Colic

Crying loudly, often for two to three hours; bowel pains; pulling their feet up under their body and clenching their fists: all these could be a sign of colic.

What causes colic?

Between 10 and 15 per cent of all children get colic.

Doctors don't know precisely what causes this state. There are several theories, but doctors aren't agreed on a single cause or even on a course of treatment.

The most popular theory is that the child's intestines are working too hard, which causes them to get a sort of cramp or spasm.

Some doctors believe that colic occurs because the child's bowel movements may be too slow, so that air in the bowel makes the intestines expand, causing the pain.

Others believe that colic has something to do with eating too fast, eating too much, or swallowing too much air without burping.

There is also a theory that there is a connection between colic and whether or not the mother drinks cow's milk.

How can you know if your child has colic?

These are several signs of colic:

• colic can start within two to four weeks after birth and the child suffers from it for up to three months.

• the baby cries loudly, often for two to three hours and can't be comforted and calmed down.

• the baby often cries at roughly the same time and usually once or twice a day.

• the baby has bowel pains.

• the baby pulls their feet up under their body and clenches their fists.

• some babies' stomachs growl severely and they produce a lot of wind.

Remember, colic might not be the only cause of your child's discomfort. If a baby cries loudly all the time and cannot be comforted, a doctor should always be consulted before the parent decides their baby has colic.

Other diseases such as volvulus (when the stomach gets twisted), a twisted testicle, or other pain can also make the baby cry continually. If in doubt, always consult a general practitioner.

Can what the mother eats make the child's colic worse?

Some doctors consider that if the baby is breastfed and the mother eats food that can cause gas, this may cause colic or make it worse. Food and drinks that produce lots of gas include:

• orange juice

• vegetables, especially onions and cabbage

• fruit such as apples and plums

• spicy food

• products containing caffeine, such as chocolate, coffee and tea.

Experiment to find out what makes a difference to your child's colic. The best thing is to leave two days between each vary of diet so that you know exactly what makes your baby feel better or worse.

What can you do to help your child?

As nobody knows what exactly colic is, there is no fail-safe advice. But there are several helpful things that parents could try:

• many children with colic calm down if they are rocked either in a cradle, a rocking chair or on a parent's lap.
 
• some children feel better if they are carried in a sling on their parent's stomach. The body heat and movement may help.

• some children feel comforted when wrapped in a blanket or held tightly.
 
• gently massaging the baby's tummy has been discovered to help in some cases. Massage in a circle moving your hand from left to right. This is where the large intestine lies in the child's stomach and massaging in this direction will ease the pain by helping the child pass wind.

• some parents find their baby is calmed by a car ride.

• the baby can sometimes be soothed with music or monotonous sounds. It may help to sing to the child, which has the additional effect of helping to calm the parents too!

It may also help to:

• make the child drink milk slowly.

• make the child burp more often.

• sit the child straight while eating (if they are old enough).

• if your child drinks powdered milk, try a different product or brand.

Feel your way, and if in doubt, ask your health visitor.

How to cope

When a baby has colic, the life of the family is turned upside down. The parents find it extremely stressful and upsetting when their baby is crying for hours and cannot be comforted.

For first-time parents in particular, it can be a shock and a frustration to discover that your newborn baby is not the bundle of joy you were expecting. Parents may also feel guilty even though they are not the reason of their child's colic.

Always remember that the child is healthy and will outgrow the colic in a few months' time. Colic does not harm the development of the child. Children with colic are essentially very stimulated!

Parents should look after themselves, too, during the difficult periods. It may be needed for parents to take turns, so that one can rest while the other is awake. It may also be necessary to call on friends or family as support. It is better to ask for help than to wear yourself out utterly because of the challenge.

It may also help to talk to other parents who have experienced the same thing.

Always remember: colic is only temporary!