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What Is Baby Colic?

What is Baby Colic?

Baby colic is a condition where a baby cries or screams frequently and for extended periods without any apparent reason at all. The condition usually appears within the first few months of the baby's life and will almost always immediately disappear as quickly as it had arrived at around the time the baby nears its eight months of existence in the outside world. Baby colic is more common in bottle-fed babies, but may also occur in breast-fed infants. The crying frequently happens during a specific time of the day which is often in the early evening.

Since the cause of infant colic has not yet been fully established as well as the amount of crying differs between babies, there is no general agreement on the definition of infant colic. But parents should bear in mind that it is just a condition that can pass away in time and not a disorder that may need immediate treatment. The only way to distinguish if the baby is colicky is by ruling out other causes of the crying. An accepted of thumb is if the baby cries intensely more than three days a week, for more than three hours on every bouts of crying, and for more than three weeks every month.

Although the actual cause of infant colic is not known as of the present, medical professionals have made some observations as to why the condition might be experienced by newborn infants. When born, babies may still have an immature digestive system that has never started on processing food.

The gastrointestinal system is literally just starting to learn its function. Digestive muscles may have not yet developed the proper rhythm for moving food efficiently through the digestive tract. This might cause frequent and uncomfortable stomach upsets in infants and might be able to explain why there is such a condition as infant colic and why almost all infants outgrow colic within the first six or seven months of life.

Another explanation for infant colic may involve the mother. There4 may be certain foods eaten by lactating mothers that may contain unsafe chemicals and allergens that can result in colic discomfort and digestive upset in babies.

Through lactation, trace elements of cruciferous vegetables and other gas producing foods may be passed on to the baby through the mother's breast milk and cause gas and bloating in the infant. Babies often swallow air while feeding or during crying, which might further increase gas and bloating and further adding some discomfort to the baby.

There is currently no generally-accepted medical treatment for infant colic. Medical professionals may take different approaches in trying to treat the condition. Many doctors believe that infant colic is currently untreatable, and is best left to normally run its course. What mothers can do is try to make the baby comfortable. Soothing measures, such as the use of pacifiers and gentle rocking can be effective in calming the baby during crying periods.

Some parents can take turns holding the baby upright which also seems to lessen the pain and crying of the infant. Certain homeopathic remedies can also be utilized as an excellent option for treating infant colic symptoms. Homeopathic treatment is considered safe and completely allergen-free with no known side effects. It will be up to the parent to consider such an alternative as long as they find it very effective in handling the colic symptoms.

Colic Baby What

According to my mother, it is what caused me to cry for the first year of my life. Of course, I have no recollection of the incident and plead innocent on charges of having deprived her and my father of one entire year of sleep!

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Colic is a catch-all term for uncontrollable crying in a baby that has no immediately known cause. There are many factors that can contribute to a colicky baby. Those factors can include problems in the digestive system, excessive gas, lactose intolerance can sometimes be a contributor. It could also be part of the baby's temperament. If the baby is highly sensitive to the environment, he or she may react to normal stimulation or changes by crying. Other environmental factors such as excessive smoking in the home may increase symptoms of colic. Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) can also cause excessive crying in some babies. My step-son had a miserable first year with excessive crying and the doctors discovered a hiatal hernia was causing him extreme pain and discomfort. That was 28 years ago. Now days doctors know to check for hernias and other causes such as reflux, both of which can be corrected with surgery and/or other treatments.

Rather off topic, but... Vincenzo - reportedly I was an ornery and temperamental baby also. Perhaps that is why we have such sweet dispositions today (we got it all out as babies)

Colic Baby What

I find it funny we are getting back to what items my grandmother warned my mom about. Doctors for a bit well were too dependent on technology and forgot common sense. A baby only cries because something is wrong so they need to find it. Could be mommy eating to many raw onions and very commonly a hernia.

I know of three children today with hernias and they are not getting treated because the parents and doctor are too silly to take it serious. I know two for sure have hernia in the groin you can see it and they are bad enough to keep the belly button pushed out. Granny says that is always a good indicator with the crying, she raised 12 of her own and helped with 42 grandchildren and 20 great grand children so I think she must have learned something in that time. Distention of any body part or hard lumps should not be dismissed if baby is crying.

Think of how we are born crunched through mommas little passage then poping back to normal size, not hard to see an injury happening. My son got neck injury and I treated it when he got bigger 12 months. You could feel a small lump under the back of the skull a chiropractor twice a week gently massaged it and today all is good.

Colic Baby What

I have found that many old women can give you great ways to treat a baby that has colic. Back in their time and even now they have seen many babies and cared for a lot of them as they grew up. I would take and adhere to the advice my aunts gave me on raising my daughters before even taking them to a doctor. They have grown to be fine young ladies.

What Is Baby Colic?

My mother thinks it was the formula that we were drinking. My sister had colic for the first year of her life as well and we drank the same formula. According to mom, when our eyes were opened we screamed for about one year and then one day, we just stopped. She said it was really close to the time we stopped drinking formula. Strangely enough, we liked coca-cola and still have our white teeth. For the third child, well he did have a hernia and had it treated. The last one was no problems at all.

What Baby Colic

I hate to say it but when you where young Vincenzo not many choices where out there for formula unlike today. To bad she did not try goats milk it is easier for baby to digest.

Just curious my mom was strongly encourage not to breast feed as was all mothers in around that time. So say 1960 to 1970. Has any other heard the similar thing not just one but a whole area of doctors saying that?

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Colic is such a difficult thing to define! Most people think it's gas; some say teething, but colic is usually at a much earlier age than teething.

Breastfeeding is certainly a better way to feed babies, but as you say, in the 1950s and 1960s it was discouraged and even socially unacceptable to nurse one's babies. How ridiculous!

Also, breastfeeding is not a cure for colic. Colicky babies have been around for hundreds of years, way before formula was ever invented. And if mom is eating something that doesn't agree with the baby, look out! My poor son couldn't tolerate chocolate and it took several episodes of horrible gas and a screaming child before I figured it out. Poor little guy! (Poor me! No Chocolate for 4 years!)