Colic is often a symptom of infants and babies who have feeding problems. Even though colic is not serious, it is more distressing for both the child as well as parents. In babies it is common during first six months and worst in evening. The pain is gripey and sudden. Child may wake up at night because of sudden abdominal pain.
Colic in babies and infants frequently occurs because their gut is not fully developed. It still has to establish its own rhythm. The child once begins to cry is unmanageable and stops crying only when he becomes tired and exhausted.
Certain infants seem to be peculiarly susceptible to colic. The cause of recurrent attacks is usually not apparent, although it may be associated with hunger.
- Air that is swallowed during crying may cause abdominal spasm or pain.
- Fatigue or child’s frustration of not being able to interact with the environment maybe the other cause of Colic.
- Overfeeding may also cause discomfort and distension.
- Certain foods, especially those of high carbohydrate content may be responsible for excessive fermentation in the intestine and produce colicky attacks.
- An obstruction in the intestine or intestinal infection.
Symptoms Of Colic In Infants
- Screaming or crying maybe accompanied by clenched fists, tense abdomen, rumbling in the stomach and legs are drawn up on the abdomen.
- The feet are often cold.
- Healthy infants cry persistently and inconsolably. Crying is loud and more or less continuous. Paroxysms may persist for several hours.
- Usually during the late afternoon or early evening the crying may start suddenly continue for several hours or through the night?
- Crying may be temporarily halted by bowel movement or passage of gas.
- The child may try to suck breast, pacifier or bottle hungrily, but after taking it into the mouth it immediately refuses it, and resumes crying.
- The face appears flushed.
Home Remedies For Colic Relief In Babies
- While feeding mother should position her child in semi upright posture. She should hold her child in upright position for 10 minutes after each feed. This will allow the child to burp.
- Infants may become more irritated if parents are upset, so maintain your calm.
- Massage the baby’s stomach in most gentle manner.
- Try warm baths, swaddle the baby in soft blanket or use a warm heating pad or a hot water bottle to place on the baby’s stomach.
- Distract the baby’s attention by playing soft music, take the baby for a ride in the car and give the baby a pacifier. Besides fondle, gently rock or talk with your infant, for that feeling of supportive reassurance.
- Carminatives are sometimes effective for infantile colic.
- Underfeeding should be avoided.
- Nursing mother should drink cumin seed water or fennel seed water. The baby finds relief from gas problem.
- Nursing mother should try to eat garlic and ginger in her regular food. They are natural remedy for relief in gas. The beneficial properties may pass from mother to the infant.
- During the nursing period, she should avoid certain gas forming foods such as nuts, pulses, milk, dairy and soy foods for two weeks.
- Applying paste prepared from asafetida over the abdomen is beneficial in relieving infant colic.
- Mint has antispasmodic properties. It helps to reduce intestinal spasms. Feed mint tea to the infant. It should be mildly warm. Nursing mother should also drink a cup of mint tea.