GENERAL
FAQs

Reflux can also be a reason why your baby is unsettled. Reflux is often an underlying symptom of colic. Gas in the intestine can cause pressure on the contents of the stomach, which may be vomited or come up into the throat with stomach acid causing discomfort. This can happen when the closure at the top of your baby’s stomach is not fully mature and easily opens after feeding.

Sometimes the contents of your baby’s stomach can come up into the throat or mouth and be swallowed back down. This is called silent reflux. This can be confusing as there may be no obvious sign of the symptoms and may not include vomiting.

Babies may cry after feeding or make a screwed up face like they have tasted something bad. Coughing, gulping or breathing difficulties may also indicate silent reflux.

Babies with reflux often vomit a lot even between feeds and they are sometimes fussy feeders or like to feed a lot due to their discomfort, they can also be slow to gain weight. Some babies are unfortunate enough to suffer from both reflux and colic and it can also be hard to tell the difference between the two conditions.

Colic symptoms occur because of trapped wind. Reflux occurs where the closure at the top of the stomach and the opening of the oesophagus is loose and allows regurgitation of stomach contents back into the oesophagus. The stomach contents are acidic, and this can cause pain and discomfort.

Babies with colic tend to have an immature digestive system, which means that they don’t have the right type or amount or diversity of bacteria necessary for them to be able to fully digest and absorb all the milk that is passing through their system at any one time.
It tends to be the protein in breast milk or formula that babies have difficulty breaking down. If this protein remains undigested, it will move from the stomach into the bowel where it will start to ferment. As it ferments, it will produce pockets of gas that can become trapped in the bowel, causing it to spasm and contract. This spasming causes babies a great deal of pain and discomfort, and results in colic symptoms and unsettled behaviours.

Babies often swallow air during feeding. Air that is swallowed may cause bloating, burping, gas and abdominal pain. Babies will try to move gas that is not far enough along the digestive tract for them to pass as wind by squirming and arching. It is important to burp your baby during and after feeding to prevent exacerbation of colic symptoms. When babies are uncomfortable, they may want to comfort feed which can compound the problem by overloading the system with excess milk.

Babies with colic can have any or all the following symptoms. They may draw their knees up towards their chest, clench their fists and go red in the face. Sometimes they can arch their back and go stiff through their body and legs. Their tummies can be hard and bloated and they can be very gassy or windy. Your baby may wriggle and squirm. They may be noisy and grunt and may let out little random screams or squeals if asleep or resting quietly. Surprisingly, babies with colic do not always cry excessively but can be unsettled for long periods and be hard to soothe.

Our products can help to lessen the pressure in your baby’s stomach by dissolving trapped gas and preventing pain caused by gut spasming and cramping. Once gas is effectively cleared your baby should be able to feed and settle better without discomfort.
Initially it will take 48 hours to clear gas that has been built up over time.

Once settled, babies can potentially drink greater volumes of milk and this can lead to stomach overload and possible vomiting.
It is important that you do not overfill your baby and allow enough time between feeds for adequate digestion.

Our solutions also have some antacid properties that can reduce the effect of burning pain caused by acid reflux.Other reflux medication may be required.

The main discomfort caused by colic is from gas that is trapped in the gut that cannot easily be passed as wind and cannot be burped. This can be worsened by air that is swallowed during feeding or during crying. Air will mostly come to the surface when burping your baby but can slowly pass into your baby’s gut and cause discomfort.

It is helpful to reduce the amount of air your baby swallows during feeding. If your baby is breastfed make sure their lips have a good seal on the nipple at all times. A lactation consultant can advise you if your baby’s latch is uncomfortable, or if you feel they are gulping air while feeding.

If bottle fed, your baby’s mouth should seal around the base of the teat, not just the tip. Tilt the bottle so there is only milk coming into the mouth and no air. A teat size that is too big may also contribute to more air being swallowed.

It can help to burp your baby midway and after feeding to prevent air passing into the intestine. Immediately after feeding, keep your baby upright, this will help them to burp. If they are already uncomfortable, try lying your baby on their back and move their legs in a bicycle motion or give them some time on their tummies.

Generally Colic symptoms will resolve within a three-month period, but it can be weeks or months depending on the baby. Research suggests that babies with colic may have an imbalance in the bacteria in their digestive system. This may be the reason that they produce excessive gas and have difficulty digesting their feeds effectively. Colic may occur more frequently in babies born by caesarean section as these babies do not benefit from gut bacteria transferred from their mothers in the birthing process. Bacteria from breast feeding and the birth process can help to seed the baby’s gut with essential bacteria necessary for the digestion of milk. Current evidence suggests that the use of probiotics to encourage the development of gut flora, significantly reduces the time a baby suffers from colic symptoms.

Probiotics that are made from single strain human breast milk bacteria interact better with your baby’s gut, and have been shown to improve digestion and to strengthen the immune system. Probiotics create bacterial balance and diversity in your baby’s digestive system, and help your baby to digest milk protein efficiently without producing gas. Once they can do this colic symptoms will pass.

There are many probiotics on the market. The quality and type of probiotic you choose is important as it will address the primary problem and help your baby get over this colic period faster.

Every baby with symptoms of colic should see a doctor to rule out any underlying conditions.

Babies who have feeding difficulties or frequent vomiting, with difficulty gaining weight and or a family history of allergy, should be properly diagnosed before dietary changes or medications are considered.

When babies cry continuously, there is a tendency to want to settle them by feeding.

As an immature gut may be the underlying reason for colic, overfeeding and feeding too often can worsen colic symptoms by placing more strain on a baby’s immature digestive system. Lengthening the time between feeds can help your baby to fully digest before their next feed.

Some babies may get too much of the lactose rich foremilk and not enough of the nutrient rich hind milk when feeding. The sugar in foremilk can cause increased gas, pain, irritability and green frothy bowel motions.

Lactose overload can happen in situations of breast milk oversupply or a fast let down reflex. A large volume of low fat feed (foremilk) will go through a baby’s system quickly producing gas and making bowel motions more acidic. This can lead to nappy rash and the baby being more unsettled. Consult your doctor or lactation consultant if you think your baby may have lactose overload.

Colic may be partly the result of food intolerance. Dietary changes can make a difference in some babies with colic. Limiting the intake of gas producing foods may be beneficial. True lactose intolerance or milk protein allergy is rare and should be assessed for by your doctor.