The baby has colic, now what?

During the first three months of life, it is common for most babies to feel colic. Data indicate that around 75% of babies will experience this discomfort.

The problem has several known causes and is a source of suffering not only for the baby but also for the mother, who feels helpless in the face of seemingly intense pain.

How to identify crying caused by colic?

Usually the baby cries for hunger, sleep, because it is dirty or cold / hot. If you have already fed it, have you made sure it is clean and in a comfortable environment? and yet the crying has given no respite, watch out for the baby's reactions because he is probably having a cramp crisis.

These seizures are characterized by a shrill cry (blazing, as our grandparents used to say), the face tends to redden and facial expressions show a sharp pain, while the baby flexes the legs towards the abdomen and closes the fists . In addition, the belly becomes hard and the baby may release gas.

Causes

Colic usually occurs because the baby's body up to three months? mainly the digestive system? It is still immature and cannot always process food properly, even if it is breast milk. This period is not random; At three months of age, the baby completes a twelve-month cycle, counted from fertilization. It is after the third month that he ceases to be a newborn, the brain becomes better understood with the functions of the body and, consequently, the cramps cease to exist.

Some mothers report that their babies' colic is related to the type of food they eat before breastfeeding. There are no studies to support this relationship, but if you notice any changes, discontinue your diet item at least until the end of the three months.

The medical recommendation is that mommy take care of her emotional state. Research indicates that feelings such as anger and anxiety have a negative influence on the baby, which can increase colic.

Treatment

The first step the mother should take is to place the child face down on his or her own body, as this position compresses the child's belly while the mother's breath generates a paced movement that aids in the release of the gases that cause the child. problem. It is also recommended to stretch and shrink the baby's legs in a kind of abdominal massage.

Medicines like Funchicory? Sweet plant used for over seventy years in the treatment of colic? are being extinguished from pharmacies because they are not proven effective. Pediatricians say this type of treatment, as well as teas and herbal products, divert the baby's attention to taste. This causes the crying to stop for a few moments but does not eliminate the pain, so that after the taste has passed, the child will cry again.

Administering teas and juices, for example, may require the bowel to work harder, increasing cramps. Babies up to six months old should not eat anything other than breast milk. It contains all the nutrients necessary for the healthy development of the body and cannot be replaced nor needs supplement.

Instructional Videos for New Moms - Baby Colic Massage (April 2024)