Breastfeeding Is A Cause Of Colic

Wait–what? Everything I’ve heard or been told is that breastfeeding is the best thing I can do for my baby. And I’ve heard people say that “when their baby had colic it was the worst time of their life.” So now you are saying that nursing is a possible cause of colic?Well, it’s not the most common cause of colic but it is a possibility.

First, just to be unambiguous, let’s define colic symptoms . The medical explanation is:
An infant who is well-fed but cries three or more hours per day and cries more than three days per week.When an infant cries inconsolably, one night can seem like a lifetime. Two nights and most new parents have made an session with their medical professional.

Given that the misery of colic can last for a month or more, it is advisable to explore all possible causes this is the only way to get the correct colic remediesand, believe it or not, that record of causes can include breastfeeding. Reports have shown (National Health and Medical Research Council 1996 Infant feeding guidelines for health workers. Australian Government Publishing Service, Commonwealth Australia) that breastfeeding can occasionally cause colic. But why? How can this be?

There’s no question that natural breastfeeding is nearly always the best thing for your baby. Breastfeeding almost always is better, but sometimes for a variety of reasons it can cause colic.. There are a number of potential reasons for this–but don’t lose hope, and don’t give up yet on nursing: changes in behavior or diet can often cure your baby’s colic.

Step one check your feeding technique.. Is there good suction? This is also known as a good latch. Occasionally, the size or shape of the breast makes it tough for a baby to latch on properly. A poor latch can also result from over-sized breast.
The amount of work your baby is doing while they are feeding can give you a good indication of the quality of the latch. Does he tend to struggle and wiggle around as he feeds, or does she tend to spill a lot of milk? These signs can mean that your baby may be getting too much air with the milk. This can result in excess gas and can lead to the symptoms of colicYou’ve repositioned, changed the feeding times, but you’re still not having success, it is time to get professional advice. Check with your doctor or organizations like La Leche League.

A poor latch is one cause but there is also something called active letdown reflex. When feedings are too infrequent, your breast becomes engorged. It is like a balloon that is filled with too much air. When your baby then first starts to feed, the milk comes out forcefully and will often spit from the breast. This pushes air down into your baby’s stomach and can result in cramps that lead to colic symptoms. Feed more frequently almost always cures this problem.

We are all busy, but your baby just needs to eat and timed feedings are often a cause of colic. One doctor noted that, in countries where watches or clocks are ordinary, colic seemed to be more prevalent than in parts of the world where they are rarer. Sometimes, taking a baby from the breast too early, before a feeding has truly concluded, can result in some subtle side effects that may contribute to colic. Early in a feeding, much of the content of breast milk is sugar or lactose. This is known as the fore milk. Most of the calories, fats, and complex carbohydrates are in the hind milk. Your baby gets to this milk when the breast is almost clear.

When a feeding is artificially concluded too soon, your baby gets mostly the milk sugar. A baby’s body is just not capable of digesting the excess milk sugar and this often leads to gas and bloating.
Fore milk is low in caloric content, and because of this your baby will end up being hungrier sooner. This, in turn, makes him or her more likely to assail the breast, which can result in a poor latch, leading to air and gas that cause symptoms of colic. What do you do? The simple solution is to feed often and avoid switching breasts. Don’t time your feedings; allow your baby to finish one breast totally in a feeding. If your baby still wants to feed, let them. When they are done, then the feeding is over.

If none of these strategies seem to work, try to start a Misery Journal: record when your baby cries; how long; his or her affect (e.g., bent legs, clenching fists). This will help your doctor come to a quicker diagnosis.

Your diet may be the culprit. It is possible your baby is sensitized to something you’re eating. (If you’re lucky, it’s something you really hate.) Your health care practitioner will most likely ask you about your diet, and it is very easy to forget what you’ve eaten, so start keeping a diet journal. Hopefully, she will tell you that the issue lies in the low chocolate content in your diet.
Make sure you are always checking your baby for other symptoms of fever, excessive drooling, vomiting, or diarrhea. If your baby is showing any of these signs, call your doctor right away as these are indications of a more serious illness.

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Filed under: Baby News

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