Does Your Baby Have Colic?

I know what you are going through, I had two babies and both had colic. It’s a horrible trauma for you and the baby, the constant crying, not knowing what to do and everything you try does not help so you feel like screaming. I do understand I couldn’t even take a shower without having my mother come over to help with the baby I even threw my neck out stifling a sneeze because I finally got her to sleep and didn’t want to wake her! I tried every wives tale my mother had from mixing my own formulas (after trying every possible solution from the pediatrician) to putting the baby seat on the washer for the vibration to gently shake the gas out, enemas, mylicon drops, peppermint, you name it I tried it (and breast fed babies get colic too). Then a miracle happened I stumbled upon trying goat’s milk and it worked!! Within 2 weeks there was blissful peace aww.

There are no medical “reasons” or clear cut definition for colic it is the diagnosis you get when everything else has been ruled out. There are theories behind colic because doctors and researchers still have no clue to what colic really is but the signs are usually constant crying, especially at certain times of the day, their belly is hard, stools are hard to pass, they pull their legs up and stiffen, it’s a horrible condition for all involved you don’t want your baby in pain and you want to rip your hair out from frustration and lack of rest. Some of the theories out there on what colic may be are GERD (gastroesophageal reflux), allergy, lactose intolerance, constipation, the list goes on but the bottom line is it is suffering with no relief.

Goat’s milk does work and has shown to be a good supplement to breast milk such as in between breast feedings and the baby makes the transition well from one to the other unlike using other substitutes. Replacing or substituting goat’s milk for other infant formulas has the same benefits, such as stopping colic, baby is more satisfied between feedings, it protects the lining of the digestive tract, plus speeds the assimilation of nutrients and with the vitamin drops usually given to baby’s any nutrient deficits should be nonexistent.

Goat’s milk is a change we all should consider since it has high nutritional value and more benefits than cow’s milk. Let me present some facts about goat’s milk that are pretty impressive first goat’s milk has more buffering capacity than over the counter (OTC) antacids to reduce indigestion, soothes an irritated stomach and intestines, important when dealing with colic. Studies at the USDA and Prairie View A&M University of Texas confirmed that goat’s milk has more buffering capacity than cow’s milk, soy infant formula, and OTC antacids. Goat’s milk has an alkaline reaction, same as breast milk.

Goat’s milk is the dairy product with the highest levels of the amino acid L-glutamine which is an alkalinizing amino acid that is an important fuel source for the body and has multiple and critical functions for the heart, brain, skeletal muscles, digestive linings, liver, lungs, and kidneys, often recommended by nutritionist’s. Goat’s milk does not produce acid within the intestinal system which is good considering acidic blood and intestinal pH levels can cause fatigue, headaches, muscle aches/pains, sore pressure points, weight gain, blood sugar imbalance, and excess yeast populations. Goat’s milk contains the highly antimicrobial fatty acids called capric and caprylic acids which are so powerful at killing bacteria that these particular fatty acids killed the bacteria used to test for the presence of antibiotics in cow’s milk as reported by the New England Journal of Medicine. Also unlike cow’s milk which is known to produce mucous as a result of an immune response from our body goat’s milk does not stimulate this response.

There is a trace mineral called selenium that is commonly lacking in the body though it is a necessary and power-packed nutrient. According to the Journal of Infectious Disease and Patrick selenium helps the body in two ways, controlling the immune system by upgrading when necessary and by downgrading it when it is over-active (as in auto-immune disease). This powerful nutrient also attacks viruses and prevents them from replicating while also improving T-cell function (T-cells are our white blood cells, our soldiers in our immune system that fight illness). Selenium also regulates the production of interleukin another fighter for the immune system and a deficiency in selenium has been linked to HIV/AIDS and other viral diseases. In a publication by the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemicals goat’s milk has the highest source of this powerhouse nutrient (selenium) than any other milk. Goat’s milk contains more than 2.5 times the selenium than powdered infant formula (19.98mg/L vs. 7.47mg/L) 35% (19.98mg/L vs. 14.85mg/L) more than cow’s milk and even more than breast milk which contains 15.69mg/L vs. 19.98mg/L.

Goat’s milk contains 7% less lactose than cow’s milk which makes it digest rapidly and does not sit in the intestines to ferment causing an osmotic imbalance that in turn causes digestive upset. Goat’s milk digests in a baby’s stomach within 20 minutes where cow’s milk takes up to 8 hours, more likely to cause stomach issues. This rapid digestion is due to smaller protein molecules than cow’s milk which means the curd tension is half that of cow’s milk. These curds form in the digestive tract when they come in contact with stomach acid so less curd tension means easier digestion.

From the Journal of Pediatrics, goat’s milk is also non-allergenic, as explained before it does not stimulate the immune system the way cow’s milk does. A child allergic to cow’s milk will show symptoms such as wheezing, congestion, eczema, frequent ear infections, digestive issues, skin rashes and more; switching to goat’s milk has helped a vast majority of the children suffering from these symptoms.

Here is a link to a comparison chart of nutritional value between breast, cow’s, goat’s milk, and a liver based non dairy homemade formula:

http://www.rockwellnutrition.com/Can-I-use-Goat-Milk-instead-of-infant-formula_ep_92-1.html#breastmilkcomparison

Note some of the most vital nutrients needed for proper development are higher in goat’s milk.

Here’s another comparison chart for active and inactive properties of these milk’s:

BreastMilk_RawMilk_vs_Infant_Formula.pdf

With the question of should I breast feed there are considerations to take into account since many factors influence the breast milk that will in turn affect your baby. Some of the things to consider is your diet, adverse habits such as drug use (legal or non) even prior to giving birth, other health conditions that may prevent beneficial nursing, and factors such as stress or emotional problems, any malady that affects the mother will affect the baby. So if the answer to any of those questions is yes and you want a safe natural alternative that is comparable to breast milk than goat’s milk is the solution.

According to the National Association for Child Development (NACD) “Goat’s milk is the best food for baby, it compares in chemical balance to a mother’s milk, and nature built the mother’s milk to nurture, not to harm.”

Pasteurized cow’s milk is not an option for many reasons but mainly it does not compare to raw goat’s milk since it has none of the vital qualities as raw goat milk and is constipating, something a baby with colic does not need. As noted by the NACD “Calves fed pasteurized milk have died within a month, never use pasteurized milk if health is your goal.”

The Journal of the American Medical Association states “The goat is the healthiest domestic animal known goat milk is superior in every way to cow’s milk. Goat milk is the ideal food for babies, convalescents, and invalids, especially those with weakened digestive powers. Goat milk is the most healthful and complete food known.” I highly recommend reading the article on the NACD website: http://nacd.org/health/protocol.php.

The qualities and benefits of goat’s milk are unparalleled and deserve the attention of everyone who wants to improve their health and cannot tolerate cow’s milk or breast milk for any reason, it is a safe and natural alternative. Besides the fact that pasteurization has its definite disadvantages to the quality of dairy you need to consider the hormones and antibiotics that are given to the cows on a regular basis in the industry. Recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) also known as recombinant bovine somatotropin, (rBST) has been in use for over 10 years and is a staple in America’s dairy products. These dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yogurt, do not have labels stating these hormones are in them, the reason for these hormones is intended to induce dairy cows to be more productive. The Center for Food Safety states that the hormone rBGH was approved in 1993 by the FDA and has ignored pleas from consumers, food safety organizations, and scientists against the use of this hormone, or at least labeling the products so people know it is in there. Even a legal challenge by CFS would not force the FDA to at least reexamine the health threats of rBGH, this even after regulatory bodies in both Canada and Europe rejected the use of the hormone due to numerous animal and human health concerns.

The cows treated with this hormone, rBGH, develop significant health problems such as: 50% increase in the risk of lameness (leg and foot problems), 25% increases in udder infections (mastitis), serious reproductive problems (i.e., infertility, cystic ovaries, fetal loss and birth defects). The vicious cycle that incurs is that because of these health problems in the cows, dairy farmers use more antibiotics to fight these infections and the residues from these antibiotics may also end up in the milk and dairy products. “These residues can cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals and contribute to the growth of antibiotic resistant bacteria, further undermining the efficacy of some antibiotics in fighting human infections” as stated by the Center for Food Safety. With this understanding people should realize the relationship between this and the “super bugs” that have become popular these days along with the fact they are resistant to regular antibiotics. Bringing to light the possible links between the rBGH hormone and its ill effects on cows that is then transferred to their milk and dairy products mean consumers ingest these products and could be causing the same ill effects in them.

Also according to the Center for Food Safety (2008) recent research has conclusively shown that the levels of a hormone called “insulin-like growth factor-1” (IFG-1) are increased in dairy products that come from cows treated with rBGH. The FDA completely failed to consider a study done by Canadian and European regulators that showed how the increased IGF-1 in rBGH milk can survive human digestion and find its way into the intestines and blood stream of consumers. Numerous studies show the significance of these findings because they prove that IGF-1 is an important factor in the growth of breast, prostate and colon cancers.

The CFS has been legally fighting the FDA for the removal of these hormones, Monsanto’s rBGH/rBST, (trade name Prosilac), for years and continues to do so despite constant denials from the FDA. Note: this information, in regards to hormones and antibiotics include the meat people consume too, mostly beef.

So considering all these facts you be the judge in what’s best for you and your baby’s health, be informed and make decisions that protect your family’s health and wellness. Don’t be fooled by the ads for products that have little to no nutritional value in the long run and are tainted by chemicals the human body was not designed to take in.

I lived with 2 baby’s that had colic and the only thing that worked was goat’s milk, I urge you to research it, consider it for your baby and your whole family, believe me when I say it saved me from the insanity that is colic.

To find certified organic raw milk go to http://www.realmilk.com/where2.html and search your state.

(Extra fact: Mylicon drops for infant colic contain D&C Red 22 and D&C Red 28 dyes which are made from petrochemicals and are linked to hyperactivity, impulsivity, ADHD, and learning problems in children (Center for Science in the Public Interest). Stay away from ANY food dyes they are dangerous to everyone.

There has been a recent recall on Mylicon drops for metal fragments: http://www.mylicon.com/page.jhtml?id=mylicon/press_release.inc

References:

Ansel, M.D., D. (1999). Infant colic. Retrieved June 27, 2009, from Childrens Medical Office of North Andover, P.C. Web site: http://www.chmed.com/mod.php?mod=userpage&page_id=101&menu=1522

Center for Food and Safety, (2008). rBGH / rBST. Retrieved January 25, 2009, from

Center for Food and Safety Web site: http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/rbgh2.cfm

Center for Science in the Public Interest, (2009). Food dyes & children's behavior. Retrieved June 27, 2009, from Center for Science in the Public Interest Web site: http://www.cspinet.org/fooddyes/index.html

Rockwell Nutrition, (2008). Can I use goat milk instead of infant formula. Retrieved June 27, 2009, from Rockwell Nutrition Web site: http://www.rockwellnutrition.com/Can-I-use-Goat-Milk-instead-of-infant-formula_ep_92-1.html#breastmilkcomparison

The National Association for Childhood Developement, (2008). Nutritional Protocol for Infants - Ages 0 to 2 years. Retrieved June 27, 2009, from The National Association for Childhood Developement Web site: http://nacd.org/health/protocol.php

White Egret Farm, (2009). Why it's a Better Choice for You and Your Child: the Facts . Retrieved June 27, 2009, from White Egret Farm Web site: http://www.whiteegretfarm.com/html/milk.html

World's Healthiest Foods, (2009). Goat's milk: In-depth nutrition analysis. Retrieved June 27, 2009, from World's Healthiest Foods Web site: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=nutrientprofile&dbid=56

World's Healthiest Foods, (2009). Milk, goat. Retrieved June 27, 2009, from World's Healthiest Foods Web site: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=131

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