Colic
Today we’re going to talk all about colic.
If you have an extremely fussy and crying baby, you may be familiar with the term colic. If not, keep reading…
What is colic?
The word "colic" is derived from the ancient Greek word for intestine (sharing the same root as the word "colon”) Where ancient greeks used to try and drug their babies with opiates to calm their babies down. So although colic picked up some momentum in the 50’s, it really dated back to ancient Greece, and colic is no new phenomenon. Colic is something that came to be looked at as a condition, something that needs to be treated or cured; but really colic is a symptom of something going on with your baby or a ‘crying period’, not a disease.
The term colic generally goes off the rule of 3’s and is defined when a baby’s crying persists for:
3 hours a day
3 days a week
3 weeks or more
Your infant may seem like he/she is in a lot of pain because of the intensity and duration of the crying plus the fact that nothing seems to soothe them. So if this sounds like your baby, don’t fret, this is all normal.
Is colic common?
one in five babies have what colic and yes, It’s normal for even healthy infants to be considered colicky or have a colicky period. But don’t worry, most babies who have colic get over it and grow to become normal, healthy infants.
How long does colic last?
Colic usually starts when babies are around 3 weeks old and often escalates between 4 and 6 weeks. It usually subsides and gets better at around the 6 week mark, but it can persist until 12 weeks or more (3-4 months).
The good news is that this will pass and is only temporary. I’m here today to bring you some good news about colic, and that news is that colic is temporary. Yes, I said it. It’s temporary and your baby will outgrow it eventually.
When this will happen I can’t tell you because every baby is so different and may be experiencing something totally different with colic, but for the most part, on average, babies outgrow color by 12-14 weeks (obviously sometimes later, sometimes sooner). So if you are in the thick of it, please please remember that this crying is considered ‘a period of crying’ because it has a beginning and an end and again, is TEMPORARY.
Should your infant’s crying not ease up, please contact your pediatrician so they can help you pinpoint any underlying medical issues and concerns.
What are the symptoms of colic?
Intense crying that sounds like screaming
It can look like your infant is in pain.
Crying for seemingly no reason at all
Extreme fussiness
Timing of crying is usually in the evening hours.
Flushed cheeks and face.
Body is tense including arms, legs and abdomen
Clenched fists and arched back
What are the causes of colic?
Till this day it’s not 100% known why babies have colic or what causes it but there are many agreed upon theories of contributing factors. And what does research say about colic? We’ll get into all of it this week.
The exact causes of colic are still an unknown mystery. Here are the most popular theories of contributing factors:
Immature and underdeveloped digestive system
Imbalance of healthy bacteria in the digestive tract
Food allergies or intolerances Overfeeding, underfeeding
Infrequent burping (or swallowing too much air)
Reflux & gas
Hunger
Family stress or anxiety
Overstimulation & over-tiredness
An infant's inability to calm himself down.
I just read a great book called ‘Colic Solved’, written by Dr. Bryan Vartabedian, a pediatric gastroenterologist who talks all about colic and how to solve your infant’s colic. He explains it’s relationship to reflux and feeding disorders and how you can treat and prevent it. it’s a great read, very informative and will give you all the information you need about colic. So I highly recommend.
In his book, Dr. Vartabedian discusses recent studies which show that 43% of infant colic also have feeding difficulties Including: Disorganized feeding, esophageal reflux (or GERD) and more. Colic and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are common causes of crying and fussiness in babies and more and more research suggests that there is a lot more going on with your colicky baby than just lots of crying.
Is there a treatment for colic?
Great question. While colic doesn’t necessarily have a treatment, per se, there are ways to help alleviate any discomfort associated with colic and hep your infant feel more comfortable.
If your infant is colicky due to gas or stomach pain then there are OTC medications you can give like Mylicon or Simethicone, which help break up excess gas and bubbles that often accumulate while feeding. It’s safe for infants and very effective, but always check with your pediatrician first to ensure the proper usage and dosage for your infant.
Pubmed published a study that was done on infants who received mylicon drops for the treatment of infant colic and here is what they found, “Symptoms of colic improved or resolved in 38 infants (78%) after one day of treatment and in 44 (86%) after seven days. On both days, caregivers also noted that the quality of family life was noticeably improved. Mylicon Drops, in a dose of 0.3 ml with each feeding, can cause improvement or complete resolution of the symptoms of infant colic…”
Other more natural alternatives would be trying gripe water or 'the ‘Frida Baby Windi’, a product made to help immediately relieve gas, constipation and discomfort for your infant. Some people swear by infant probiotics or going off dairy and soy if mom is breastfeeding, some just have luck changing their baby’s formula, and the list goes on. The bottom line is that there really isn’t any one known cure-all medication or thing that will ‘cure’ your infant from colic but there are things to significantly decrease and improve it.
How do I help my colicky baby?
Here are my top ten recommendations for helping calm and soothe your baby. People are usually successful when ruling out and trying all ten to find what works for their baby. Rarely do I find a baby who is not soothed with one of these techniques.
Reduce stimulation
Go outside for fresh air
Prevent over-tiredness and under tiredness by following an age-appropriate schedule
Offer a pre bed time feeding or cluster feed to prevent hunger if necessary.
Offer a warm bath
Distractions like a pacifier, a change of scenery, soft music, put them in a bouncy seat, change your baby’s position, etc…
Swaddle in a dark room for newborns
Skin to skin
Use motion
Ask for help.
I hope you guys have a better understanding of colic and what it is and how to deal with it. Please remember that this is a phase and it will pass. Hang in there, moms and dads, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, even if you can’t see it now.
