Like a lot of crunchy moms, I've been a fan of the Sears family for years. These pioneers in attachment parenting, evidence-based holistic health, and common-sense pediatrics have helped me through every stage of my daughter's life. I was thrilled when given the opportunity to interview Dr. Robert Sears, who is an specialist in infant care and development. He filled me in the facts behind common beliefs and misconceptions about colic-- a common, debilitating condition affecting babies.
Is colic a digestive disease, a neurological condition, or something else?
Dr. Sears: The old school of thought held that colic was just a neurological immaturity, that nothing was really wrong, that babies weren't in pain, and that there was nothing we could do. Now most doctors agree that colic is primarily a digestive issue, that these babies are in pain, and that there isa lot we can do to fix it.
Mayo Clinic reports that nearly one in four babies suffers from colic. Was colic always this common?
Dr. Sears: I don't think colic is getting more common. And the one in four would include mild cases of colic. I would say that I see severe, problematic colic in maybe 5 to 10% of babies.
Many people attribute colic to parental anxiety, citing higher rates of colic in first-born babies. Do you believe that a new parent's anxiety can cause, or worsen, colic symptoms?
Dr. Sears: I don't think parental anxiety can be the CAUSE of colic, but it can contribute to a baby's stress and may make colic worse. That's why parents of a colicky baby really need some support from friends and family - come over and give the stressed mom and dad a break.
Do you support the use of fennel, ginger, chamomile, or any other medicinal herbs for the treatment of colic?
Dr. Sears: I do like these supplements, as they can relieve colicky symptoms temporarily, and they are safe. But they are just a Band-Aid; they don't fix the underlying cause of colic. I find they are effective temporary relief in 10 to 20% of babies. But I prefer to address the underlying cause of the symptoms, so the baby shouldn't need these remedies. One new theory on colic is that the symptoms can be due to Transient Lactase Deficiency (or TLD), a type of temporary lactose intolerance. These babies have insufficient lactase enzyme in the intestines, the enzyme necessary to digest milk sugars (breast milk or cow's milk). The undigested milk sugars ferment into gas, then irritate the intestines and contribute to colicky symptoms. I address this issue with Colief Infant Drops, a lactase digestive enzyme given with each feeding. These drops should help improve or resolve the symptoms within three days if TLD is the cause of the symptoms. I have seen these drops help about half of my colicky patients so far.
Can changes in a breastfeeding mother's diet trigger or prevent colic?
Dr. Sears: Absolutely. They is the most commonly ignored solution for colic. Cow's milk products in a mom's diet are a common cause of colic; the cow's milk proteins pass into mom's milk and can irritate the intestines if a baby is sensitive. Removing this from mom's diet should create improvement within a few days or as long as two weeks IF cow's milk protein sensitivity is the cause of the colic. Other foods include gluten, soy, eggs, nuts, corn, gassy vegetables, and caffeine.
Can breastfeeding prevent colic, and, if so, how?
Dr. Sears: Breastfeeding prevents a host of medical problems, and it's always going to be more nutritious than formula, but I don't see any decrease in colic in breastfed versus formula-fed babies. IF, however, the cause of the colic is cow's milk protein allergy, then breastfeeding with a mom on a milk-free diet is going to be much much healthier than putting a baby on a hypoallergenic milk-free formula.
Are there any methods for treating colic that you specifically oppose?
Dr. Sears: Not that I am aware of.
Is a colicky baby likely to be high-need, hyperactive, or very sensitive later in childhood?
Dr. Sears: If the colic is easily solved and the baby calms down into a much more even-tempered baby, then ongoing sensitivity and hyperactivity are unlikely. But babies who go through several months of colic without any of the above treatments helping are likely to continue to be high-need and sensitive as they go through early childhood.
In conclusion, in my experience TLD and cow's milk protein allergy are the two most common causes of colicky symptoms. I address these two issues first with every colicky baby in my office.
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