Lily suffered from terrible colic as a baby and it was definitely the most challenging period for us as a family. Hopefully my experience and tips will help you to cope through this difficult period.
In most cases, colic only lasts for 3-4 months in a baby but it can be an incredibly difficult time to endure for the parents as you are left feeling helpless as your baby cries whilst there is little you can do to ease their discomfort. The most important thing to remember is to stay calm and be supportive - it can be a stressful time for parents! Colic is not harmful to your child and a lot more common than you may think (affecting 1 in 5 babies). It tends to begin when your child is about 3 weeks old but subsides in most babies by 3-4 months, or up to 6 months in extremely rare cases.
Further to the theory of trapped air within the digestive system causing this discomfort, we were advised to feed Lily upright to reduce the chances of her ingesting air when feeding. This seemed to help along with regular burping both during and after feeds.
In addition to this, we also used a combination of products called 'Colief Infact Drops' and 'Infacol' which together, seemed to subside Lily's colic the most. These were a regular purchase on our weekly shopping trips and definitely seemed to help. The Colief drops work by breaking down the lactose in the baby's milk to make it more easy to digest. Infacol works by tackling the smaller trapped air bubbles and allowing them to combine into bigger bubbles of air, which can then easily be brought up as wind (similar to gripe water except Infacol is suitable from birth).
If you have any more questions on colic that I might be able to help you with then please don't hesitate to leave a comment below! I know how hard it can be and am more than willing to call upon my experience with colic and impart any advice if it means helping out a fellow mummy in need.
For any further information on colic, please see the NHS Choices website.
Firstly, what is colic?
According to the NHS; "Colic is the medical term for excessive, frequent crying in a baby who appears to be otherwise healthy and well fed. It is a common yet poorly understood condition, affecting up to one in five babies."What causes colic?
The cause of colic is still unknown and has led to great speculation but unfortunately little supportive evidence. It is believed to be trapped air or an obstruction within the intestines which causes great discomfort and pain in the abdomen, believed further to be as a result of a temporary intolerance to lactose.In most cases, colic only lasts for 3-4 months in a baby but it can be an incredibly difficult time to endure for the parents as you are left feeling helpless as your baby cries whilst there is little you can do to ease their discomfort. The most important thing to remember is to stay calm and be supportive - it can be a stressful time for parents! Colic is not harmful to your child and a lot more common than you may think (affecting 1 in 5 babies). It tends to begin when your child is about 3 weeks old but subsides in most babies by 3-4 months, or up to 6 months in extremely rare cases.
What can I do to help?
We found that colic was most profound in the evenings at around 7pm which is typical for most babies at around late afternoon / early evening. A typical sign of colic and one that Lily tended to display a lot was pulling their legs up to the stomach. It was obvious that she was suffering severe discomfort and sometimes laying her on her front across my lap seemed to settle her down a bit so and provide a small amount of pressure but relief to her tummy. Also rubbing her tummy and plenty of warm baths definitely helped to manage her discomfort and in turn the intensity of her crying!Further to the theory of trapped air within the digestive system causing this discomfort, we were advised to feed Lily upright to reduce the chances of her ingesting air when feeding. This seemed to help along with regular burping both during and after feeds.
In addition to this, we also used a combination of products called 'Colief Infact Drops' and 'Infacol' which together, seemed to subside Lily's colic the most. These were a regular purchase on our weekly shopping trips and definitely seemed to help. The Colief drops work by breaking down the lactose in the baby's milk to make it more easy to digest. Infacol works by tackling the smaller trapped air bubbles and allowing them to combine into bigger bubbles of air, which can then easily be brought up as wind (similar to gripe water except Infacol is suitable from birth).
Do you have any tips?
Yes... don't be afraid to ask for help! Having a newborn is a very tiresome task, we all know this. But having a newborn which is also suffering from colic can be even worse. It is important to look after yourself as well; your baby isn't coming to any harm and it will pass. If you can get family or friends to help with the routine to give you and your partner some much needed rest once in a while then take my advice and please take advantage!If you have any more questions on colic that I might be able to help you with then please don't hesitate to leave a comment below! I know how hard it can be and am more than willing to call upon my experience with colic and impart any advice if it means helping out a fellow mummy in need.
For any further information on colic, please see the NHS Choices website.
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