Question:
Could gluten or dairy be the cause of my baby's colic?
elaine s
2007-12-01 19:51:05 UTC
My 7 wk old is going through a HORRIBLE time and I will not take my ped's answer of 'colic' anymore. He is completely histerical 10-30 min after a feeding sometimes crying for hours unconsolably. He arches his back and screams like he is in pain, has TONS of gas and is constipated. He is exclusively breastfed so I do not see how this could be happening. He recently became very constipated, and every doc suggestion will not work to cure it ..karo, massage, water, prune juice, prayer...nothing (will only poop when I use a thermometer to stimulate him). I have not tried to emilinate certain foods yet, but I am finding on the web that dairy and gluten could be the cause for reactions like these. He also has had a nasty excema rash on the side of his face at 5 wks old which went away, and now has begun to come back on his forehead. I am afraid to try to just give him formula as he is already constipated. Help! I cannot take the hours of crying anymore.. He is losing his voice.
Ten answers:
CarbonDated
2007-12-02 09:56:31 UTC
You can eliminate both gluten and dairy for 2 weeks in your own diet. If he improves, that is the problem. However, I personally would take him to a different pediatrician at this point (maybe a pediatric hospital) to have him checked.



Given how quickly he starts to cry after a feed, I'm wondering if he has acid reflux going down instead of up (i.e. to small intestine instead of the throat). That is excruciating (as I am personally well aware).
Megan
2016-03-19 11:03:26 UTC
I also think doctors will say it's colic. My oldest, now 18 had colic forever. Back in the late 80's and they didn't really do anything but tell you "he'll grow out of it". At almost 2 years old! There are many different treatments now and diagnosis for what they used to use as the blanket term of colic. Take her to the Dr. and see what they say. I think now after reading all I have and having had 3 more kids, including twins that are now only 3, I feel I should have pressed the doctors more back then for that first kid so him and I would have gotten some relief. He was so bad with the crying that I even cried alot when he did. Good luck!
NY_Attitude
2007-12-01 19:57:23 UTC
Eliminate the gluten and dairy from your diet and see if it helps.



If it is colic, there is no known cause and breastfeeding is your best bet. It will get worse if you wean.



Our son had colic and I took the advice of the pediatrician and weaned our son...I didn't even wean, I just took him off and put him on soy at 8 weeks of age. He went from 5-6 hours of crying a night to 18 per day. It was awful. So, we switched him from soy to alimentum and it didn't do a thing.



In my own perspective, after a lot of research that my husband and I have done I think that breastfeeding is the best thing to do to avoid it getting worse. I think that they have immature neurological systems. Our son was also 3 weeks early.



It will pass soon...try and take the gluten and the dairy out and see what happens, I did that too but it had no effect for a month.



Breastfed babies do get colic- they do. Just ride it out. At 6-7 weeks it peaks and it generally gets easier thereafter. I'd still get a second opinion though- particularly about eczema.



You are in my prayers!
keshequa87
2007-12-01 20:00:34 UTC
I feel for you. I recommend giving the baby simethicone (anti gas drops) and that you take acidopholis. I would also try eliminating just dairy from my own diet- at least for a couple of days. Have you tried massage to ease his discomfort? Massage his lower back and belly gently. It's worth a try. As for the constipation, I'm sure you know that sometimes breastfed babies go for long periods of time without a bm. I think you're very smart to be fed up with the generic colic answer and would seek a second opinion asap. Eczema can also be caused by food sensitivities, as I'm sure you also know. Best of luck to you. You'll be in my prayers.
Glutenfreegirl
2007-12-02 12:55:39 UTC
Hi. First, I feel for you, I do!!!

Second, breathe! Ok. Now, it sure sounds like something u are eating is not agreeing with him.

The easiest thing for you to do is to have yourself tested for food allergies and Celiac Disease. If you are allergic or have Celiac, there is a high chance he will (especially Celiac, its hereditary). You can see your doc about this. Both are done by blood tests. (Demand the RAST test for the allergies and then go to www.csaceliacs.org for the specific blood tests u need to do.)

U can also do at home genetic testing for Celiac Disease (autoimmune disease in which u cant eat gluten) from www.enterolab.com. Some ins companies will pay, some will not. U can order the test on yourself and your son. Genetic tests are ideal on babies bc traditional ways to diagnosed Celiac will not work on infants. The genetic test will tell u if u and he carry the genes that lead to Celiac. If ya'll do, you woul dneed to eat gluten free til your done nursing (although the ability of gluten to pass through the bloodstream is debated, I say its worth it to eat gluten free if it may help him!) When he starts solids, if he has Celiac, he'd need to eat gluten free for life.

Dairy intolerance is also common and tested differently but I believe u can have that tested at home by Enterolab also.



The rash leads me to wonder if its not Celiac bc there is a very specific rash associated with Celiac. if one has this rash then they ABSOLUTELY have Celiac and have no need for further testing for Celiac and will need to be Gluten Free for life. A Dermatologist can diagnose the rash. See this site for specifics on it, www.csaceliacs.org. Click on the tab that says "dermatitis Herpetoforis" (I know Im spelling that wrong but u cant miss it. We all just call it DH)



Just remember if u eliminate foods from your diet, any testing for Celiac other than genetic will be inconclusive. One must be eating gluten for blood work and endoscopies to work.

Please feel free to email me for further info and these sites should help:

www.csaceliacs.org

www.celiac.com

www.celiac.org

www.celiaccentral.org
weezah
2007-12-01 20:08:41 UTC
I also would not switch to formula. Eliminating or majorly cutting back dairy and gluten might help.



Tips from the book the Happiest Baby on the Block really helped me. Swaddling my daughter really tight and keeping her close to me(even in a baby carrier) also really helped. Shushing really loud in her ear helped as did movement and vibration(like from a bouncy chair). I hope this helps. Good luck.
kelizabeth326
2007-12-01 21:05:34 UTC
my baby got the rash all over his face, he was spitting up a lot, would cry like he was in pain after he would eat and was constipated...



i took him to the doctor and discovered he was having an allergic reaction to the cow's milk proteins in the regular formula i was giving him. i never breast-fed but if you do decide to bottle feed him then they make formulas that don't have any lactose in them. my son is on enfamil nutramigen and almost all the colic symptoms have gone away in a couple days!
Ilovemyhusband
2007-12-01 20:22:57 UTC
There is currently no generally-accepted medical treatment for colic, and the approach taken by medical professionals varies substantially from country to country and indeed from doctor to doctor. Many believe that the condition is currently untreatable, and is best left to run its course. Other doctors prescribe simethicone, which treats trapped gas; some parents report that this is effective, but for many others it is not, and research suggests that it is not useful.[14]



One study showed a moderate success when infants with colic were treated with dicyclomine, an anti-spasmotic drug commonly found in some anti-diarrheal medications.[15]



Other studies have found success with probiotics such as Lactobacillus reuteri, which were intended to reduce gas.[16]



Gripe water is believed by some to relieve the symptoms associated with baby colic, teething and baby's gas[citation needed].



In addition to herbal teas it is believed that the organoleptic effects of certain herbs can help calm and relieve colic symptoms.



Scientists warn that further studies are necessary before any specific cure should be recommended.[16]



There is general agreement that soothing measures, such as pacifiers, listening to white noise and rocking, are often effective in calming the baby during crying periods. Also known as the "cuddle cure",[17] the five S's are known as Swaddling, placing the baby on their Side or Stomach, Swinging the baby, making a Shhh sound in the baby's ear, and giving the baby something to Suck on. Some parents take turns holding the baby upright (which may reduce the pain and crying) to enable the other parent to catch up on sleep. Babies with lactose intolerance or reflux cry harder and longer when left to lie on their backs, but parents are not advised to put the baby to sleep on their front as it is considered a risk factor for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.



Various tactics, such as changes in diet or routine, an increase in fresh air or certain herbal teas, are popularly believed to cure colic. There is also the theory that rubbing warm olive oil on the hands and feet, then rubbing the stomach with olive oil in a clockwise motion will cure colic. While some of these may help in certain cases, none of them is known to be universally effective. The widespread belief in them may be partly due to the suddenness with which colic naturally resolves itself. Many parents keep trying different approaches until the colic suddenly stops, at which point they presume that the last thing they tried was the cure.



In cases where 'colic' or excessive crying is possibly the infants innate healing mechanism helping them to recover from birth trauma or other past or current stress, appropriate holding and facilitation techniques may be able to increase the effectiveness of the release process and reduce the overall amount of crying time needed. In any case parents may benefit from learning these techniques, as this can help them to cope better psychologically with their child's distress, and to feel more empowered in the midst of an extremely trying situation.





The one thing that worked for my colicy son was me rubbing his tummy like you are massaging it start at the bottom of his stomach and push up a little not too hard continue till you get to the top of his stomach. If that doesnt work hold him across your shoulder putting a little pressure on his tummy and burp him. Really any baby can be colicy cause no oe know why babies have colic so be patient with his doctor and if really get over whelmed make sure he is dry and feed lay him down in his crib on his side let him cry a little go outside breathe for about a couple of minutes then come back in and try tohelp him babies can sense your emotions and they can trigger an undesired effect God bless you
anonymous
2007-12-01 19:55:17 UTC
I have cut way down on dairy since my daughters been born because I strictly breast feed her. She seemed to get better when I cut the dairy to a minimum.
Rocky Raccoon
2007-12-01 20:43:58 UTC
Listen to the advice from "preachers wife" she is right on the money with her info. I do feel your pain, I went thru that with my son 26 years ago and the memory is still there of the exhaustion and lack of sleep. Hang in there and accept any and all offers to help you seek respite from the crying.


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