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Does your baby shriek and cry during the day for hours at a time, for no real reason at all? Or perhaps after feeding, the baby is riled up and inconsolable. In other cases, your baby may seem extremely sensitive to lights and sounds, waking up constantly with shrill cries that never cease. There's a good possibility your baby is one of the millions with infant colic, a condition marked by inconsolable crying that usually persists for the first four months.
One theory for the cause for colic in babies is that there is trapped gas in the stomach and intestines. The baby experiences sharp pain shortly after feeding because he or she is unable to breakdown the milk sugar properly, and therefore experiences unpleasant stomach acids and a bloated feeling. Some babies also swallow too much air while feeding, also contributing to the overall discomfort. For these babies, it's recommended that a homeopathic remedy be administered - something like Colic Calm gripe water, a blend of peppermint, chamomile, fennel, caraway, ginger, lemon balm and aloe. These natural ingredients stimulate the body's digestive processes, while providing calming relief. Similarly, a colon massage or burping the baby may help ease the symptoms too.
Another theory for the root of baby colic is the lack of "gut flora," which are the healthy microorganisms that assist in digestion. The average human body has anywhere from 300 to 1000 species of gut flora living in the stomach. Infants have been found to lack the microorganism that assists in milk sugar breakdown specifically, which can be a huge problem considering a baby's early diet consists of milk. In this case, Pro-biotics like a Lactobacillus acidophilus supplement or Lactase have been known to help.
Another group of scientists, purport that infant colic is simply a baby's healthy expression of birth trauma and stress, rather than suppressing feelings. Warm baths, massages and essential oils may naturally provide relief for the baby. It's also important that the parents seek colic help to talk out their frustration. It's easy to become frustrated or feel detached during this time and it's crucial that parents get some time away from the situation to recoup.
Parents will find themselves plunged into a confusing world of psychology as they try to learn how to deal with their infant during this difficult time. Infant colic can affect the whole family. For single parents, it can be especially frustrating because there's rarely a reprieve from the crying. Having a friend or relative who can babysit from time to time can be critical. Also, the Parents Without Partners organization is willing to offer their expertise for the single mom or dad who's feeling overwhelmed and helpless.
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