Digestive Concerns

Colic

What is colic?

Colic is a problem that affects some babies during the first three to four months of life. It is defined by the “rule of three”: crying at least 3 hours per day, more than 3 days per week, and for 3 weeks duration or more. It can be very stressful and frustrating to parents. Colic usually begins suddenly, with loud and mostly continuous crying.

What causes colic?

Physicians are not certain what causes colic. There are several theories about why colic may or may not occur, including the following:

Adjusting to each other

One theory about colic relates to the adjustments that a new baby and his/her parents have to make to each other. Until babies learn to talk, one way they communicate with adults is by crying. Parents have to learn to interpret the reasons their baby is crying, and then figure out what to do to make the baby happy. Is the baby hungry? Wet? Cold? Hot? Tired? Bored? A baby will cry for these reasons, as well as for other problems, and parents must try to determine what is causing their baby’s stress, often by trial and error. New parents, especially, may have trouble reading their baby’s cues and responding appropriately. The baby may continue to cry simply because its needs have not yet been met.

Temperament and adjusting to the world

Newborns must also make adjustments to the world they are living in. Not all babies have the same temperament. Some adjust to lights, loud noises, and all the other stimulation around them with no trouble, while others are not able to adapt as easily. Just like adults, some babies are easy-going, and some are impatient. Crying may be one way for a baby to vent feelings as he/she is getting adjusted to the world.

Babies have been noted to cry for specific lengths of time every day, as they are getting used to the world, and as their parents are learning to interpret their needs.

Oversensitivity to gas

Another possible reason for excessive crying in babies might be due to an oversensitivity to gas in the intestine. Physicians do not think that babies with colic produce more gas than others, but simply that the normal amount of gas that is produced as food is digested is uncomfortable for some babies. If a baby with colic seems to pass more gas than other babies do, it is probably due to swallowing more air while crying for prolonged periods of time.

Food sensitivity or allergy

For example the most common sensitivity or allergy is Milk may cause abdominal pain, but usually also cause diarrhea. A baby who cannot tolerate cow’s milk and responds to a change in formula may have a milk allergy or sensitivity.

What are the symptoms of colic?

A child who is otherwise well, who cries or is fussy several hours a day, especially from 6 pm to 10 pm, with no apparent reason, may have colic. Also, babies with colic may burp frequently or pass a significant amount of gas, but this is thought to be due to swallowing air while crying, and is not a cause of colic. The face may be flushed. The abdomen may be tense with legs drawn toward it. The hands may be clenched and the feet are often cold.
The symptoms of colic may resemble other conditions or medical problems.

Who is at risk for colic?

Infants who are either under or over fed may be more susceptible to colic. Those who are allergic to formula or something in the mother’s diet (if breastfed) are prone to colic symptoms. Infants in the 0 to 3 month age range who are started on cereal or other high carbohydrate food are also likely to develop colic as a result of excessive fermentation. Lastly, an emotionally unstable environment may contribute to colic symptoms in an infant.

Why is colic a concern?

Colic may become a concern due to the following reasons:

frustrating and stressful to parents
parents and infant lose sleep
infant may be overfed in an attempt to stop the crying

Babies with colic usually grow and gain weight appropriately, despite being fussy or irritable, being gassy, and losing sleep.

When should we contact a physician and Naturopathic Doctor?

Before assuming your child has colic, you should look for other signs of illness. These may include, but are not limited to, the following:

not sucking or drinking a bottle well
drinking less milk than usual
vomiting
diarrhea
becoming more irritable when held or touched
strange sounding cry
change in breathing rate or effort
being more sleepy or sluggish than usual

What are some Wellness Tips that we can try now?

Other suggestions include the following:

• Make sure your baby is not hungry, but do not force feed if he/she is not interested in the bottle or breast.
• Change your baby’s position. Sit him/her up if lying down. Let your baby face forward if you are carrying or holding him/her facing your chest. Babies like to see different views of the world.
• Give your baby interesting things to look at: different shapes, colors, textures, and sizes. Talk to your baby. Sing softly to your baby.
• Rock your baby.
• Walk your baby.
• Place your baby in an infant swing on a slow setting.
• Let your baby lay on his/her belly on your lap or on the bed, and rub his/her back. Never leave your baby unattended on a bed, sofa, or other soft surface.
• Go for a ride in the car. The motion of the car often soothes babies.
• Try using something in your child’s room that makes a repetitive sound, like a wind-up alarm clock or heartbeat audio tape.
• Hold and cuddle your baby. Babies cannot be spoiled by too much attention. However, they can have problems later in life if they are ignored and their needs are not met as infants.
• Let an adult family member or friend (or a responsible babysitter) care for your baby from time to time so that you can take a break. Taking care of yourself and lowering your stress level may help your baby as well.

Constipation

What is constipation?

Constipation is assessed Naturopathically as not having a Bowel Movement daily and or having hard or difficult stools . The ideal frequency is a bowel movement after every meal.

What is constipation related to ?

Many aspects can be related to constipation . The most common include:

• Lack of fluid intake
• For adults hormones
• Food Intolerances
• Muscular Tension
• Emotionally holding in stress
• Liver Sluggishness

What can be done?

An individualized Naturopathic New Patient Visit is recommended with Food Intolerance Testing .

Diarrhea

What is diarrhea?

Diarrhea is defined either as watery stool or increased frequency (or both) when compared to a normal amount. It is a common problem that may last a few days and disappear on its own.
Diarrhea may be:

acute (short-term, lasting less than two weeks), which is usually related to bacterial or viral infections.
chronic (long-term, lasting longer than two weeks), which is usually related to functional disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome, or may be due to diseases such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, celiac sprue, or Giardia.

What causes diarrhea?

Diarrhea in children may be caused by a number of conditions, including the following:

• bacterial infection
• viral infection
• food intolerances or allergies
• parasites
• reaction to medications

What are the symptoms of diarrhea?

The following are the most common symptoms for diarrhea. However, each child may experience symptoms differently. Severe diarrhea may indicate a serious disease, making it important to consult your child’s physician if any/all of the following symptoms persist:

• cramping
• abdominal pain
• bloating
• nausea
• urgent need to use the restroom
• fever
• bloody stools

The symptoms of diarrhea may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Always consult your child’s physician and or Naturopathic Doctor for a diagnosis.