air and gets gas in their intestinal tract.When babies are undergoing the colic stage, they in most cases cry in the evenings and can wail or scream two hours nonstop.One of the likely causes of colic is if the breastfeeding mother is taking cow milk, according to the paediatrician.Only 10 per cent of babies go through colic according to Dr Musime and however bizarre it might sound, most of the babies who go through this have parents from a medical background for reasons that still remain unknown. Digestive woes, perhaps due to intolerance of cow’s milk protein or lactose as Dr Musime confirms this too.Reflux or heartburn due to stomach acid and milk flowing back into the esophagus could also be another of the many likely causes of colic.According to online sources, some theories of the cause of colic include an immature digestive system in which the intestinal muscles are often in spasm, increased hormone levels that cause stomachaches or a fussy mood.Colic can also be caused by per-sensitivity to stimulation in the environment such as sound and light.An intense temperament in the newborn period or the immature nervous system can also be among the causes.Colic Calm web site says among the reasons researchers have advanced include: Digestion. Newborns have an immature digestive system that has never processed food. The gastrointestinal system is literally just learning to function. Muscles that support digestion have not developed the proper rhythm for moving food efficiently thought the digestive tract. Additionally, newborns lack the benevolent bacterial flora (probiotics) that develop over time to aid digestion. This explains why almost all infants outgrow colic within the first six months.Foods a mother eats. Certain foods eaten by lactating mothers contain volatile chemicals and allergens that in a small percentage of infants result in colic discomfort and digestive upset. Through lactation, trace elements of cruciferous vegetables and other gas-producing foods may be passed via breast milk to baby and cause gas and bloating.Bloating. Infants often swallow air while feeding or during strenuous crying, which increases gas and bloating, further adding to their discomfort.How to deal with colicWhen a baby is going through colic, ensure you burp them every time they are done with feeding, advises Dr Musime.When they continue to cry hysterically, carry them on the back and just move around with them for some minutes until they calm down and stop crying.In order to sidetrack them as well, one can play some soft music just to distract them and have their attention focused on something else other than whatever is causing them to cry.Dr Musime also advises that the use of gripe water as a remedy should be the last resort when babies just won’t stop crying.He, however, adds that gripe water should be administered under prescription and advice of a medical doctor, preferably a paediatrician.“Sometimes babies cry nonstop when having other pains and illnesses such as umbilical pain, nasal congestion or any other illness. So if the baby yells a lot and seems to be experiencing intense pain, then go check with your Pediatrician right away to rule out the cause of the out of control crying,” Dr Musime added.The paediatrician also said colic usually happens for babies three months and below therefore if a baby starts crying too much when they are past three months, then the parents should take the baby to a paediatrician. -------------------------------------------- Guide to Soothing Your Crying Baby1. Swaddling. Being swaddled might feel like being straitjacketed, but to a crying and fussy baby, swaddling feels like the cramped, familiar and comforting womb. One of the biggest questions parents have when it comes to swaddling is: “How tight?” Answer: Snug enough so he can’t wriggle his arms and legs free and flail.2. Shifting positions. If you’ve been cradling your colicky baby face-up and it isn’t helping, try another position. Holding your baby facing down–with your hand under her belly and her head on your forearm–may soothe her. The pressure on her tummy can help relieve uncomfortable gas.3. White Noise. Try recreating the soothing womb environment with white noise. Turn on a fan, put the bassinet near the dishwasher, run the vacuum, or tune a radio to static to provide constant, low-level sound.4. Pacify baby. Infants have a powerful sucking instinct, so see if a pacifier calms your colicky baby. Bonus: Studies have found that pacifiers may help prevent sudden infant death syndrome.5. Shhhh! Shushing directly in the ear of your colicky baby may really calm him down. Although you may begin by shushing gently and calmly, experts say don’t be timid. Shush loudly so your baby can hear you over his own crying.6. Take a ride. Babies in the womb get used to a lot of motion. Mimic that by keeping your baby moving to get her to sleep. Put her in a swing. Cradle her in a rocking chair. Driving your colicky baby around in the car might work too.8. Baby massage. Apply the soothing power of your own touch on a colicky baby. Many babies love skin-to-skin contact. Studies show that babies who are massaged cry less and sleep better. Just use slow, firm strokes over her legs, arms, back, chest and face.9. Wearing baby. In many cultures, infants spend much of the day hanging in slings on their mothers’ backs or chests. When you put your colicky baby in a sling or carrier, he gets to snuggle close. –webmd.com