On Wed, 25 Oct 2000 12:58:49 +0800, Joy Anderson <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >>In addition, colic has never been proven to be the result of >>indigestion and certainly not as a result of over-feeding. > >Kate, with respect, I disagree. I do agree that there is some very >inappropriate stuff on this site (especially the scheduling >information), but in my experience, one of the commonest causes of >colic is 'oversupply', 'OALD', 'foremilk/hindmilk imbalance', >'functional lactase deficiency' or whatever you want to call it. To >the mothers, I call it 'too much milk, too fast'! > >It is simple lactose overload when baby gets more milk than he can >digest efficiently, so the excess lactose gets to the bowel where it >is fermented by bacteria to produce acid stools and gas. Voila - >colic pains! Baby cries in pain and wants to suck (as that's the only >comfort he knows), so mother interprets that as hunger, feeds him >again, and perpetuates the cycle. These babies often don't go to >sleep after feeds - they scream! > I think there is a great difference between "oversupply" (aka hindmilk/ foremilk imbalance and Overactive Ejection Reflex) and classic "colic." Sears and others have differentiated the two. From what I understand, if you can pinpoint the cause and treat it, it's NOT colic. "Colic" is really more a syndrome of a hard to settle, easy to disorganize/overstimulate baby. It has little to do with his/her tummy. Using one breast for a 2-4 hour period and removing the baby during the first ejection in each session is a great treatment for oversupply or OER, if the baby also has the neurological-personality of the "Fussy Baby" s/he is STILL going to cry/scream/fuss until s/he gets a little older and organizes better. I have to, respectfully, agree withe Kate. Mary Jozwiak IBCLC, LLLL, AAPL Private Practice *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html