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Colic in a newborn: what to do. Causes of colic in infants. When does colic end in newborns?

Colic in a newborn: what to do. Causes of colic in infants. When does colic end in newborns?

In this article:

Colic in newborns requires proper treatment, because this problem prevents the baby from growing and developing calmly. Discomfort occurs in the tummy for no apparent reason and causes the baby to cry uncontrollably and writhe in pain. Parents are often ready to do anything to protect their child from suffering and sleep peacefully.

Colic and gas in newborns are common companions in the first three months of life; symptomatic treatment will help cope with abdominal pain and make it easier to endure this difficult period.

How can a mother help her child?

No one knows the needs of a baby better than his mother, which is why she usually has to deal with the treatment of colic in newborns on her own. To help and calm your child, you have to use not only medications to improve the passage of gases. Often maternal tenderness and warmth allow the baby to relax in her own arms and fall asleep, forgetting about the pain in the stomach.

Tips to ease your baby's condition:

A good way to help a baby get rid of not only pain, but also the stress that it causes, is to place the baby on the mother's stomach. In this case, close contact between the bodies should be ensured by removing clothes and diapers. The warmth of the mother's breast, natural breathing over the ear and pressure exerted on the tummy will calm the baby and ensure the release of gases.
Massage the anterior abdominal wall, performing clockwise movements and applying moderate pressure on the loops of the colon, which will enhance peristalsis and ensure the removal of feces and excess air.
Gymnastic exercises are a good way not only to strengthen a child’s muscle corset, but also to save him from digestive problems. Take the baby's legs with your palms and alternately press one or the other to the stomach, as if riding a bicycle.
Another simple option for physical activity is the “fold” exercise. Raise the baby's straight lower limbs so that his hips rest against his stomach. Such light pressure will stimulate the intestines and increase their motility.
Another affordable option for saving a child from colic is dancing together. Take him in your arms and, holding him tightly to you, make rocking movements from side to side. This method has a calming effect and allows the baby to fall asleep.

To cope with colic in a newborn, you should adhere to complex treatment tactics, because medicine still does not know the exact reasons that cause abdominal discomfort in infants.

The fight against colic includes the following methods:

psychological - physical contact and closeness of the mother allow the baby to calm down and forget about pain;
medicinal – taking herbal preparations and drugs that have a carminative effect;
physiotherapeutic – dry heat on the stomach;
mechanical – abdominal wall massage and gymnastics;
nutrition correction - eliminating foods that cause fermentation in the intestines from the nursing mother’s menu;
traditional medicine - decoctions of herbs and plants.

Diet

In such a situation, a woman needs to reconsider her diet and limit foods that cause increased gas formation:

peas, beans and lentils;
Rye bread;
yeast baked goods;
pears, grapes;
kvass and carbonated drinks;
cabbage.

But often the food that a woman eats plays a secondary role in the occurrence of colic, so the reason may lie in something else.

Physiotherapy

The best way to relieve colic in an infant through physical therapy is to apply dry heat to the abdominal area.

Take a piece of thick flannel fabric and fold it to form a small square pad. Iron it to make the diaper warm, apply it to the newborn's belly and hold it until it cools down. Heat relieves spasms well and allows you to relax the muscles of the anterior abdominal wall.

Clinical methods of physiotherapy can also be used, including:

ozokerite treatment;
magnetic therapy;
SMT therapy (sinusoidally modulated current).

Drug treatment

There is a popular opinion that colic in newborn boys is much more pronounced, which is why drug treatment is more often used in them, although this is not an entirely true statement, because this disease can appear in absolutely any child.

Colic in newborns can be treated with medications , the action of which is aimed at combating increased gas formation:

– the powder is based on fennel fruits; to obtain a solution it must be diluted with water. During the day, the child is allowed to drink about 100 ml of the resulting drink.
Baby Calm is a medicine consisting of a mixture of dill, fennel and peppermint oils. Measure out the required amount of solution and dilute with water.
– emulsion preparation based on Simethicone. During an attack, pour 25 drops and give to the baby.
Bobotik is a milky-white viscous liquid containing Simethicone. Can be used from the second month of a baby’s life, 8 drops after feeding.
Bebinos is a herbal medicine based on chamomile, coriander and fennel. Dissolve 20 drops in a glass of water and give it to your baby to drink.

Traditional methods

In many cases, in order to eliminate colic in newborns, there is no need to give the child medication for treatment, because pain can be reduced at home using “grandmother’s” methods.

However, before you begin to help yourself, it is better to take your baby to a pediatrician so that he can examine him and confirm that the cause of restless behavior is discomfort in the tummy.

Traditional recipes for relieving colic in newborns:

After feeding, give your baby dill water to drink. This product can be bought at a pharmacy, but not in every one, but only where there is a prescription department, because the solution is prepared on the spot and has a short shelf life. You can also prepare a dill decoction at home. To do this, take the seeds of the plant, rub in a mortar or grind in a coffee grinder, pour the resulting powder into 300 ml of hot water and place in a dark place so that the decoction infuses. After cooling to room temperature, strain the liquid through gauze and offer the child to drink, starting with 10-15 ml, gradually increasing the amount.
An alternative option is carrot seeds. Pour 2 tablespoons into a thermos and pour 500 ml of boiling water. After steeping for about 40 minutes and removing the impurities, give the resulting tea to your baby to drink.
A decoction of chamomile has a good calming effect, so it is best to offer it before bed. Place 1 sachet in a cup and pour boiling water over it. After cooling, the drink can be consumed.

Prevention

Coping with intestinal colic in newborns, as well as treating them, is not always easy; it is much easier to organize the care of the baby and his feeding in such a way as to prevent their occurrence. A special condition called colic is not an independent disease. This is rather a symptom indicating that the digestive system is not yet fully functioning due to a lack of necessary enzymes that accelerate the digestion of baby food.

One of the main tasks of parents is to help the baby in such a difficult period of life and alleviate his suffering.

In order to reduce the likelihood of intestinal colic, you should follow certain recommendations:

Before each feeding, place the baby on the stomach and leave it there for 15 minutes.
After your baby has drunk the formula or after breastfeeding, hold him in an upright position. This is necessary so that the air that enters the stomach with food comes out naturally through regurgitation, and does not penetrate further into the intestines and lead to cutting pain in the abdomen.
If your baby is breastfed, pay attention to how he takes the breast. When latched correctly, the baby's mouth should contain not only the nipple, but also the dark circle that surrounds it, called the areola. The nose fits tightly to the skin of the mother's breast, and the lips are turned out. Listen to the sounds your baby makes while sucking. When applied correctly, you will not hear any extraneous clicks or smacking sounds. If the nipple latching technique is violated, air enters the mouth and penetrates further into the gastrointestinal tract, which can lead to the development of colic.
When feeding a newborn with a bottle, use specially designed anti-colic nipples, and also ensure that air accumulates at the bottom of the container.
When the baby is breastfed naturally, the mother will have to reconsider her eating habits and eliminate from the daily menu those foods that can lead to increased formation of gases in the baby’s intestines. Increased gas formation is observed after the mother eats some legumes, as well as some types of fruit or confectionery.

Treatment of colic in newborns occupies an important place in modern pediatrics, but not only doctors should know effective therapeutic methods for getting rid of this condition in infants. Knowledge about basic methods of abdominal massage, gymnastics, as well as approved medications will help a young mother relieve her baby of abdominal pain and give good nights not only to herself and the child, but also to other family members.

Useful video on how to relieve a newborn’s condition with colic

Colic is a common cause of crying in newborn babies. Almost all parents face a phenomenon that threatens mothers with more than one sleepless night. The cause of colic is most often the adaptation of the baby’s digestive organs to independent feeding. A few tips for relieving colic will help ease the little man’s condition.

The main causes of colic in newborns

are nothing more than intestinal spasms due to increased formation of gases .

A healthy and cheerful baby suddenly starts crying, and his tummy becomes bloated and hard. The baby begins to suffer from intestinal spasms, while the child screams and blushes, presses his legs to his tummy or arches. The processes of the occurrence of infantile colic are still not fully understood.

Medicine cites the following reasons as more likely sources of discomfort in newborns:

Immaturity of the neuromuscular system responsible for the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract	At the moment of birth, the baby's ventricle is sterilely clean. With the mother's first milk, it is filled not only with nutrients, but also with beneficial microorganisms, which later form the intestinal microflora. At birth, the baby’s body is still protected by the mother’s hormones; over time, their effect weakens. If by this time the intestinal microflora is not yet sufficiently developed, the baby begins to suffer from colic . Since in the body of the crumbs there are not only useful, but also conditionally pathogenic microorganisms. The predominance of the latter leads to poor digestion of food (especially in children who are bottle-fed), what causes constipation or increased gas .
Insufficient enzyme production (lactase deficiency)	Like mother's milk, they are digested under the influence of enzymes to break down milk. Colic occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough lactose to process sugar. contained in milk. As the child grows, the need for milk increases, and the insufficiently productive work of enzymes cannot cope with the load on the baby’s stomach.
	Often during feeding, due to the baby’s incorrect position, he takes in air along with milk , which causes regurgitation and colic. In addition, if the baby is weak or simply lazy, the breastfeeding time does not exceed 20 minutes. During this time, the baby does not have time to reach the most beneficial hind milk. . Foremilk contains a large amount of carbohydrates, which serve as initiators of the fermentation process in the baby's body.
Malnutrition of a nursing mother	The cause of colic in a baby may be the mother’s poor diet during lactation. . Eating excess amounts of sweet or starchy foods (especially brown bread), as well as legumes, fresh vegetables and fruits, or natural cow's milk. In artificial infants, the source of colic can be an incorrectly selected formula.
Reaction to physical and psychological stimuli	Many parents have no idea that The cause of colic may be the baby’s increased sensitivity to physical or psychological discomfort . A wet diaper, cold, hunger or poor health or mood can also cause colic.

When does colic begin and how long does it last in newborns?

Over many years of observation, experts have identified a common trend for all newborns, which they call the “rule of three”:

Rule #1

Colic begins to bother the baby from the beginning of the third week of life.

Rule #2

The total duration of colic is up to three hours a day.

Rule #3

Colic causes problems for your baby until about three months of age.

Colic attacks usually begin at the same time in a child. This usually occurs after feeding in the evening or night hours. . The duration of the attack can be from 30 minutes to 2-3 hours, until the baby copes with the trouble himself or adults help him.

At the age of 3–4 months, the baby’s digestive system fully adapts to nutrition. Enzyme glands begin to function fully, and colic gradually ceases tormenting the baby. If this does not happen, you should consult a doctor to promptly identify problems with the child’s digestion.

How to get rid of colic in an infant

To alleviate the torment of the baby caused by painful sensations, parents use various methods and drugs.

Medicines against colic in newborns

Just 2-3 decades ago you could buy in any pharmacy dill water , which was used to feed babies during colic attacks. The medicine coped well with its functions, quickly bringing relief to the child. Today in pharmacies you can buy various granulated teas for newborns , which mainly contain fennel.

The most commonly used medications for colic are those in the form of emulsions or suspensions.

The most famous of them include:

Espumisan (emulsion)	The drug is an emulsion with a pleasant odor, made on the basis of activated dimethicone. The medicine successfully relieves pain, relieving the baby of gases accumulated in the intestines . Eliminating colic, the drug does not have a negative effect on the intestines and is excreted from the body along with feces. The advantage of espumisan is the absence of lactose and sugar.
Baby Calm (emulsion)	The drug contains oils from dill, anise and mint seeds, due to which it has a specific smell. Baby Calm is a nutritional supplement that is given to the baby before feeding. The drug can give, so at the first dose you need to give the baby no more than 2-3 drops .
Bifiform baby (suspension)	The suspension, which combines 2 fractions - powder and oil, includes probiotics and prebiotics. They normalize intestinal microflora, helping to reduce discomfort and the likelihood of colic. .
Infacol (suspension)	Infacol is a homogeneous translucent suspension with an orange odor. The drug contains simethicone, which combines small bubbles in the baby’s intestines, forming free gases that are easily removed from the body .
Sub Simplex (suspension)	The same as in Infacol, the main active ingredient in Sub Simplex is simethicone, therefore the drug has a similar effect on the baby’s body .

Today, pharmacists offer a large number of medications to help your baby cope with colic. As a rule, all these means are quite expensive. Our parents raised us without these miracles, so young mothers can gain experience from the older generation.

Folk remedies to help with colic in newborns

Folk remedies that incorporate the experience of many generations of parents can help a baby cope with colic no worse than modern medicines:

Gas outlet tube . Not all young mothers are familiar with such a simple thing. At one time, our mothers and grandmothers used it. If the pharmacy does not have such a device for removing gases, you can use a regular, small enema with the top of the pear cut off.
Warm diaper for tummy . The diaper is folded into several words, ironed or heated in any other way. A warm cloth is applied to the baby’s tummy and pulled tightly towards the baby’s body. Heat helps relieve pain and ease the passage of gas.
Contact with mom . Instead of a warm diaper, you can simply take the baby in your arms, pressing your tummy to you. The warmth and closeness of a loved one will help the baby calm down, and gentle rocking will help the baby fall asleep.
Dill water . To prepare it, you need to purchase dried fennel at the pharmacy. 2-3 grams of herb are poured into a glass of boiling water and infused for 20-30 minutes. Dill water must be cooled and given to the baby 1 teaspoon after mixing with breast milk or formula.

Massage and gymnastics for colic in infants

Using massage for colic helps many children get rid of gases traveling through the ventricle. Any mother can do this procedure on her own.

To do this you need:

Place the baby on a hard surface, tummy up.
Using light movements with an open palm, stroke the body from the navel to the groin area for 2 minutes.
Fold your palm and continue stroking, slightly increasing the pressure.
With both hands, stroke the tummy on both sides, performing diagonal movements from the ribs to the groin.
Do the same, pointing one hand up and the other down.
Massage the tummy in a circular motion around the navel in a clockwise direction, gradually increasing the pressure.
Pull the baby's legs towards the stomach and hold for about 30 seconds. At the same time, the baby may begin to push. This is a normal reaction for him.
With the legs bent, make the baby “bicycle.” Pressing your feet on your stomach is the best way to promote digestion.

The use of massage for colic has a relaxing effect on the child, while intestinal function improves, which promotes the gentle passage of gases. In addition, this is facilitated by frequently placing the baby on his tummy.

Just don't do this right after feeding!

Prevention of colic in newborns

Before you start feeding, you need to pay attention to the baby's tummy. If he is bloated, you must first help him get rid of accumulated gases and only then start feeding.

To reduce the likelihood of colic , put your baby to the breast correctly. The entrapment of air along with milk provokes increased gas formation.
After feeding the baby, be sure to hold in an upright position for some time, stroking the back. You can't put your baby in the crib until he burps.
During breastfeeding give up foods that cause increased gas formation - cucumbers, cabbage (especially sauerkraut), soy and bean products, grapes and white bread. It is also worth eliminating any carbonated drinks from your diet.
If your baby has colic behave calmly, calm and caress the baby. Remember that your nervous state is passed on to the child and only worsens the problem.

Intestinal colic in infants is a problem that many parents face. According to statistics, about 70% of kids go through this test. Scientists cannot accurately answer the question of why colic begins. There are several hypotheses explaining the causes of restless behavior in children. Let's look at foods that cause colic in infants, and also find out how experienced mothers and Dr. Komarovsky advise to deal with attacks.

Symptoms

In most cases, colic occurs according to this pattern: it begins at the age of 2-4 weeks, lasts about 3 hours a day, and goes away by 3-4 months. For some babies, they end at 5-6 months. Their main symptoms:

unreasonable, high-pitched crying that begins suddenly (often during or after feeding) and goes away after a while for unknown reasons
the baby arches his back, draws his legs in, blushes

Most often, this picture is accompanied by signs indicating gas in the baby’s tummy:

the anterior abdominal wall swells and tenses
gases come out, after which the baby calms down

The child may experience constipation (infrequent, dense stools) or diarrhea (frequent liquid stool with mucus and a strong odor). But these symptoms are not necessary.

Only a doctor can understand what happened to the child. When your baby cries inconsolably for no apparent reason, you should show him to the doctor, and not just wait until the colic goes away. The specialist must determine whether the baby has any diseases.

Prerequisites

It is assumed that the causes of colic are air bubbles that stretch the intestinal walls, as a result of which the nerve endings are irritated and the baby experiences severe pain. Why are gases found in the intestines in such large quantities? Basic prerequisites:

Immaturity of the gastrointestinal tract. In the first year, the baby’s digestive system matures: the synthesis of enzymes is established, the microflora of the mucous membranes is formed, and intestinal motility is normalized. The food that the baby receives is not digested enough, fermentation occurs, and gases are formed.
Swallowing air during feeding or crying.
Overfeeding. When a child eats more food than he can digest, the remains are not broken down and become a breeding ground for pathogenic bacteria.
Overheat. When the ambient temperature is high or the clothes are too warm, the child sweats and loses moisture. Intestinal juices thicken, and the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract worsens.
Consumption by a nursing mother of foods that lead to gas formation.
Inappropriate mixture.
Constipation.

Dr. Komarovsky believes that the main factors predisposing to colic are overfeeding and overheating.

Prevention

What should parents do to prevent colic? It is impossible to influence their main premise – the immaturity of the child’s gastrointestinal tract. But it is quite possible to reduce the influence of other negative factors and alleviate the baby’s condition.

Apply correctly to the breast - the baby should grasp the areola.
When bottle-feeding, you should hold the bottle so that there is always milk in the nipple. You can use an anti-colic bottle.
When the child eats, hold him in a “column” position for about 10-15 minutes. It is important to wait until he burps air.
Before each meal, place the baby on his stomach and/or do a light massage of the abdomen - around the navel as the clock progresses.
Do not overfeed. An artificial diet should eat as much as is required by age. If the baby is gaining weight well, Komarovsky advises making the mixture less concentrated.
Keep your mom on a diet. The body's reaction to foods is individual. But for most people, gas formation is caused by cabbage, legumes, corn, whole milk, fatty cheeses, tomatoes, nuts, coffee, yeast dough, and the peel of raw vegetables. A nursing mother should avoid them.
Do not overheat. Komarovsky advises dressing the child according to the weather, offering him water, and monitoring the air quality in the room.

When breastfed, it is more difficult to control the amount of food eaten. Different experts give different recommendations. Komarovsky believes that it is necessary to maintain intervals between meals (2 hours) and not feed longer than 15 minutes. Other doctors advocate feeding on demand without restrictions. The mother’s task is to find a feeding algorithm that will suit her and the baby.

How to help without medications?

How to treat a baby suffering from colic? It is impossible to completely get rid of them, but it is worth trying to help your son or daughter. There are several ways to relieve intestinal spasms and facilitate the passage of gases:

Heat the diaper with an iron and apply it to the baby's tummy
Mark the baby on your stomach or chest (can be combined with the first method)
Do a massage and exercise “bicycle” or “toad” (bend your knees and pull them towards your stomach)
Place your baby on her stomach on a flat surface or on your lap.

The effectiveness of all these methods is based on the fact that an abdominal massage is performed, which improves blood circulation and helps excess air escape.

Folk recipes

Many plants have carminative, antispasmodic and sedative effects. Treatment of colic with their help must be agreed with a doctor. The most popular means:

. It is used to make “dill water” and tea. To make “dill” water, you need to stir 0.05 g of fennel essential oil in 1 liter of boiled water. Tea is prepared from seeds - 2-3 g of raw material is poured into 200 ml of boiling water, infused for 30-60 minutes, and then filtered.
. Pour boiling water (0.2 l) over a teaspoon of dried flowers, leave for 20 minutes and strain.

It is better to check with your doctor how much chamomile or fennel infusion to give to your child. These same plants can be used for bathing. Proportions – 3 tablespoons of raw materials per 0.5 liters of water. Such baths are good for relieving colic symptoms. Before swimming, you should massage your tummy.

Drug therapy

No. 1 remedy for infant colic in Europe and America from Mommy’s Bliss. For a description of the composition and dosage regimen, see.

How else can you help your baby when he is experiencing pain due to gas in his tummy? You can get rid of excess air in the intestines by taking a carminative drug. In pediatrics, simethicone (Espumizan, Sub Simplex, Bobotik) is most often used.

Simethicone

Simethicone is an organic defoamer that has the ability to destroy gas bubbles. As a result, the air contained in them is freely released from the intestines. This substance acts only in the gastrointestinal tract, without penetrating into the bloodstream.

How much to give simethicone? It is better to discuss this issue with your doctor. For example, the drug “” in the form of a suspension is recommended to be taken not at the moment when colic begins, but before each meal. Dosage for infants – 25 drops diluted in milk, formula or water.

Symptoms of colic are associated with imperfect bowel function. Komarovsky advises not to “feed” the child with medications and wait until his gastrointestinal tract matures. But if the baby is in severe pain, many doctors consider it necessary to help the functioning of his digestive system and prescribe probiotics and enzymes.

Probiotics and Enzymes

Probiotics are medications containing bacteria that should normally colonize the intestinal walls. The most commonly used are “Bifidumbacterin”, “”, “Bifiform”. Enzymes are synthetic analogues of enzymes that are not yet produced in the child’s body. Popular drugs are “Creon” and “Mezim”. Both groups of medications facilitate the digestion of food, thereby significantly reducing gas formation. It is permissible to treat a child with them only after consultation with a doctor. The doctor must determine how much medicine to give the baby.

Phytotherapy

Another category of medications used to combat colic are phytotherapeutic agents (“Baby Calm”, “Bebinos”, “Plantex”). They contain extracts of plants with carminative, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and soothing effects - anise, chamomile, fennel, cumin, dill. Before giving them to your baby, you should ask the doctor’s opinion and carefully study the instructions. A common side effect of taking them is.

If medications and massage do not work, you can help the baby by installing a gas tube. Its tip should be lubricated with Vaseline and carefully inserted into the anus by 1.5-2 cm (no more). You should not use this device constantly, so as not to disrupt intestinal motility.

Help with constipation

Symptoms of colic are more severe if the baby is constipated. What can be done to alleviate this condition? Here are some recommendations:

You need to start treating constipation by normalizing your diet. “Artificial drinkers” should introduce fermented milk mixture into the menu. It is important not to overfeed your baby. When breastfeeding, the mother needs to reconsider her diet. It should also contain thermally processed fruits and vegetables.
The best remedy to help if your baby is constipated is abdominal massage.
A quick way to help your child is to do. The baby must be placed on his back or left side. Take 50-70 ml of water (temperature 25°C) into a small rubber balloon, lubricate the tip with Vaseline, insert 2-3 cm into the anus and slowly release the water. It is not recommended to treat constipation with enemas on a regular basis.
A laxative medicine that can be safely given to an infant is lactulose syrup (“”). Komarovsky warns that the dosage must be increased gradually, otherwise flatulence will increase.

It is advisable to treat constipation in a child under the supervision of a doctor. He should prescribe a laxative regimen that allows you to normalize intestinal function and gradually abandon medications and improvised means.

If a baby develops intestinal colic, it becomes a real torment for the whole family. As a rule, they disappear by 3 months, less often by six months. It is impossible to predict how long this difficult period will last for a particular child. The exact causes of infant colic have not been established. They are believed to be associated with flatulence and intestinal cramps. Constipation and dysbacteriosis can worsen the situation.

What should parents do to alleviate the baby’s condition? Consult a pediatrician to rule out serious illnesses and prescribe treatment. It most often includes abdominal massage, anti-flatulence medications, and probiotics.

Hello, dear readers! How much nerves young parents have to spend when their child suddenly starts crying for no reason at all. Not even crying, just screaming for quite a long time. Parents, of course, are in a panic and do not know what is the reason for such crying and how to calm the child. The most common cause is colic in newborns. You will learn how to cope with an attack of pain in your baby by reading this article.

Colic in newborns - causes

The concept of colic in a newborn refers to attacks of intense short-term pain, repeated one after another for a long time. Doctors believe that this symptom occurs in 30% of newborns and is more common in boys than in girls.

The etiology of colic has not yet been precisely elucidated. Some believe that this is the result of difficulty passing fecal stones in the child’s intestines, others claim the appearance of pain with increased gas formation.

Previously, in Soviet times, there was no such disease; pediatricians diagnosed everyone with dysbacteriosis. Now the diagnosis is infant colic, this is a diagnosis of exclusion. But before making such a diagnosis, the doctor recommends conducting an additional examination: a blood test, ultrasound to exclude any inflammatory disease, renal or gallstone colic.

If no other pathology is revealed during the examination of the baby, the cause of intestinal colic should still be sought. What can trigger an attack?

Overfeeding of the child, changes in diet, improper attachment to the breast, the child swallows air along with milk, immaturity of nerve endings in the intestines,

Or maybe the crying and anguished cry is a desire for tactile closeness with the mother, or the child wants to drink, or is hungry, or is he cold, or the child has a full diaper? First of all, before taking any action, check all these points.

Colic in a newborn - symptoms

An attack of colic usually begins suddenly and also stops suddenly. Most often, colic begins in the evening.

Pediatricians say that there is a rule of the number “three”. That is, such symptoms begin in the 3rd week after birth, attacks stop by three months, less often by 4 and even less often by 6 months. The attack lasts approximately 3 hours and 3 times a week. This is the pattern!

If the child has a normal temperature, good appetite and sleep, there are no inflammatory processes in the pharynx, there is no diaper rash or redness on the skin, and the baby cries - he strains himself, kicks his legs, his face becomes red from screaming and nothing can calm him down, then most likely the baby has intestinal problems. colic.

Prolonged and strong crying and screaming of a child can have a very negative impact on the mother’s condition: an attack can aggravate postpartum depression and this can lead to very serious and inappropriate behavior in the woman. Therefore, men need to be especially attentive to their wives during this period.

Colic in a newborn - what to do?

Knowing that an attack of colic in a baby may end after some time, it can be psychologically difficult to wait out this time.

The most important thing is to react adequately and calmly to the situation. First of all, calm down yourself! And then calm the baby down. Take him in your arms, hold him to your chest, rock him, talk to him gently and calmly, or sing a song. The calm notes of your voice will calm the child and distract him from pain. Maybe the child wanted to see his mother and thus wants contact with her. Check the diaper, change the baby.

What can be done in such a situation so that the child calms down and you help him get rid of the pain?

Warm your tummy. This can be done in several ways. Simply place the baby tummy down on the mother's stomach and hold it there for a few minutes. Or warm the diaper with a hot iron or on a radiator, place it on your lap, check that it is not too hot, and lay the baby tummy down for a few minutes, the child can calm down. A warm diaper or heating pad can be placed directly on the baby's stomach.

Massage your baby's tummy. Place the baby on his back on your lap, with his legs facing you, hold the baby's head with one hand, and with the other hand, lightly massage the tummy in a clockwise direction, starting near the navel. Or instead of your lap, place your baby on the changing table. By massaging the tummy, it is easier for gases to escape.

Place the baby on the changing table, bend and press the baby's legs to the stomach, talking to him affectionately. Such exercises will distract the baby from pain and help relieve gas.

A gas tube can be inserted to remove gases from the intestines. But I warn you: this can only be done as a last resort. This procedure requires the use of special gas tubes for newborns. It’s better not to use such tubes at all, since many cases have been described when, when carrying out such a procedure, without having the skills, parents pierced the intestinal wall of the child right through.

Traditional methods include one or two teaspoons of dill water. This is an old remedy tested by our grandmothers. You can prepare it like this. Brew a teaspoon of dill seeds (you can buy them at the pharmacy or stock them in your garden in advance in the summer) in a glass of boiling water, let it brew for half an hour. Don't forget to strain the dill water before giving it to your child.

Colic in newborns - treatment at home

It is important for young parents to know that intestinal colic is not a disease, it is a physiological condition that does not require any special treatment. Sometimes the production of enzymes and the corresponding microflora does not immediately form in the child’s intestines; this takes some time.

To prevent colic attacks and to calmly survive the first three months of your baby’s life, you must adhere to the following rules during this time.

This phenomenon affects almost every baby, but always comes unexpectedly. The first two weeks after birth, parents get used to their new role, to the fact that they need to wake up several times at night, but in general they are pleased with the baby’s condition: he eats well and sleeps sweetly.

But then, like a bolt from the blue, they appear: intestinal colic in newborns. Where do they come from? How to recognize them in time? And most importantly, how to deal with them. This is the topic of our article.

Symptoms

The following signs are characteristic of colic in newborns. So:

The baby screams piercingly, sometimes heartbreakingly, for several hours without a break; in the evening there comes a climax, when the whole family is tense, and there is nothing special to help. At the same time, during the day the child ate with appetite and there was nothing to indicate that he was sick.
The baby brings her legs to her tummy, thus trying to reduce spasms in the intestines, her face turns red.
Restless behavior almost always begins some time after feeding.
There is bloating in the tummy, and sometimes gases escape.

Colic is a temporary phenomenon. They will definitely pass

According to statistics, this painful condition affects about 70% of newborns. Colic in infants begins approximately at the 3rd - 4th week of life and stops after 3 months. Not all infants experience attacks of pain equally.

An interesting fact is that first-born children suffer more often from colic, and more boys are affected. This is partly due to the fact that a pregnant woman who is overly worried about the child, his health, as well as how the birth process will go, experiences stress. Perhaps it affects the child at the hormonal level.

Colic in babies occurs almost every day, only in some they occur from 3 to 5 hours a day with breaks, in others the pain exhausts them for 8 hours a day (with a duration of 1.5-2 hours and short breaks), completely exhausting them. both the child and his parents.

Until now, medicine does not know the true reason why colic occurs in a newborn, as well as an effective way to treat it. There are speculations about their origin. There are also methods that help relieve pain symptoms, but do not completely eliminate them.

The good news is that colic is a temporary phenomenon, sooner or later it will go away. Another positive point is that in most cases this is not a disease, but only a painful condition that needs to be overcome. At the same time, the baby eats with appetite and gains weight well. Therefore, it takes time and patience to overcome such difficulties in life.

Causes of intestinal colic

As already noted, the real cause of colic is still unclear. But there are known factors that can provoke and intensify pain in young children.

Incorrect nipple latching. This position leads to the swallowing of air, which, if it does not directly cause colic, certainly aggravates the situation. The problem is technical. As soon as the baby learns to grasp the entire nipple along with the areola (and you help him with this), the sensations will become less painful.
Inappropriate nipple on bottle when bottle feeding. Perhaps the hole is too big and you just need to change the pacifier. There are also bottles with an anti-colic valve that prevent air from entering the baby's tummy.
Lying for a long time. The human body is designed in such a way that food (even with air bubbles) moves faster through the intestines and is evacuated from it when a person is in an upright position. And since the newborn is forced to lie down most of the time, pain and spasms occur. The solution is to carry the baby in your arms more often, after feedings, hold him in a “column” until the air trapped inside escapes.
Overfed. If there is too much food, the enzymes do not have time to digest it. The fermentation process begins. As a result, the same gas formations put pressure on the intestinal walls. Conclusion - do not overfeed, there is no need for excessive care here.
Long-lasting crying. Quite a serious problem, reminiscent of a vicious circle. The child, experiencing severe pain, begins to cry, while involuntarily swallowing further portions of air, which leads to a worsening of the situation. The task is to calm the baby as quickly as possible by all available means.
Colic as a symptom of the disease. Sometimes spasms in the intestines in infants indicate the presence of a disease of the digestive tract. For example, food allergies or digestive problems due to lactase deficiency are accompanied by colic. Enterocolitis, characterized by inflammation of the intestines, also causes infant crying.
Incorrect mixture. Infant colic may be the result of feeding too concentrated or the wrong formula. In view of this, pediatricians recommend choosing formulas based on fermented milk products with a low iron content.
The mother does not follow the diet. If the baby is breastfed, the mother's nutrition directly affects the well-being of the infant. It has been proven that certain substances can penetrate into milk. Therefore, it is important to know foods that cause flatulence.

Hold the baby in your arms more often, carrying it vertically

Provocative products

milk (can be replaced with fermented milk products);
raw or sauerkraut;
black bread (an alternative is whole grain bread);
legumes (it is recommended to consume cottage cheese, lean meat, and cheese in small quantities as a source of protein);
kvass;
fresh apples, pears (optional, baked apples).

The diet of a nursing woman, of course, should be varied; you can eat almost everything, little by little. But if your beloved child suffers from intestinal colic, the diet for the first three months should be followed at least in terms of the listed products.

If a child has colic, a temporary taboo on certain foods is introduced

What are the dangers of prolonged colic?

When colic torments a child for quite a long time, new negative aspects of this condition appear:

The baby’s nervous system is overloaded, overexcitation leads to new intestinal spasms and a slowdown in its functioning. As a result, the intestinal walls are stretched and the pain intensifies.
Prolonged spasms and pain can provoke disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, so it is important to determine why intestinal colic occurs and how strong its intensity is in order to consult a doctor in time.
Frequent, hysterical crying, increased gas formation lead to an increase in intra-abdominal pressure, the abdominal muscles are tense. As a result, the baby may “scream” at the umbilical hernia.

How to behave as parents

A familiar picture: a baby cries and bends over in pain, and is held in her arms by a sobbing mother, who feels sorry for both the child and herself (after all, her head is splitting from screaming). What to do?

Mom can't lose her composure

During an attack of colic, control yourself. Tears will not help in any way; on the contrary, the baby will feel that there is nowhere for him to expect help, even moral. Don't get angry and yell at your child. It's not his fault that he feels bad. Most of all, he needs your support and care. Try different methods to relieve pain and never give up.

How can I help my child?

Here are some tips to combat colic:

Do a daily massage in the navel area in a clockwise circular motion and stroke your tummy.
During an attack, apply heat to your stomach. This can be a diaper ironed, but you just need to make sure that it is not too hot. As an option, mom's or dad's warm palm will do.
Before feeding, place the baby on the tummy, and after - hold it upright. During the day, carry it in your arms more often, following the baby-carrying technique.
Use a sling to carry your baby - it both prevents hip dysplasia and provides movement, which is good for bowel function.
Call a lactation consultant to make sure you're doing it right.
Use the gas outlet tube. Unfortunately, it is only effective for removing gases accumulated in the rectal area. Those that are located directly in the intestines are not subject to it.

What means can be used?

There are two of the most common and effective medications today that reduce gas formation in infants:

Simethicone is an inert substance that does not in any way affect the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract itself. It only binds gas bubbles together, turning them into liquid, thereby reducing bloating. Representatives: Espumisan, Infacol, Bobotik.
Preparations based on fennel. Representatives: Plantex.

Summarize. Colic in newborns is the first test that tests the strength of a mother's feelings of pity, love for her child and care for him. This is a time to cry, often with the whole family. But the day is approaching when colic will disappear without a trace and the time will come to laugh, because your baby is about to give you his first smile.