What are the causes of colic?

In the early weeks, colic symptoms are often mild and may not appear serious. General restlessness, moaning and groaning, some cramps and short bouts of crying are the norm. As time progresses, baby will show more pronounced signs of distress. Although discomfort is most commonly from the digestive system, there are other issues to consider.

Gas and wind related colic

Upper digestive tract - stomach

Babies swallow gas when they feed. if this gas does not get released (burped up), discomfort and indigestion can follow. At first, this occurs soon after feeds. but if it continues, winds pass through the intestines leading to further bloating, cramps and reflux. In our learning center, I teach a kick-start routine of six 'active' burping techniques that get the deeper burps to release. the routine takes 6-7 minutes and should be done after and before feeding for a week. almost all babies will start to burp well if you do this.

Lower digestive tract - intestinal

The most common cause of colic symptoms is an excessive amount of gas in the baby’s colon and intestinal tract. The classic colic symptoms are bloating, cramping, moaning and groaning, pushing and straining. Reflux often starts because the milk is not flowing through the digestive tract as fast as it should. In our learning center, I show you some very specific points to mobilize the most common sites of trapped gas.

Food related colic

Moms diet can upset baby

Although this is relatively uncommon, there are instances when something in mom's diet may not be well tolerated by baby's immature digestive tract. most times this is imagined by mom but if you suspect there is a link, an exclusion diet should be tried by mom. most likely to have an effect would be dairy foods, alcohol, spicy foods and cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, broccoli, etc.)

Enzyme related colic

Baby can't digest properly

Some babies may not tolerate and digest certain types of formula. There are certain clues to look for and you may need to switch to a different type. ​ In some cases, baby does not have the correct balance of good and bad bacteria in their gut (anti-biotic induced?). In these cases, probiotic supplements may help. This is unlikely in breastfed babies. ​ Breast milk contains both foremilk and hindmilk. The foremilk, which comes first, contains more sugars like lactose, while the hindmilk is richer in fat. Some experts believe that too much foremilk may result in a relative lactose overload. This may contribute to gas or fussiness in babies. Try empty each breast before moving on to the next. ​