A Little Information on Colic

Colic.  The mere mention of this word strikes terror into the hearts of new moms everywhere.  While it is extremely common, it is no less and tiring and upsetting experiences when it affects your newborn.  Reaching its peak after the first couple of months, relief is usually seen at 3 months.  It should subside completely at within four months.

Colic is just one of those things that affect some babies.  It is not something to be worried about and it is not dangerous, yet it can still be very upsetting to a new parent to hear there new baby scream to such a great extent.  After a few episodes the parents will become more comfortable with what is actually happening, but it can still be very upsetting to listen to.

Colic is essentially a stomach ache that will happen after eating.  The crying is due to this continuous pain and can last for several hours.  This pain can be quite severe and the intensity of the crying will reflect the discomfort the baby is experiencing.

During colic you may notice your baby's stomach become distended.  Your infant may clench his fists and the feet will become cold.  The baby's cheeks will also become flushed.  All of these reactions are normal and associated with stomach pain.

Colic may be hereditary, so if one or both parents suffered when they were babies that may offer a clue.  Colic can come on any time of the day and after any meal.  Not all babies suffer from colic and the ones that do differ in severity.

Some actions can worsen colic so pay careful attention to the following:

1. Be careful of overfeeding as this can worsen it.  When your baby is crying you want to make certain that it is in fact hunger and not simply suffering from colic, before feeding him more.
2. Foods high in sugar and undiluted just will increase stomach gas which will also worsen the condition.
3. Watch for food allergies.  These allergies can cause colic so you will want to be as aware as possible of what foods make your baby allergic.
4. Intense emotion can also impact colic.  Fear, anxiety, panic etc. can exacerbate the condition so any way you can keep you baby calm and relaxed will help.

Remember not all crying is colic so you still want to be diligent and aware of any other possible reasons for the crying.  Other than that try to remain calm and knowledgeable about what your baby is going through so that you can make the experience as least painful as is possible, for you and the baby.