Colic in newborn and breastfeeding

Colic is caused by an infant’s immature digestive system and is caused when a baby is unable to expel the gas that is produced in the digestive tract from the moment baby has his or her first drink of breast milk or formula. Newborn gas is a natural by-product of digesting lactose, proteins and other nutrients.

Some of what is believed to cause colic includes;

• Incorrect latching of the baby at the breast leading to air bubbles being  taken in through baby’s mouth
• Some pediatricians and lactation specialists assert that traces of gas-producing foods cause colic
• Another possible reason for infant gassiness is hyper-lactation syndrome. When a mother has a very abundant milk supply, she may produce a larger amount of foremilk which is higher in water content. In excess, foremilk can make baby’s stomach cramp, creating more fussiness.  Because the baby may not be getting enough of the rich hind milk, he or she tends to want to eat more often, which perpetuates the problem. The baby that suffers from hyper-lactation syndrome is characterized by higher than normal weight gain, increased gassiness, and fussiness
• Over stimulation can also lead to increased gassiness. Just as many adults experience intestinal disturbances in stressful situations, so are babies affected by their environments.

These tips can help minimize your baby’s gas and relieve it more easily:

Reducing the amount of air your baby swallows;

While breast feeding

• Make sure your baby latches-on correctly. If you are unsure or are experiencing difficulties with latching your baby to the breast, seek the hands-on support of a qualified lactation consultant. Ensure that you feed for 20 minutes on each breast to ensure that your baby gets the rich fat full hind milk
• If your baby gulps due to a fast supply (which often occurs during the early weeks of breast feeding) slow down feeding by nursing lying down. 
• Where supply is plentiful and your baby is gaining large amounts of weight, offer only one breast at each feeding (alternating breasts at each feed).
• If your milk supply is plentiful and let-down is strong and provides a rush of breast milk, which your baby experiences difficulty in coping with, pump off approx an ounce of milk BEFORE latching your baby to the breast. (Freeze pumped breast milk for future use)

For Mothers diet

Avoid these foods commonly linked to colic

• Cruciferous foods e.g. cabbage, lettuce broccoli, cauliflower
• Legumes e.g. Beans, green grams, black beans, soya products, cocoa, peanuts
• Dairy
• Citrus fruits e.g. oranges, pineapples, lemons including their juice
• Wheat products (Too much )

Sensitive infants that are bombarded with noise, lights, touch and multiple experiences will usually “shut down” in an attempt to reduce stimulation. Babies that are easily overloaded often experience more severe gas, fussiness, and difficulty sleeping later in the day or night. Read more about colic on https://www.motherhood101.co.ke/baby/