Breastfeeding And Colic

Is your baby breastfeeding and colic?

Colic is when a baby cries allot and has periods of fussiness caused through intestinal cramping which causes pain. Many people believe that certain milks or certain foods eaten by a breastfeeding mom are the main culprit, but there are many other things that can cause infant colic.

Colic babies should still be gaining weight and be quite healthy, otherwise there might be something else wrong with them.

Many people think that only formula fed babies get colic but this is not true, breastfed babies can become colic too.

What causes colic ?

Remember that not all babies are the same…mom should try some of the following so that she can eliminate her baby’s specific colic and breastfeeding problems

- Mom should let baby finish one breast before offering the other one. Breast milk at the back of the breast “hind milk” is much more substantial and contains more fats than the “fore milk” If baby is drinking only the “foremilk” it can cause him to become uncomfortable because he will need to drink greater quantities to become satisfied. Baby will start to spit up more, have more gas, have runny stools and may cry allot also

- Acid reflux can be confused with colic sometimes. If baby is spitting up allot it could be a sign of reflux... read more on breastfeeding a baby with acid reflux

- It can be caused through something in your diet. Here are the breastfeeding foods to avoid. As soon as mom removes the specific colic causing foods, the colic should subside.

- Cows milk can cause colic in baby too if given to baby before he's digestive tract has matured. Breastfeeding moms should avoid eating anything that has a label with Lactoglobulin, casein, lactalbumin, sodium casienate and whey. Things that may also contain these milk products are; cakes, cookies, chocolate, butter, cheese and sausage.

Read more on breastfeeding and food allergies

- An overactive let down can cause colic. Moms milk is spraying into baby’s mouth too quickly and baby may spit up or choke while breastfeeding. The overactive let down can cause baby to swallow air which is the main culprit resulting in tummy cramps.

Moms that have an overactive let down can lay down while breastfeeding so that the excess milk can run down the side of baby’s mouth. Expressing some milk before breastfeeding can also help decrease the force of the letdown.

- Smoking causes colic... read more on smoking and breastfeeding

- Large consumption of caffeine products like coffee can cause colic, read more on caffeine and breastfeeding

- Moms could sometimes be confusing colic with normal growth spurts... read more on this here

Things you can do “colic remedies”

- Don’t time feedings, feed baby when he is hungry and always let him empty one breast before offering the next. If baby is full after the first breast you can pump the other one to prevent engorgement etc. - The next time mom breastfeeds she should offer the other breast.

- Express milk before a feeding, this will lessen the amount of foremilk baby drinks before he gets to the hind milk

- Most babies that have colic are easily consoled if they are rocked, walked around with or even taken for a drive in a car.

- Infants gas drops - To treat colic the enzyme lactase can be given to baby in the form of colic drops before each feeding, which relieves colic symptoms by metabolizing lactose.

- To stop colic and to prevent colic mom can take pancreatic enzymes at each meal which will break down milk proteins so that they do not appear in her breast milk.

- Moms should always feed colic infants before they become too hungry, as this will get them drinking more calmly

- Moms should burp colicky babies more often as to get most of the air out that causes the cramps

- Babies with colic can be calmed by wearing them in a special baby sling, as the movement has been found to relieve pain

- Hold baby upright for at least 20 minutes after a feeding for baby colic relief

- Boiron cocyntal liquid is a “colic syrup” that is a homeopathic medicine that relieves colic gas pain and irritability.

symptoms of colic and signs of colic pain

- Baby extends his legs while crying

- A well known colic symptom is when baby is very flatulent (gassy)

- Baby doesn’t want to be consoled and cries uncontrollably for no apparent reason

- Crying bouts are usually in the evenings

- A colic Baby is constantly clenching his fists

- Hard stomach baby

- Babies spitting up

Moms should keep in mind that baby colic usually only lasts for about three months, and will continue whether baby is fed breast milk or formula. Mom should try hang in there, it will be worth it in the end when baby is over the colic, and you are still breastfeeding. A colic breastfeeding newborn can cause allot of stress for mom and dad, they should just remember that breastfeeding and colic doesn’t last long.

Breastfeeding and colic - Treatment for colic

Other pages on “breastfeeding problems” in connection with breastfeeding colic

- Breastfeeding a baby with lactose intolerance

- Breastfeeding diet guidelines

- Baby poop - Whats normal

- Understanding why babies cry

- Growth spurts in breastfed babies

- Baby massage

- Burping baby