Colic (cont.)
What can be done to help with colic?
First of all, remember you are not alone. This is a very common problem (up to 25%
of all babies suffer from colic). Discuss your concerns with your pediatrician
and talk to other parents or relatives who have had similar experiences. Also
keep in mind that colic generally occurs in big, healthy, active, vigorous
babies who are great eaters and who grow very well. Sickly, poor-feeding,
unhealthy babies or babies with significant underlying problems may well be
cranky, miserable, and unhappy; however, these infants tend to be this way most
of the time, whereas the baby with colic generally has episodes at a very
predictable ("set your clock by the beginning and end") time of the day.
Some suggestions:
- Do not overfeed! Stick to your baby's regular feeding
schedule of timing and amount of milk taken, as measured in ounces
in the bottle-fed baby or in minutes on the breast in the breastfed
baby.
- Breastfeeding mothers should avoid milk products ("you
don't have to drink milk to make milk"), caffeine, onions,
cabbage, beans, broccoli and other gas-producing, irritating foods.
Be sure that if your baby is taking juices, that they are very
diluted, or just offer plain water. If babies are really thirsty,
they will drink it.
- Avoid juices (young infants should not be drinking juice anyway).
- In the formula-fed baby, try a
completely low-allergy formula (for example, Nutramigen, Alimentum, or Pregestamil). It is worth the expense of a week's trial to see
if the formula is at all contributing to the colic.
- Take a break! When the
anxiety, fear, and tension get to be too much (or perhaps an hour
before!), try to have someone else watch the baby, even for
an hour, and leave the house. Try to keep a positive attitude.
- Try walking the baby in a front-pouch-style carrier with his
legs drawn up and pressure off of his belly.
- Though there is no clear evidence that physical stimulation helps, many parents swear by it. Some babies seem to be soothed by rhythmic, steady movements, like rocking gently or by sounds, like running the vacuum, or having the clothes drier within earshot. (Never leave a baby unattended near the drier, as there is a serious risk of injury.)
- Wrap the baby firmly in a comfortable blanket
("swaddling").
- Medications, such as simethicone, and other homeopathic treatments have not conclusively proven to be more effective than placebo (sugar pill) and should be avoided unless prescribed by your infant's medical provider. Levsin, an antispasmodic medication used to treat adults with various intestinal ailments, has been associated with serious side effects in young infants.
- Recently there have been some interesting results using certain probiotics (dietary supplements containing live bacteria or yeast and used to aid digestion). It is important to discuss these options with your provider prior to using them.
Next: What can the doctor do to help a colicky baby? What is the treatment for colic? »
- simethicone, Phazyme, Flatulex, Mylicon, Gas-X, Mylanta Gas - Emphasizes the medication simethicone (Phazyme, Flatulex, Mylicon, Gas-X, Mylanta Gas), a drug used to relieve abdominal pain.
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