Crying infant is not always colic

Most parents expect for their newborn to cry at certain times during the first few weeks to months of life outside of the womb. But many parents are blessed with a baby who cries much more than others, some to the point where it is greatly impeding the health and sanity of the parents.

Upon looking for an answer from their pediatrician, many parents are given a one-size-fits-all answer: the baby has colic. In fact, Dr. William Sears, a well-known pediatrician and child expert, has admitted that even a few of his colleagues have offered colic as a diagnosis to distraught parents when they weren’t quite sure why a baby was so irritable. But the term “colic” is often misused and largely not a five-letter substitute for “I don’t know what is wrong.” And it could be preventing a parent from discovering the root cause of their infant’s trouble.

Signs of colic

Although colic, which comes from the Greek word kolikos, meaning “suffering in the colon,” is largely a mystery to doctors and parents alike, most understand that it has to do with stomach pain. Many pediatricians follow the “Rule of Threes” when diagnosing the condition. Infants should have extreme crying fits that:

? start in the first 3 weeks of life

? last for 3 or more hours per day

? occur 3 or more days per week

? continue for at least 3 weeks since birth

? very rarely occur longer than 3 months

Colic should not be used to categorize a baby who is just high-need or fussy. Colic cries are truly cries of pain. While some fussy babies may quiet after being held or comforted, typically nothing satiates a colicky baby.

In order to get to the bottom of the colic situation, it is important for parents to make a diary of what triggers these crying jags in their baby, since the baby himself cannot verbalize what is paining him. Do they occur at the same time each day? Does a particular food or feeding style exacerbate the problem? If you are breast feeding, do the episodes of colic change depending upon what you have eaten? Are the baby’s bowel movements consistent?

When it could be more

Dietary factors are often a part of colic. Sometimes an infant is allergic or just intolerant to something that is being consumed by a breast feeding mother or elements of infant formula. Changes in diet may be one of the first steps a doctor will offer to help quiet a colicky baby. Other techniques include smaller, more frequent feedings and holding or rocking techniques to break up excessive gas trapped in the baby’s intestines.

For some infants, the root cause of their pain is acid reflux, known as GER (Gastro Esophageal Reflux) or GERD (Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease). Just as adults experience moments of heartburn or stomach aches from food, so, too, do babies. However, in many cases, the suspect cause is an immature LES (Lower Esophageal Sphincter), which is the muscle between the stomach and esophagus. This immaturity causes acid from the stomach to sneak back up into the baby’s throat and burn. In fact, many cases of colic are actually undiagnosed and untreated cases of reflux.

Babies who have GER typically exhibit some, if not all, of these symptoms:

? irritability and pain, particularly after eating

? gulping during feeding (the formula or breastmilk temporarily soothes the throat, so baby eats quickly, but soon the reflux begins anew)

? frequent or excessive spitting up or vomiting after feedings

? poor sleep habits with frequent waking when placed flat in the crib; prefers to sleep sitting up or on parent’s chest

? arching neck and back during or after eating

? frequent ear infections or sounds of sinus congestion

Infants who have GER typically outgrow the condition on their own, but it could take a few months. Many doctors prescribe medication and offer parents techniques to help soothe the baby. Here are some help scenarios:

? prescription drugs that limit the amount of acid production

? smaller, more frequent feedings

? hypoallergenic formulas that are more easily broken down by baby’s stomach, or cereal-thickened formulas that keep down the food

? keeping the infant elevated for 20 to 30 minutes post-feeding to limit reflux

? crib wedges to elevate the child while sleeping

For parents who have an infant who cries very frequently and are concerned about their child’s health, share your feelings with the child’s pediatrician to narrow down the causes. A good idea is to videotape the baby when he or she is most irritable so the doctor can truly determine if the cries are pain-induced. Some doctors may refer parents to a pediatric gastroenterologist to do more testing to rule out GER and other digestive problems.