Take charge of colic blues
Sep 05, 2010
THE long-awaited day had arrived. Lucia Byoona had finally become a mother. Byoona enjoyed looking at her baby sleep, but the joyous moments did not last.
By Agnes Kyotalengerire
THE long-awaited day had arrived. Lucia Byoona had finally become a mother. Byoona enjoyed looking at her baby sleep, but the joyous moments did not last.
“During the second week, my baby become irritable and would cry endlessly even after being fed. I spent sleepless nights soothing her to sleep,†Byoona says.
Like Byoona, many people, especially first-time parents, get disappointed when their newborn is not the bundle of joy they were expecting.
Angelina Kakooza, a paediatrician at the department of paediatrics and child health, Mulago Hospital, describes the condition as colic.
Kakooza says if a baby has colic, he cries or screams suddenly for extended periods associated with sweating and distention of the abdomen.
She says out of 100 children, about 20% newborns are affected by colic.
The condition usually occurs in the first two weeks after birth and almost disappears, before the baby is three or four months, though it can last up to 12 months.
Kakooza says it is equally common in bottle-fed babies. The crying often increases during a specific period of the day, especially in the early evening, and can trigger problems such as marital stress and failure to breastfeed.
Kakooza says the actual cause is not clear, but immaturity of the gastro-intestinal system of the baby is cited.
“The baby gets difficulty in expelling excessive gas because the digestion is slow and needs assistance in form of burpingâ€.
Milk allergy can also spark off the condition. Through breast or bottle feeding, a reaction to certain foods may occur though it does not necessarily mean that the baby is ingesting it.
The condition may also be due to psycho-social factors, for instance if a child and mother fail to bond.
Symptoms
Colic is ascribed to abdominal pain, owing to trapped gas in the digestive tract. A baby could experience abdominal pain, pull its feet up and clench fists. Some babies’ stomachs rumble and produce gas.
Betty Kirabo, a senior midwife, says there is no treatment for colic. She recommends says since some babies have difficulty digesting milk, burping several times after feeding helps relieve gas pain.
She also recommends dimming the lights and singing a lullaby. Some babies respond well to movement. You can strap your baby in a car seat, and take her for a ride. Alternatively, carry the baby close to your body or massage her.
Kirabo encourages parents to take turns in soothing their child so that one can rest while the other is awake.
You may leave on the diaper if you wish. Massage the arms, legs, back, tummy, and head using soft, slow motions. Be firm, but do not squeeze too hard. If your baby only becomes more irritable just stop the massage.
Kirabo confirms that when a baby has colic, family life is turned upside down. It is extremely stressful and upsetting when the baby cries for hours and cannot be comforted. . Besides, you may also need to call on friends or family as reinforcement. Ends……..
THE long-awaited day had arrived. Lucia Byoona had finally become a mother. Byoona enjoyed looking at her baby sleep, but the joyous moments did not last.
“During the second week, my baby become irritable and would cry endlessly even after being fed. I spent sleepless nights soothing her to sleep,†Byoona says.
Like Byoona, many people, especially first-time parents, get disappointed when their newborn is not the bundle of joy they were expecting.
Angelina Kakooza, a paediatrician at the department of paediatrics and child health, Mulago Hospital, describes the condition as colic.
Kakooza says if a baby has colic, he cries or screams suddenly for extended periods associated with sweating and distention of the abdomen.
She says out of 100 children, about 20% newborns are affected by colic.
The condition usually occurs in the first two weeks after birth and almost disappears, before the baby is three or four months, though it can last up to 12 months.
Kakooza says it is equally common in bottle-fed babies. The crying often increases during a specific period of the day, especially in the early evening, and can trigger problems such as marital stress and failure to breastfeed.
Kakooza says the actual cause is not clear, but immaturity of the gastro-intestinal system of the baby is cited.
“The baby gets difficulty in expelling excessive gas because the digestion is slow and needs assistance in form of burpingâ€.
Milk allergy can also spark off the condition. Through breast or bottle feeding, a reaction to certain foods may occur though it does not necessarily mean that the baby is ingesting it.
The condition may also be due to psycho-social factors, for instance if a child and mother fail to bond.
Symptoms
Colic is ascribed to abdominal pain, owing to trapped gas in the digestive tract. A baby could experience abdominal pain, pull its feet up and clench fists. Some babies’ stomachs rumble and produce gas.
Betty Kirabo, a senior midwife, says there is no treatment for colic. She recommends says since some babies have difficulty digesting milk, burping several times after feeding helps relieve gas pain.
She also recommends dimming the lights and singing a lullaby. Some babies respond well to movement. You can strap your baby in a car seat, and take her for a ride. Alternatively, carry the baby close to your body or massage her.
Kirabo encourages parents to take turns in soothing their child so that one can rest while the other is awake.
You may leave on the diaper if you wish. Massage the arms, legs, back, tummy, and head using soft, slow motions. Be firm, but do not squeeze too hard. If your baby only becomes more irritable just stop the massage.
Kirabo confirms that when a baby has colic, family life is turned upside down. It is extremely stressful and upsetting when the baby cries for hours and cannot be comforted. . Besides, you may also need to call on friends or family as reinforcement. Ends……..