Digestive Enzymes

Colic is characterized by a pain in the abdomen and the stomach. Until now, medical experts and physicians are still trying to pinpoint just what causes the colic. They still can’t find the answer. Some believe that this is because of allergy while others think it is inborn. And because there is no specific cause, there is also no specific cure for the episode. Something that parents find unfortunate as colic episodes is not exactly a walk in the park.

Babies, when suffering from colic, will suddenly go into shouting matches that can destroy your eardrum. What is worse is that these crying and shouting episodes can last from one hour to as long as five hours, even the whole day, depending on the severity of the colic and the way parents handle the situation.

They will also become fussy and restless. Some parents tend to panic especially when this is the first time that they have seen their kids cry so loud and for so long. At one glance, they seem so inconsolable.

Colic happens to babies as young as three weeks old. This is the onset of the colic. For babies who are premature, colic can start at the sixth to eighth week after the supposed to be due-date.
Episodes will peak at the second month and will begin to wane at the third month. Often, colic episodes will cease by the end of the fourth month.

The reason why is still a mystery for scientists, who do not even know what starts the problem in the first place. There is really no exact profile on who can get colicky. It can happen to any baby, whether they are healthy or not. Some experts believe that people colic in infants can actually be genetic as parents who have had colic when they were babies will most likely produce an offspring who will also be afflicted with colic.

One of the most obvious signs of colic in babies is the crying episodes that will begin to become frequent and recurring. If the episodes happen at specific time or period of the day, usually after eating, colic may be the problem. Colic episodes can last for a few minutes to an hour and can happen many times a day. Crying will also start without any real reason unlike when they are hurt or hungry.

Parents should also observe the moment when they stop crying or when the crying episode cease. Often, crying will stop when they have passed gas or moved their bowels.
Another symptom in babies is their apparent restlessness. Because their stomach pains them, they will most likely draw their legs onto their stomachs and abdomens with their hands clenched. When you touch their abdominal muscles, they will be tense and hard. Babies also trash around and will appear to be in constant pain.

Babies suffering from colic will also have red cheeks, because of the exertion in crying and in keeping the pain in check.

Research shows that more than 20% of babies will develop Colic. This is not a disease or a disorder but parents will have to deal with the endless hours of crying until the newborn is four months of age.

Is there really a permanent solution for Colic? The answer is no. The best thing that a parent can do is remedy the situation until this will gradually go away as the infant gets older.

Here are some of those remedies.

1. Infants are used to having something in the mouth due to breastfeeding. Since the mother’s breasts cannot be there every time, using a pacifier can help the baby stay calm thus preventing excessive crying.

2. Watching the baby cry does not do anything. The parent must remedy the colic baby by taking it out of the crib and swaying it from side to side. Sometimes the sense of touch can do wonders making the infant know that he or she is safe. It will also be a good idea to sin g a lullaby that has been known to help the child drift again to sleep.

3. Another way to remedy a colic child will be to use a CD that plays light music. Studies have shown this works similar to how the mother sings a lullaby to the child.

4. The baby will get heavier as it gets older. Instead of carrying it in the arms, another remedy will by putting the infant in the carriage and going for a stroll. Some parents have taken the child for a ride in the car, which also helps calm the newborn.

5. Giving the baby a warm bath can also help. Since this can’t be done every time, the parent can put a warm bag on the belly or try massaging lotion instead. It will be a good idea to cover the pack with a towel since the temperature could be too much for the infant.

6. The type of food being eaten by the mother may also cause the child to be colic. Consulting with a dietitian help prevent this from happening as foods that produce gas are replaced with healthier ones.

If the situation does not change, this is the time that medication such as Simethicone drops should be used.

7. Some mothers stop breastfeeding after the 2nd month and change this with cow milk formula. Some babies are colic because of the formula so one way to remedy it will be to change this with a soy based formula.

8. Air is the root cause of some children being colic especially when the infant is now drinking from a bottle. The parent should check the hole of the nipple since a big hole makes the baby drink more than usual. If this happens, it will be a good idea to buy a new set of nipples.

A colic baby believe it or not is a healthy one. This is because the behavior it shows makes people aware of its existence and needs.

There will be times that the parents will get up late at night or early in the morning to address this but this can be remedied. Before one knows it, the excessive crying will not happen anymore as the infant has adjusted to the new environment.

Colic is one of the most common problems in babies during the first few months. The problem is so common that parents already know how to deal with it even before it occurs. Ways in dealing with colic have been passed on for generations through of mouth or through baby books and digests.

Colic is a problem that everybody seem to know but few can understand. In fact, up until now, scientists and medical experts still do not know what causes colic. All they seem to know is that it is characterized by a pain in the stomach and abdominal area; but where this problem roots from… well that’s something that they are still trying to determine.

Many believe that colic is genetic. This means that parents who suffered from colic when they were babies will also produce babies who will also have colic. Some put the blame on allergens that babies get from their food or from the breast milk that their mommies give them. Others think that colic is just gas that gets stuck inside the still developing systems of the baby.
Colic begins as early as three weeks of age. For premature babies, onset will be a little later because their bodies have not yet developed. Colic episodes will peak at around second month of age and will begin to decline on the third month. Often, episodes will cease during the fourth month of the baby.

Colic symptoms are so obvious that it is impossible for parents miss them. In fact, some sings are so “in-your-face” that parents sometimes tend to panic because of fear that something more major is happening. Colic is actually not a serious problem in babies. Unlike in horses when it is considered to be an emergency and matter of life and death, colic in babies will just cease on their own. Of course, it is important that you also know what differentiates a colic episode from something that is really major. What you think is just colic can be something already serious.

This is why it is also important that you consult your pediatrician when colic starts to ensure that it is really colic that you are dealing with. Since there are no tests that can pinpoint to colic, the most that doctors can do is to exclude other possible causes of crying and screaming episodes. Among the problems that may cause the same reactions are intestinal blockage, infection in the abdomen, an ear infection and sometimes even a scratch in the baby’s eye. Other reasons are obstruction in the digestive tracts, hernia and problems in the bowel.

Since there is really no specific cause of colic, treating or curing colic is impossible. The only thing that parents can do is to make sure that their babies become as comfortable as possible when they are suffering from a colic episode.

One of the things that you can do is to walk your baby and to wrap him or her up in a swaddling. You can also have him listen to some soothing music that will calm him down during an episode. It is important that you do not overfeed your baby, something which most parents will do when their babies cry. Also, check with your pediatrician if your baby is allergic to some foods or liquids that he is taking in. Sometimes allergens that can cause colic can be passed from the mom to the child through breast milk.

Colic is not some unusual disease that you should worry about. In fact, it is actually quite common especially to babies who are barely a year old. Still, the nonstop screaming and fidgeting can worry a lot of parents, especially if this is the first time that they have encountered such a problem. After all nonstop crying can be the result of many things not just a colic.
This is the reason why it is important for parents to know just what colic is and to recognize its signs and symptoms.

There is actually no known cause of colic. Despite being quite common, medical experts still have no idea what to make of this problem. It usually starts during the first few weeks, particularly during the third week. It peaks at two months of age and then subsides at the third to fourth month. By the fourth month, there will usually be no more episodes of colic.

Colic is purportedly a painful gaseous feeling brought on my stomachache. Children, who are unused to the problem and cannot communicate the pain, will cry for about an hour up to as much as five hours. They will scream at the top of their lungs. This can be really surprising for parents who are not used to seeing their normally quiet and angelic babies in this kind of mood.
Colic often occurs in babies who are big and active, especially those who are great eaters and those who grow really well. These babies will usually have colic episodes at specific time of day, often after each meal.

Since there is no known cause of colic, there is also no cure. There is not much that parents can do but make the experience as comfortable as possible for the infant and of course to lessen the pain and make sure that it will not get worse.

Below are some tips that will help you lessen the effects of colic and make sure that you are helping your child and not exacerbating the situation.

First advice that parents should heed is to not overfeed the child. Sometimes, when babies cry, parents’ first instincts is to feed them, thinking that they are hungry. Before feeding them, make sure that they are hungry and not having a colic.

Another thing that parents should watch out for is the foods that they take in. This is especially true with moms who are breastfeeding. Some babies are allergic to certain kinds of food and although you are not feeding those foods directly to him, they will still get the allergens through the milk that you give them.

Foods that are usually avoided are caffeine, cabbage, onions, beans, and other foods that produce gas. Juices may also result to colic so make sure that your juices are diluted with water or better yet, just make them drink pure water when not drinking milk.

Intense emotions may also contribute in starting a colic episode. Parents are then advised to avoid letting their babies see their anxiety, their fear or their tension so as to avoid transferring the emotions to the babies.

Walking the infant can vastly help in alleviating colic. Make sure that his legs are drawn up so that pressure is taken from his belly.

Parents can also try letting their babies listen to some soothing music and to rock them gently, which can help relax them.

Deciding to start a family is a serious decision. This is because a lot of tender loving care must be given the moment the baby comes out until he or she grows up to become an adult.

There are many reasons why babies cry. This could be because it is hungry or sometimes it is just cranky. But when it cries a little longer than before, this means that the infant is colic.

What is colic? This is a term given to a baby who cries for more than three hours in a given day. This is normal in newborns, which may begin from 3 weeks until four months of age.

Parents who are unaware of this will panic. A good doctor can reassure the legal guardians that this will go away gradually over time.

There are many reasons why a baby is colic. Since there is not a single reason, which can be attributed to it, the parents should stop thinking about this and focus on the more important task of making it go away.

There will be times late at night when the parents wake up because the baby is crying. The infant will not understand the concept of being told to be quiet so the father or the mother will have to carry the infant and rock it back to sleep.

The baby could be hungry so maybe it is time to feed it again. The mother should make sure to make the infant burp because this could be the cause of the colic behavior a few minutes or hours from now.

If this is the behavior of the baby during the day, maybe it is time for both to go outside. Sometimes taking the newborn on a carriage ride will help. Giving the newborn a pacifier can also remedy the situation.

A warm bath is sometimes what parents need to relax after a stressful day at work. Studies have shown that doing the same thing for the baby can also stop the colic behavior. The parents should make sure that the water is not too hot for the child.

Grownups get cranky when disrupted by noise. A baby does not know that yet and will cry in order to be noticed. The parents can play some music in the room of the baby so he or she will not suddenly wake up.

The food that the mother eats could produce gas, which causes the baby to feel discomfort. It will be a good idea to consult with the doctor regarding the proper diet so this can be prevented. If this still happens, maybe using Simethicone drops can work.

One way to check on the baby from time to time will be to have a monitor nearby that with one unit in the room and the other carried around the house. The parents should take shifts to avoid feeling exhausted.

The biological clock of a baby is very different from a child or an adult. It will still take time to develop and until that happens, the parents will have to deal with this situation. After all, a baby that is colic is normal since it is part of the growing phase. This means that this is not a disease or a disorder so there is nothing to worry about.

Colic is one of the most common problems in babies. In fact, it is so common that this is the kind of thing that you will be prepared for even before it occurs being a major topic in all baby books in your bookshelf.

Colic begins as early as two to three weeks and reaches its peak when the baby is about two months old. After which, symptoms and episodes will slowly die down and at fourth month, there will be no more episodes.

Until now, medical experts cannot find what exactly causes colic to occur. It just happens to babies without any real or specific reason. However, there are a host of possible causes that may influence or worsen a colic episode. Here are some of them.

Allergy to cow’s milk or powdered milk
Lactose intolerance
Allergy to the foods that the mother take in and transferred to the baby through breastmilk
Increase in the intestinal gas brought on by foods that usually produce gas in the stomach such as broccoli, onion and beans.
Underdeveloped digestive system that may cause strong contractions in the stomach
Hormonal changes in the body of your baby
Anxiety of the mother and postpartum depression
Overfeeding of the baby

Often, the only sign that parents will get is nonstop crying that can last from an hour to as much as five hours! This can be really hard to take for parents especially those who are not used to their babies crying too much. For first-time parents the first episode of colic can be panicking as they do not know why their little angel is crying so hard.

Crying can be the result of a lot of things. This is why it is important for parents to really know the other signs and symptoms of colic in babies before they panic or in some cases not panic.

Predictable crying episodes

Although this will not be evident at the start, a colicky baby will have crying episodes at specific time of the day. This can either occur at day or at night, often after a meal. These episodes will recur at approximately the same time and it can last from just a few minutes to hours. It can occur once every week or everyday of the week. It really depends on the baby and because there is no known cause, parents just have to patiently wait if there will be an episode for that day.

Gaseous state

According to some experts, colic is brought on by gas in the stomach that causes an ache. Babies will often excrete bowels or pass gas near the end of the episode. This will relieve the problem.

Positions of the legs and arms

Babies who have colic will manifest their pain in the way they will draw their legs to their abdomens to squeeze them in. Their hands will also clench into fists and their abdominal muscles will harden. Some babies who cannot take the pain will trash around and become really wild. Their screams and cries will get louder and louder.

Crying madly

This is one of the main symptoms of colic in babies. In fact, most parents think that if their babies cry, they are either hungry or having a colic. The cries of a colicky child is loud and intense. There is no room for a weak and sickly cry. Their cheeks will often become red from the exertion and they will be difficult to comfort.

Those who choose to have a pet should be well aware of the responsibilities in taking care of the animal. This is because a horse just like any other creature is prone to various diseases. This may be caused by parasites or from the food that is given and the only way to make it get better is to get proper treatment.

One problem that is not a laughing matter is equine colic. This is because a horse can die if treatment is not given. The symptoms of this disease are not that hard to notice and here are some of the things horse owners should watch out for.

1. If the horse feels restless or starts acting crazy, this could already be an indication. The person should stay a little longer to make an assessment since it is also possible that the animal was spooked by something.

2. Some horses will either stand or lie down and begin to kick its own belly. This is very similar to how humans hold on to one part of the body when it is in pain. The person should transfer the animal to a more open area so that it doesn’t cause further damage to the stable or to itself.

3. Sometimes, seeing a horse lying down on the ground is normal since this is how it sleeps. If there are no changes since the last time the horse was seen, this is another indicator that there is a problem.

4. A horse standing up in good posture does not mean there is nothing wrong. This is the reason that owners check its teeth and the other physical features because there may nothing wrong outside when it is really happening within.

The four symptoms just mentioned may happen one after the other or simultaneously. This really depends on the horse but when it happens, the owner should immediately call the vet for proper treatment.

While waiting, the person should stay with the horse and check it vitals. This means the heart rate and the body temperature. No food must be given at this time until a diagnosis has been done and a recommendation is given.

It is a good thing that there are drugs available, which can be used to treat equine colic. Some doctors even encourage the use of herbs that have to mixed first before it is given to the animal.

Is there one treatment to remedy a horse that has equine colic? The answer is no. This really depends on how serious the problem is and how well the animal will respond to the treatment.

A horse that suffers from Equine colic may live through that event. Unfortunately, this can happen again if some precautions are not yet taken.

Such steps include giving the horse multivitamins, allotting time to clean the stables, giving it a bath every so often and cleaning its teeth, a proper diet with no gaseous substances, water, regular exercise and rest.

A horse breeder or owner can read up on the symptoms of equine colic and other diseases to be well informed of the dangers. Being knowledgeable about it can save the life of the animal instead of hearing the doctor say that nothing can be done and the only thing to do will be to put it to sleep.

Colic is one problem that both humans and horses share. But unlike with babies, of which colic is just an incidental problem that will go away after a few months; colic in horses is a serious problem that need to be addressed immediately.

Baby colic

Colic is a problem in the digestive tract characterized by a pain in the stomach or in the abdomen. Until now, there is still no reason why this happens in babies. Experts believe that colic arises from the gas in the intestines. In babies, colic starts as early as three weeks.

First signs will of course be frequent crying and screaming that can last anywhere from an hour to five hours nonstop. It peaks during the second month and declines during the third month. By the end of the fourth month, incidents of colic will just cease.

And though there is really not much danger that colic poses to babies, parents are still worried because of the amount of crying that it can ensue. Because there is no known cause, there is also no specific cure or solution. In fact, the only thing that parents can do is to make their experience of colic as less painful as possible. This is done by putting babies in comfortable positions like in swaddling, walking them or making them listen to some soothing music. Parents should avoid giving them too much food because this will only exacerbate the problem.

Horse colic

Colic in horses is not the same. In addition to being a serious problem, colic in horses can appear anytime, any age. The same reactions are elicited in horses. They will also be crying and groaning, prancing and kicking all over the place. In severe cases, they can even become so wild that they will assume difficult and almost unnatural positions just to be relived of the pain.

However, horse owners should remember that colic in horses has a much different onset. Unlike with humans where the pain can be readily felt and shown through crying, horses will deal with it alone through listlessness and lack of energy.

They will start to refuse food and will not have any appetite for eating. This is one of the signs that horse owners often miss when trying to deal with colic. Remember that they will only get wild and restless when the pain is too severe for them to bear. Otherwise, they only suffer in silence.

Wired differently

Horses cannot also cope with colic the same way humans can. Because of their different body structure and body system, they are not able to vomit or relieve the pressure that they are feeling in their stomach. Because of this, the pain and the problem can build up inside; thus worsening the situation. This is perhaps why colic in horses is much serious. In fact, while some horses do respond to therapy and eventually get well; most will deteriorate despite medication and treatment.

Another reason why colic is a problem with horses is the fact that they are built in different ways. Passages of blood and food in their bodies are much narrower; thus, more susceptible to impactions and obstructions especially with food.

When afflicted with colic, it is important that you call a veterinarian as soon as you can so that he can administer appropriate treatment. Make sure also that your horse does not have any access to solid foods such as hay or grass. The only thing that the horse is allowed to take in is water.

Baby colic is a condition where a baby cries or screams frequently and for extended periods without any apparent reason at all. The condition usually appears within the first few months of the baby’s life and will almost always immediately disappear as quickly as it had arrived at around the time the baby nears its eight months of existence in the outside world. Baby colic is more common in bottle-fed babies, but may also occur in breast-fed infants. The crying frequently happens during a specific time of the day which is often in the early evening.

Since the cause of infant colic has not yet been fully established as well as the amount of crying differs between babies, there is no general agreement on the definition of infant colic. But parents should bear in mind that it is just a condition that can pass away in time and not a disorder that may need immediate treatment. The only way to distinguish if the baby is colicky is by ruling out other causes of the crying. An accepted of thumb is if the baby cries intensely more than three days a week, for more than three hours on every bouts of crying, and for more than three weeks every month.

Although the actual cause of infant colic is not known as of the present, medical professionals have made some observations as to why the condition might be experienced by newborn infants. When born, babies may still have an immature digestive system that has never started on processing food.

The gastrointestinal system is literally just starting to learn its function. Digestive muscles may have not yet developed the proper rhythm for moving food efficiently through the digestive tract. This might cause frequent and uncomfortable stomach upsets in infants and might be able to explain why there is such a condition as infant colic and why almost all infants outgrow colic within the first six or seven months of life.

Another explanation for infant colic may involve the mother. There4 may be certain foods eaten by lactating mothers that may contain unsafe chemicals and allergens that can result in colic discomfort and digestive upset in babies.

Through lactation, trace elements of cruciferous vegetables and other gas producing foods may be passed on to the baby through the mother’s breast milk and cause gas and bloating in the infant. Babies often swallow air while feeding or during crying, which might further increase gas and bloating and further adding some discomfort to the baby.

There is currently no generally-accepted medical treatment for infant colic. Medical professionals may take different approaches in trying to treat the condition. Many doctors believe that infant colic is currently untreatable, and is best left to normally run its course. What mothers can do is try to make the baby comfortable. Soothing measures, such as the use of pacifiers and gentle rocking can be effective in calming the baby during crying periods.

Some parents can take turns holding the baby upright which also seems to lessen the pain and crying of the infant. Certain homeopathic remedies can also be utilized as an excellent option for treating infant colic symptoms. Homeopathic treatment is considered safe and completely allergen-free with no known side effects. It will be up to the parent to consider such an alternative as long as they find it very effective in handling the colic symptoms.

When a newborn baby comes out of the womb, doctors encourage mothers to breastfeed the infant. This is because the milk that comes out has nutrients in the right concentrations. It also has antibodies, which becomes the first line of defense against harmful bacteria and viruses.

Studies show that a mother can continue to breastfeed the child until it reaches 4 years of age. But because the teeth have already been developed, many decide to use a pump or change this for artificial milk.

One of the first challenges parents will face in the first six months is a condition where the baby becomes colic. This is when the infant will cry for no reason at all that will take months to subside.

Some doctors believe that the reason why a baby will behave in this manner is due to the milk that is fed from the mother’s breast.

There are two theories that explain this. The first is because babies who suck milk also take in a certain amount of air. Mother’s are encourage to let the infant burp before going to sleep so he or she won’t wake up later on.

The second is from the types of food that the mother eats. Gaseous foods, which are digested, are passed on to the infant in the form of milk causing the colic to happen.

Until now, there is insufficient proof to prove there is a relationship between breastfeeding and colic. Believe it or not, this happens more often to bottle-fed rather than breast fed infants. This means the mother should just watch out the food being eaten so this condition does not happen.

Those who are unable to do it can ask help from a dietitian so certain dishes can be substituted for something else.

Watching the food and making sure the infant burps are just two ways to handle a colic baby. The mother can also carry the child onto the shoulders or in a swaying motion. Some even sing a lullaby making the infant go back to sleep.

The parents can also put a CD player near the crib that will play nursery rhymes. This will serve as background so the baby will not wake up from the sounds coming from outside the room or the house.

During the daytime, a colic baby can also be remedied with a warm bath or a massage. This is because adults who are stressed sometimes use this to release the tension in the muscles, which makes this also work for the child.

If the infant has grown some teeth already, perhaps giving a pacifier can help. Some babies’ cry when he or she is not sucking onto something and this device can work as a substitute for the mother’s breast.

There is nothing wrong if the doctor classifies the baby as a colic. In fact, this is a blessing in disguise because this means that the little boy or girl is normal. The excessive crying or shouting are ways for the infant to ask for attention that will serve as a wake up call for first time parents.

The parents should just persevere through this phase. After all, colic babies are hereditary which means the same thing happened to the mother and father many years ago.