Colic in newborn babies can be a tortuous experience for the infants as well as their parents or caregivers. Hours of seemingly unexplained crying, often accompanied by a rumbling in the abdomen, can give way to periods of quiet and "normal" behavior. Babies with colic usually feed well and grow at a healthy rate. And while there is no known single cause of colic, cow's milk has been implicated as a possible factor in many babies.
Effects
Cow's milk contains lactose, a sugar that is broken down and processed by the body with the help of the enzyme lactase. Individuals who do not produce sufficient amounts of lactase have trouble digesting milk and other dairy products, a condition known as lactose intolerance. Children and adults who are lactose intolerant often respond with gastrointestinal distress after consuming a product with lactose. Those effects can include diarrhea, bloating, gas and stomach pain or discomfort. It is believed that babies who are lactose intolerant respond to cow's milk with the cries and stomach distress of colic.
Expert Insight
Numerous studies have shown a link between cow's milk and colic. For example, a study published in the February 1983 issue of "Pediatrics," the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, found that when 66 mothers who were breastfeeding their babies, who all had colic, stopped drinking cow's milk, colic symptoms disappeared in 35 babies. The researchers, from the University of Lund in Sweden, suggested that breastfeeding mothers avoid milk and other products with lactose as a first step in trying to solve colic problems in their babies.
Prevention/Solution
Breastfeeding exclusively may reduce symptoms of colic, as can the elimination of cow's milk directly from a baby's diet. Patient UK, an England-based organization of doctors and nurses, recommends switching from cow's milk to a milk or formula that is lactose-free, such as soy-based formula or milk. You may also try lactase drops in a baby's milk to help with digestion.
Time Frame
Because colic is an unpredictable condition--there is no way to know if a baby is prone to colic--it's also difficult to estimate when a baby will "outgrow" it. Obviously, if cow's milk is the culprit and that milk is removed from the diet, colic could disappear rather quickly. After a baby seems to have overcome colic, you may want to try cow's milk again, Patient UK suggests, as lactose can help maintain bowel health in children.
Misconceptions
Colic is frequently misdiagnosed, according to Patient UK. Some conditions that cause excessive crying and screaming are often attributed to colic incorrectly. They include scratches in the eyes from fingernails that are too long, strangulated hernia, unhealthy bowel growth such as a twist in the bowel called volvulus, and diaper rash.
Member Comments