Colic

Colic is a self limiting condition in which an otherwise healthy baby cries inconsolably for several hours at a time. No one can say with certainty what causes colic, but about 10 percent of all infants develop it. The prolonged crying usually begins a few days after birth, tapers off at two months, and comes to an end at about three months. Crying episodes occur most commonly in the early evening, but they may also take place at other times of the day. Between periods of crying, a colicky baby is completely normal. One current theory is that colicky babies have immature nervous systems that arencapable of tuning out the stimuli that overwhelm them. This supersensitivity seems to be corrected as their physiological development catches up and can process the environmental overload.

Diagnostic Studies And Procedures

Before deciding that a baby is colicky, other causes for the crying should be ruled out. An allergic reaction to milk in any form whether breast milk or formula should be investigated, especially if the crying is accompanied by diarrhea or excessive gassiness .A doctor should be consulted if the crying turns into screams of pain; if it goes on for more than three hours and especially if the crying occurs after a fall or other injury. Extended periods of fussy crying that begin after the baby is four weeks old do not represent colic, and a doctor should be consulted to find the cause.

Medical Treatments

After physical causes for the crying are ruled out, medical treatment of colic is not needed. In the past, sedating colicky babies with phenobarbital and similar drugs was sometimes recommended, but these drugs are no longer used for this purpose because they are constipating and potentially addictive. However, tranquilizers and/or sleeping pills may be prescribed for a mother who has become emotionally and physically exhausted. A doctor may also recommend counseling for mothers and other family members, especially when the colicky infant is a first-born child. Older siblings who feel neglected and angry should also be encouraged to talk honestly to a professional counselor about their mixed emotions. Counseling can be especially important for a parent who is increasingly enraged by the demands of a colicky baby because these circumstances can lead to child abuse, often with tragic consequences.

Alternative Therapies

Acupressure

For a colicky infant, applying pressure to the web of skin between the thumb and forefinger may bring relief, as may a gentle massage to the center of the abdomen about two inches above the navel.

Herbal medicine

Grippe water, which is infused with dill seed, is commonly used to treat colicky infants in Europe and Canada. Chamomile and fennel may also be helpful. Check with a pediatrician, though, before giving an infant any herbal remedy.

Meditation and Yoga

An overburdened mother may benefit from these relaxation techniques, which can help her to achieve a state of calmness and emotional stability. Breathing exercises to overcome anxiety and tension can be practiced even while rocking the baby.

Nutrition Therapy

A mother who is breast feeding should try to eliminate caffeine and such gas-producing foods as onions, cucumbers, cabbage, and legumes from her diet.

Self Treatment

Caring for a colicky baby is a stressful responsibility. One of the best things a mother can do to help herself cope with the situation is to set aside a little time, even if it's only a few minutes each day, for a relaxing or pleasurable activity. Above all, be patient. All babies out ­ grow colic eventually, usually by their second or third month. In the mean time, here are some ways to comfort a colicky baby:

• Rock the baby in a cradle or your arms or sit with her in a rocking chair.
• Keep the baby next to you in an infant sling or carrier whenever possible.
• Whisper loving words, hum softly, or sing soothing lullabies.
• Try an outing in the stroller or automobile. Often the motion of a brief ride in the car does the trick. In fact, there is a new FDA approved gadget called Sleep Tight , which can be attached under a crib, that simulates the sound and motion of a car.
• Ease the baby into sleep. After a warm bath and a gentle massage, put the baby in the crib, reduce all stimuli to a minimum, and turn off the light. Promote sleep at night by interrupting a daytime nap that lasts for more than three hours. Wake and feed the baby, and then amuse him for a while before the bedtime feeding.
• Swaddling often helps; try wrapping the baby firmly in a light blanket.
• Set up orderly rituals for feeding, bathing, outing, and bedtime, and try not to vary them. Keep excitement, visitors, noise, and disorder at a minimum, especially during the late after noon and evening.

Other Causes of Crying

Although colic is the most common cause of prolonged infant crying, other possible causes include a mother's drug or alcohol dependency during her pregancy, allergy to formula or breast milk, malabsorption and other intestinal problems, and autism.