How to Deal With Colic

By Jasna Cameron

Colic - the mere mention of it strikes terror into the heart of every new parent. All you can think of is the inconsolable wailing infant keeping you awake night after night. Colic is the heart-wrenching crying that will not cease, no matter what soothing techniques you come up with, from bouncing on a Pilates ball to driving around the block for the umpteenth time in the middle of the night.

Colic is not a physical disorder or disease, but what we are left with after all the other explanations for such behavior in an infant have been exhausted.

"It's not really a diagnosis; it's a behavioral observation," says Harvey Karp, M.D., writer of The Happiest Baby on the Block.

What is colic?

You will know that you have a colicky baby if they cry for more than three hours a day, more than three days a week, and longer than three weeks. Colicky babies are not your typical cranky babies who have their fussy moments at the worst times when you are exhausted at the end of the day. Instead, colicky babies cry incessantly, more than the average infant trying to communicate their hunger or discomfort. Other signs of colic include clenched fists, curled legs, arched backs, and red faces that usually accompany the baby's screams.

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, about one in every five babies has colic.

"Even though the symptoms of colic have been quite specifically defined, in terms of the amount, frequency, and period of crying, the causes are still not clear," says Barry Lester, Ph.D., Director of the Colic Clinic at the Brown University Center for Children at Women & Infants Hospital in Providence. 

Research suggests that colic may arise when babies suffer from overstimulation while adjusting to the busy world. Additionally, anxiety transference from an exhausted, stressed-out mom, postpartum depression, and chemical imbalances of melatonin and serotonin in the baby's brain may also contribute to the development of colic.

It is important to remember that colic goes away as fast as it appears. It usually begins about four weeks after birth and disappears at about four months. There are also no long-term effects on the child. Studies have shown no difference between colicky babies and their peers in temperament or intellectual and physical development.

How to cope with colic

Over and above the already mentioned ball bouncing and car ride soothing remedies, many doctors will suggest several non-medical approaches to deal with the crisis. Swings or vibrating seats and the white noise of a washing machine or dishwasher have been found to help relieve colic symptoms. The sensation and the monotonous sound can have powerful calming effects on the baby. Basics like tight swaddling and pacifiers also provide some comfort.

Does what a breastfeeding mother eats contribute to colic?

After eliminating all extraneous factors and trying every soothing technique, every breastfeeding mother's most common go-to for improving colic is to look at her diet.

There have been numerous reports by nursing mothers that specific foods have an adverse effect on their babies. Even though more research is needed, it is possible that some babies may have an allergic reaction or a significant intolerance of some common allergenic or even spicy ethnic foods. You may need to pay extra attention to how your baby reacts to you ingesting stimulants such as caffeine and chocolate and potentially allergenic foods such as dairy products and nuts. See below for more details:

• Dairy products: Lactose intolerance is quite common in babies, but it is also the most challenging food to eliminate. Not only because you may love cheese but because so much food on the shelf contains lactose without being classified as a dairy product. Watch out for bread, cereals, soups, deli meat, pancake mixes, candies, and cookies. These may all contain dairy.

• Grains and Nuts: Tree nut allergies are common, and most of us know how serious they can be. In the U.S., plain-language labeling on packaged foods is required for 18 different tree nuts, so it is easier to identify which foods may contain nuts.

• Caffeine-containing foods: If you indulge in coffee, tea, and chocolate binges regularly, your baby may become very irritable. Unfortunately, little ones' bodies cannot process it well, so only small doses are recommended.

• Other colic-causing foods to watch out for are spicy foods and gassy foods. If, after two hours of polishing off a delicious curry or tasty enchiladas or healthy vegetables like garlic, cabbage, broccoli, onions, cauliflower, and brussel sprouts, you nurse your baby, and it turns into a crying episode, you may want to eliminate these foods for a while.

Be alert for 24 hours after eating the problematic food and monitor the level of fussiness.

Conclusion

It is generally good to aim for a wide variety of healthy, nutritionally balanced food and lots of water to keep yourself strong and well hydrated during this testing time. In addition, you need vitamins, lean protein, and starch found in whole grain foods to give you the much-needed energy.

However, as mentioned above, if you notice that your baby reacts badly to particular foods that you may have eaten any time from 2 hours to 24 hours prior, it may be best to avoid them and substitute them with some other healthy ingredient.

And don't worry, colic too shall pass.

If you need support, contact us here at Leva; we would love to help you and your baby.