Colic is severe abdominal pain caused by spasmodic contractions of immature intestines or gas trapped in the intestines. Your baby's digestive system is not fully developed at birth, and what you eat (if you are nursing), your emotions, your sense of security and well-being and other individual factors contribute to whether or not your baby might experience colic or not. Babies are very sensitive to energies or “vibes” in their environment and with the people they're around. Keeping the household or baby's environment as peaceful as possible will do much to help baby's colic.

The following suggestions are also helpful:

•  Feed your baby often. Small, frequent feedings are less likely to produce colic than a few large ones.

•  Soothe your infant with skin-to-skin contact during feedings. This is reassuring to your child and promotes good digestion.

•  Be sure your baby's head stays higher than the feet and rest of the body during feedings.

•  Do not eat cabbage family plants, such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, turnips, radishes, kale, collards, cauliflower, and all types of cabbage, onions, and garlic during the first six months of your lactation. All of these foods are rich in sulfur, which promotes intestinal gas in you and your baby.

•  Avoid more than one small glass of prune juice daily. Any laxatives (herbal or otherwise) that you ingest may distress your infant's intestines. Plain magnesium (the mineral) is a natural stool softener and is a safe and effective alternative to use during pregnancy or lactation. Take the amount that brings balance for you – too much may result in diarrhea due to the stool softening properties. Watch the baby for effects that may be passed on through the breastmilk.

•  Avoid chocolate, peanuts, peanut butter, sugar, and white flour. All of these foods disrupt and slow intestinal activity in you and your baby.

•  Eliminate possible allergens from your diet. Allergies to soy, wheat, corn, dairy, and pectin (in most fruit) can cause colic. Dairy, in particular, has been found to be a major factor in creating colic and digestive distress in infants.

•  Incorporate fermented and probiotic foods into the diet (kefir, yogurt, miso and tempeh). It is possible that your baby's inner ecosystem (digestive system flora) is forming poorly if he or she is colicky. Giving a finger-full of plain yogurt with active cultures directly to the baby 2-3 times a day will help establish beneficial digestive system flora. It will not pass to the baby through breastmilk. Physical contact between the active cultures and the baby's digestive tract must occur.  Baby-Dophilus is an especially good product that is specifically designed for babies digestive tract health.  You can find it at any health food store.

•  Nurse in a serene, secure environment. If you can't provide it physically, create it mentally and emotionally.

Remedies & Summary

Take a cup of Tummy Tea ( ORDER NOW ) as you sit down to nurse. This will readily pass through your breastmilk to your infant bringing relief. Watch your diet and any food supplements or medications you are taking. Look at dairy intake in particular. What food allergies do you or the baby's father have? Chances are, baby may have some of these same allergies. Assume that anything that goes into your body will also pass through to your nursing infant, except probiotics, which must be given to the baby directly as described above. Keep in mind that their digestive systems may not be fully developed yet. Make them feel as safe and secure as possible - children and babies are extremely sensitive to energies. Any disruptive or inharmonious energy will have a great impact on them.