Infant colics: what they are, causes, symptoms and tips to avoid them

Most babies suffer from Colic during the period of lactation. It is important to know how to differentiate the crying produced by gas cramps or the crying produced due to other causes or possible pathologies.

Suction is the first reflex of the newborn but at the moment when you have to combine it with swallowing you still do not know how to do it well and swallow air. The air that the baby swallows becomes gas that will later cause colic.

Colic can appear either if the baby is fed with breastfeeding or with artificial feeding. Babies usually suffer from these discomforts between 15 days old and up to 3 months, and around 4 months they usually disappear.

During the period of lactation of the baby it is normal for the baby to suffer from colic due to the gases that are produced well when swallowing air or during the process of digestion when the proteins of the milk do not feel good.

The causes that cause these cramps can be several and we must take into account that it is not a disease and that they suffer from a high percentage of babies.

To avoid as much as possible that the baby suffers from these annoying colic we can help you by following a series of recommendations. Surely many new parents will wonder how to differentiate them.

What are infant colic?

Basically we could define the baby cramps(also known as infant colic, three-month colic, or just evening colic), such as a typical disorder of the first months of life with episodes of intense and vigorous crying.

To effectively treat infant colic, crying should last at least 3 hours a day, 3 days a week for at least 3 weeks, in a baby that is effectively well nourished and perfectly healthy.

What are your causes?

Unlike what many parents think, the truth is that It is unknown what is the cause of infant colic. In fact, studies show that only in 5% of cases there is an organic cause that can be demonstrated. However, it is estimated that it affects between 5 and 19% of infants.

Many pediatricians associate this problem with the digestive system of the baby is not yet mature, reason why these cramps tend to disappear between three and four months of age, when the digestive system of the child has matured.

On the other hand, it is known that the type of feeding does not influence its appearance, not finding differences between those babies that are fed with breastmilk, and those who follow a diet based on artificial lactation.

How to differentiate if a crying baby is caused by colic

  • The baby cries suddenly and intensely.
  • The crying seems inconsolable.
  • The baby shrugs its legs and closes its fists tightly.
  • Crying usually occurs at the same time in the afternoon or evening shots.
  • If we touch her belly we will notice her swollen and hard.

What can we do to avoid baby colic?

  • In the case that the baby is being fed with breastfeeding we should place the baby in a rather inclined position than horizontally.
  • In the case that the baby is being fed with artificial feeding, it is convenient that the teats are anticollic that come equipped with valves so that the baby does not swallow air.
  • The position in which we maintain the bottle is also important, so try to be sufficiently inclined so that the teat is covered with milk so that the baby does not suck air.
  • Once you have finished eating you have to burp it.
  • If you are being breastfed, you should burp it before changing your chest.
  • Sometimes it is necessary to put it to burp without having finished eating, you will notice it because the baby is uncomfortable.
  • To facilitate the belching we will place it in a vertical position against our chest and we will help you with some soft touches on the back.
  • We should not put the baby to sleep as he has finished eating and without belching.
  • We must ensure that the time of feeding is as relaxed as possible for the baby to eat quietly and slowly.

How to help the baby to calm the colic naturally?

The first thing we should do is hold the baby in his arms and try to comfort his crying.

  • Once in your arms we can try the following guidelines to help you expel the gases.
  • We put it upright against our chest to burp, and massage his back.
  • We place the baby face down and with gentle movements massage your back.
  • We place the baby in an upright position, flex his legs and massage his belly with gentle, circular movements.

On the other hand, we must take into account something fundamental as well as important: We should never give medicines to the baby without first consulting the pediatrician.

Undoubtedly the pediatrician will advise us what we can administer to our baby in these cases. This article is published for informational purposes only. You can not and should not replace the consultation with a Pediatrician. We advise you to consult your trusted pediatrician. ThemesNewborn

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