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Infant colic and feeding difficulties
C Miller-Loncar1, R Bigsby, P High
1Brown Medical School, Department of Pediatrics, Infant Development Center, Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island & E. P. Bradley Hospital, Providence, RI 02905, USA. cynthia_loncar@brown.edu
Archives of Disease in Childhood
|September 24, 2004
Summary
Infants with colic often experience feeding difficulties and gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR), impacting infant regulation and increasing parental stress. These feeding issues may indicate ongoing regulatory problems in colicky infants.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Infant Development
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Colic is a common condition in infants, often associated with excessive crying.
- Feeding difficulties and gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) are frequently reported in infants but their specific relationship with colic requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between colic and feeding difficulties in infants.
- To examine the impact of these feeding challenges on parental functioning.
- To explore the prevalence of gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) in infants with colic.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 43 infants (6-8 weeks old) were divided into colic (n=19) and comparison (n=24) groups.
- Assessments included infant oral motor skills, mother-infant feeding interactions, maternal questionnaires, and abdominal ultrasound for GOR.
- Data were collected across two study visits.
Main Results:
- Infants in the colic group exhibited more disorganized feeding behaviors, less rhythmic sucking, and increased discomfort post-feeding.
- Colic group infants showed higher incidence of GOR via ultrasound and maternal report.
- Mothers of infants in the colic group reported significantly higher levels of parenting stress.
Conclusions:
- This study provides initial evidence linking feeding problems to a subgroup of infants diagnosed with colic.
- The findings highlight the detrimental effects of feeding difficulties on both infant and parental well-being.
- The observed association suggests that feeding and regulatory issues may be interconnected in infants with significant colic symptoms.