Coping with colic

Colic is one of those things you never really think about when you are pregnant. Sure, you hear stories about it – some wind, some crying, only lasting for a few weeks of life. When I was pregnant, I kind of wrote it off as no big deal – babies cry anyway, so surely colic won’t make that much difference? Feed well, wind properly and keep them upright for a bit if they are uncomfortable. Easy peasy, right?

Wrong.

When colic hits, it’s debilitating – for baby and you. The only thing that really stopped the crying for us was to feed, almost constantly, day and night. A lot of the time, Max wouldn’t even want to feed, not really, but the sucking comforted him, and stopped the endless screaming for a little while. Other than that, we walked. We walked the corridors in the hospital like ghostly beings, we walked the length of the house from tea time until bedtime, we walked with the pram for mile after mile in the hope Max would fall asleep. Nothing much helped. Looking back, I realise that we should maybe have consulted a doctor, or a pharmacist – although I didn’t want to use medicines on Max, a natural product may well have helped – something like Nelsons Colica granules.

To help relieve the symptoms of colic, Nelsons has launched NEW Nelsons Colica® Colic Granules, a homeopathic medicinal product used within the homeopathic tradition for the symptomatic relief of colic. They contain a unique formulation of a 30c potency of natural Citrullus colocynthis and Dioscorea villas – no nasties, no conventional medicines, just natural relief. 

A recent study by Nelsons revealed that 49% of parents think colic is the most distressing ailment for parents, and I am inclined to agree. Along with reflux, it was one of the hardest things to watch my boy suffer with – there just seemed to be no end, no real relief, nothing we could do to help. The term ‘colic’ is thrown around a lot these days, with parents using it to describe any unexplained crying. But real colic is more than that – it can be hard to cope with. Take heart in the fact that it really doesn’t last forever – most babies grow out of the condition by a few months of age, and this was certainly the case for Max. One day he just seemed to….stop. 

If you are worried about colic, here are my top 5 tips to ease the distress:

• Feed. It does seem to help – whether it is the milk or the sucking that comforts I don’t know, but be led by your baby and if they want to feed, go with it for the first few weeks.
• Walk. Walking was the main thing that kept us sane. Get out for a walk with the pushchair – not only does your baby often get some relief and sleep, but the fresh air does the world of good for sleep deprived parents!
• Try a sling. If you need to get things done but can’t put your baby down, try a sling or baby carrier. The upright position seems to help, and being close to you, along with the movement as you potter about really does seem to soothe.
• Baby massage. This helped us no end. I took Max along to a baby massage class, and found there are specific routines you can use for colicky babies, focusing on the areas of discomfort. One that really seemed to work for Max was a gentle tummy massage, following the digestive tract. Don’t try this yourself without being shown how to do it first though!
• Head over to a pharmacy and get some advice on natural remedies. The Nelsons Colica Granules are definitely something I would have considered if I had known about them when Max was small. Natural and gentle, they are available from Boots, Amazon and Morrisons for just £5.80.

Have you had a baby with colic? Did you find something that really worked for you? Would love to hear your tips!

* This is a sponsored post.