Colic is defined as repeated episodes of excessive and inconsolable crying in a newborn baby who otherwise appears to be perfectly healthy. The condition affects up to 1 in 5 babies.
Symptoms of colic can include:
Crying for at least 3 hours a day, at least 3 days a week, for at least 3 weeks
Colief® is a natural product which is added to expressed breast milk or infant formula before the baby is fed. The active ingredient in Colief® is lactase, a safe, naturally occurring enzyme produced within the small intestine. Colief® is not a medication.
Colief ® Infant Drops is suitable for use from birth.
The only ingredients in Colief® are lactase enzyme (which should be naturally present in a normal, developed digestive system), glycerol (or “glycerine”-which is also naturally present in the body as part of the process of converting fats to energy), and water. None of these ingredients has ever been shown to pose a risk to health.
Please store below 77°F/ 25°C and in an upright position. Once opened refrigerate when possible and discard after 3 months. Very high temperatures will reduce the effectiveness of the drops, but it does take some time before that happens. Temperatures above 131°F/ 55°C will rapidly reduce effectiveness.
Not at refrigerator temperature. The drops work very slowly on milk that is already chilled. The ideal temperature for the enzymes to work properly is between room temperature and body temperature-neither too hot nor too cold. This is why we recommend that the drops be added when the formula is first prepared then allowed to cool to body temperature.
Yes, though the latest advice from health experts is that bottles should be prepared as and when required. The bottles should be prepared as normal and allowed to cool to body temperature (not hot, not cold). Add 2 drops of Colief® per feeding and place them in a refrigerator for a minimum of 4 hours. Take the feedings from the refrigerator as required.
If prepared in advance, we recommend 12 hours as a maximum limit for keeping milk treated with Colief®, even when stored in a refrigerator. After 4 hours, most of the lactose will be broken down and there will be little more activity thereafter. It is not good practice to keep prepared formula for too long, even in a refrigerator.
When babies begin taking milk treated with Colief®, there may be a change in stool pattern. The stools may then resemble those of a breastfed baby-looser and more frequent-even if formula feeding. If you are happy that the baby is otherwise well, gaining weight and urinating normally, there should be no cause for concern. If the drops seem to be working well, you might try reducing the number of drops used at each feed.
If you have any concerns regarding your baby’s health, you should consult a health care professional as soon as possible.
Warm the formula, add 4 drops of Colief® to the warm (not hot) formula. Wait 30 minutes, shaking the formula occasionally, then feed the baby as normal, making sure the formula is at the correct temperature. Discard any unused formula.
Once opened, the ready-made formula must be kept refrigerated and used according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Colief® works best in warm milk. Colief® should not be added to milk at refrigerator temperature.
If drops were given directly to the baby, the acid in the upper digestive tract would quickly change the nature of the enzyme and render Colief® ineffective. However, mixing 4 drops of Colief® with a little expressed foremilk* appears to protect the active ingredient, lactase enzyme. The foremilk preparation provides a lining to the baby’s upper digestive tract, mixing with the breast milk and working to reduce the lactose level of the milk.
We believe that in this form, the enzyme has an effective “working life” of approximately 30 minutes. Laboratory trials have shown that 4 drops of Colief® in 3.38 fl oz of infant milk at body temperature will break down approximately 70% of the lactose in 30 minutes.
* Foremilk contains a concentration of the lactose in breast milk.
If you are feeding this frequently, you may find it convenient to express approximately half a cup of foremilk* and store this in a refrigerator. Pour a few tablespoons, warm it to body temperature, add Colief, and give this to your baby before each feeding.
If the feedings are small-say 50ml each-you may be able to use only 2 drops of Colief per feeding. It is worth remembering that most of the lactose is concentrated in the foremilk at the beginning of every feeding.
* Foremilk contains a concentration of the lactose in breast milk.
Option 1: Express a single feeding, and while still at body temperature, pour this into a suitable container. Add 2 drops of Colief® and place the breast milk in a refrigerator for 4 hours. Then use as required or freeze for future use. Do not place the breast milk straight in the freezer after adding the drops.
Option 2: Take a single serving of frozen breast milk from the freezer, thaw and heat gently to body temperature. Then add 4 drops of Colief® and use after 30 minutes.
Note: It is important to add Colief® only to milk that is at body temperature: do not add the drops to milk that is either hot or cold. Also discard any milk that is unused once thawed. Do not refreeze.
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