Coping with Colic

Colic is not usually one of the topics covered in ante natal classes and it’s not really something people tend to bring up in conversion either, so for parents it may come as a shock when your little one does get it. In this article we are going to be looking at what colic is, the signs to look out for and how to cope when your little one has it.  

Babies cry, sometimes a lot, yet nothing quite prepares you for the experience of a regularly crying baby, but at least there’s usually something you can do to help soothe them, unless of course they have colic. Colic generally occurs in very young babes, sometimes right from birth itself and it can result in a baby crying for hours, unable to be consoled. The crying will appear more like a high pitched wailing that’s impossible to ignore or escape from and it can carry on night after night. For new parents this can be something of a shock and it can begin to become incredibly stressful and put a great strain on you and your partners relationship. So how are you going to deal with your distressed little one?

Firstly, colic isn’t dangerous and there is no need to worry unduly about the welfare of your baby. It’s common enough for it to be considered perfectly normal. Secondly, the colic your baby has will not last forever. Although it may feel like it will, babies simply grow out of colic fairly quickly, usually by the time they reach three months old.

As a concerned parent you’ll probably be worried about what colic is and you may come across some literature on the subject but more often than not this can be a little confusing. The general cause of colic is due to the initial growth and development of a newborn baby’s digestive system as they move from feeding through the umbilical cord to feeding more normally. Trapped wind is generally thought to exacerbate the symptoms, but this is not entirely to blame.

The symptoms of colic is very much like trapped wind, usually a painful cry following feeding and more commonly in the evening. The cry is often higher pitched than normal crying and it is also very hard, if almost impossible to calm them down and stop them from crying. 

There a few things which can be done when your baby has colic, such as using colic bottles and colic teats when feeding your baby. These do work for many people and they have been designed in such a way that much less air is taken down while feeding and less trapped air means that the colic symptoms are less noticeable. It’s also worth applying gentle pressure on your baby’s tummy and the best way of doing this is to sit him or her on your lap, place your arm across their tummy as they face away from you and then gently lean forwards. Do be prepared for a little bit of sick sometimes! It may also be worth a try to feed at a different time of the night. You might try feeding them slightly earlier and then putting them straight into a warm bath afterwards to help soothe their tummy and give them something fun to experience to take their mind off any discomfort. 

 

                               There a few things which can be done when your baby has colic

Finally, a word of advice to parents who are worried and stressed, it’s also important that you look after yourself as you’ll be much better at being able to help calm your baby if you are relaxed.