Are There Any Remedies for Infant Colic
Infant colic is when a baby cries for more than three hours at one time, more than three days per week, for more than three weeks straight. New parents may feel alarmed, but it is not as serious as it sounds. Although physicians differ over the exact cause of this frustrating condition, they generally agree that there are certain remedies that might soothe the colicky baby.
Even though it is only a hypothesis, it is thought that gas in the intestines and stomach becomes trapped which may explain the cause of newborn baby colic. The baby experiences sharp pain shortly after feeding because they are unable to breakdown the milk sugar content properly, and consequently experiences painful stomach acids and a bloated feeling. Additionally, swallowing too much air during feeding may add to the general discomfort that the infant feels. For these infants, it is advocated that a homeopathic remedy such as Colic Calm gripe water be used for infant colic treatment. Colic Calm is a homeopathic blend of chamomile, fennel, caraway, peppermint, ginger, aloe, lemon balm, blackthorn and vegetable charcoal. As well as offering calming relief for baby, the natural ingredients also encourage the body’s digestive processes. Likewise, a colon massage or burping the baby might help relieve the symptoms as well.
Another possibility for the root cause of baby colic is the deficiency of gut flora, which are the healthy micro-organisms that help in digestion. Upwards Of one thousand species of gut flora, live in the stomach of the average human body. Babies have been found to lack the microorganism that assists in milk sugar breakdown specifically, which can be a big problem considering a baby’s early diet consists of milk. In such cases, probiotics like Lactase or a Lactobacillus acidophilus supplement can help restore that deficiency.
It has additionally been suggested, although not clinically verified, that colic and gas in babies can result from the baby having a sensitive disposition along with a nervous system that has trouble processing all the lights and sounds of their new surroundings. For these babies, minimizing outside distractions can treat symptoms of infant colic. For instance, play a special baby heartbeat CD to lull the baby to sleep. As an alternative, lullaby songs, washing machines, a car ride or an infant swing have been known to relax colicky babies to sleep and prevent frequent awakenings throughout the night.
Infant colic is a murky area with many hypotheses. No one cure has been verified 100% effective. To guess what your baby’s trouble is, parents should take into account what time of day the baby is crying and endeavor to determine if it is connected to feeding times. If the crying persists longer than three days per week, is accompanied by a fever or diarrhea, or if the baby writhes in pain, then check with a physician to be sure it is nothing serious.
