Colic

 Colic (also known as infant colic, three-month colic, infantile colic and colic)  occurs in both breast and bottle fed babies. The crying frequently occurs during a specific period of the day, often in the early evening, but can vary from day to day. The baby tends to pull its legs up to its stomach while crying inconsolably.

Having ruled out other causes of crying, a common rule of thumb is to consider a baby ‘colicky’ if he or she cries intensely more than three days a week, for more than three hours, for more than three weeks in a month.

In some babies colic is caused by lactose intolerance so that the baby is unable to adequately digest breast milk or formula. Avoiding dairy products in the mother’s diet if breast feeding may help or using a low lactose formula if bottle fed. There is some evidence to support the administration of probiotics to improve the babies gut flora and thus aid digestion.

A Caesarean-section baby can also be stressed due to the sudden delivery of the baby without the slow moulding process through the birth canal which the baby’s body is designed to cope with.

Osteopathic treatment helps to remove the stresses and tension in the baby’s body which may be sensitizing the baby’s nervous system and gut and also making it difficult for the baby to relax enough to pass wind which is causing the gut distension and pain.

We will also give advice on breast feeding issues that can be related to colic - in particular fast milk flow.