Colic is difficult to define initially. It usually presents with uncontrollable crying which could be related or unrelated to feeds.
Most people say their baby has colic when he/she has indigestion or trapped wind. Before the diagnosis is made one must first eliminate all other causes of the continuous crying.
If the mother is breastfeeding it could be due to something she is eating. If bottled milk is given, it could also be sensitivity to one of the ingredients of the bottled milk. Also check to ascertain whether baby may be hungry and needs more milk.
Make sure that you have checked possible causes which you can influence and rectify.
Colic usually starts at round about 3 months of age and normally dissipates by six months. Sometimes it continues much longer, but that is not the norm.
A doctor can prescribe treatment and all the usual methods of relieving the discomfort should be employed in conjunction with the prescribed medicine.
Very effective colic medication is also available over the counter at a pharmacy. The Pharmacist is trained to advise when needed. Help is always available at the local clinic.
In most cases the problem is successfully handled with the right intervention.
Don’t allow this discomfort to continue without help. Get advice to sort out the problem before the resultant tension in the home reaches gigantic proportions.
Teresa Denton (1941 – 2014)
Teresa was a community health nurse in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg, South Africa. She loved her baby clinics and sharing her knowledge in-person and in her writing.
