Baby colic: Does your baby have baby colic?

Introduction:

Baby colic is the most common complaint seen among the babies characterised by the unstoppable crying and fussiness over a specific period. The reason remains unknown as even after feeding the baby full, it does not stop crying and it continues for around two to three hours unstoppable. The condition usually becomes a state of frustration for the mommies as nothing tries to soothe their babies. It may add-up to their stress and burden as well as make them depressed.

 

Baby colic is seen after three to six weeks of age and continues till the sixth month of age. The causes are only cited as assumptions such as abdominal discomfort, accumulation of the flatus in the baby’s stomach, intestinal cramps, etc. In rare cases only, there may be an involvement of any underlying organic diseases involving the gastrointestinal tract or some nervous system defects.

 What are the signs and symptoms of baby colic? 

It may be actually difficult for the mothers to understand the signs and symptoms of baby colic. Below listed are some signs and symptoms of baby colic .

Symptoms and signs

• Excessive crying: continuous, unstoppable and extending up to few hours and multiple times a week
• Grimacing expressions and redness of face due to crying
• Excessive movements of the limbs
• Well-fed baby cries
• No wetness of diapers still the baby continues to cry.
• Clenched fists and arched back showing they might be in some sort of pain
• Nothing tries to soothe them effectively
• Excessive and loud cry makes their belly hard due to the ingestion of excess air while crying

How to know if  my baby has a colic? 

Baby colic is not a major problem to be diagnosed but the frustration and worry of parents may take them to the paediatrician’s clinic to get their baby tested for the condition. It might be a challenging situation to find out the root cause as it still remains a mystery why the babies get colic till six months. The good thing is after that period it might resolve or disappear on its own.

The paediatrician does the physical assessment of the baby. Abdominal examination, the skin tone, colour of the baby, eyes and general body check-up.

In some cases where the baby colic may differentiate with some underlying condition or may be something associated with adjoining signs of fever, or difficulty passing stool, the doctor advises further test such as abdominal scans, blood tests or other laboratory investigations to rule any structural or functional abnormality if present. Such crying may not be considered a baby colic.

See the doctor if you notice any of the following signs besides crying:

• Fever: Baby feels hot or very hot on touch.
• Baby looks inactive or less alert.
• Baby is not taking the feeds properly.
• Baby can’t suck normally or drools out the feeds.
• Presence of swelling or oedema in any area.
• Baby passes watery stool, presence of blood in stool or redness surrounding anus or genitals.
• Baby can’t sleep properly.

No diagnosis is generally available for baby colic. It is generally diagnosed on the basis of the history given by mother about the pattern of her baby’s crying and sleep pattern.

The doctor may also take the history of feeding pattern and the food items consumed by the mother. Sometimes flatus producing or gas forming food items may irritate the baby’s tummy making them colicky.

Thorough history taking and physical assessment may help the doctor reach the diagnosis and start treatment accordingly.

How to treat baby colic? 

There is no as such treatment for treating baby colic. However some of the remedies or measures can be tried put to calm and soothe the crying baby.

        Can I try some home remedies to manage baby colic?  

Yes!  Remedies --YOU CAN TRY THESE:

Try to provide a safe, secure and silent environment to the baby. 

Ensure the baby is well-fed. 

Make sure the baby’s diaper is not wet. Change it as soon as it is dirty to gets wet. 

Apply coconut oil or moisturizing cream in groin area to avoid the diaper rash. Check out if the skin there is healthy or not. Sometimes the diaper rashes and redness may cause problem to the babies.

Use pacifiers and soothers to stop the baby crying

Try relaxing the baby by changing the positions and letting him rest in whatever position it feels better. ROCKING THE BABY MAY PUT HIM TO SLEEP FASTER IN MOST OF THE CASES.

Take the baby out for ride in pram or stroller or sometimes car ride using safety precautions

Try patting the back of the baby and swaddle them if they are too little.

Put the baby in their swings with hanging beautiful toys so as to attract their attention and swing them to and fro. This may help to make them sleep and stop crying. Singing lullaby, altogether is a better option too.

Probiotics may be helpful in cases of bloating or flatus and provide relief to the baby.

A warm bath may relax the muscles and aid in inducing sleep.

Diversion therapy may be tried to deviate baby’s attention and try to captivate his concentration on some music or toys.

After every breast feeding try out BURPING. BURPING releases out any extra air that got inside the tummy while baby was sucking on the nipples during the feeds. Every mother should ensure burping each time a baby gets feed.

Avoid eating any gas forming food sources that can trouble the babies.

§  If any food allergy is present in mother, she should try to stay away from that product.

§  Limit or avoid intake of caffeine or caffeinated beverages as they may pose a trouble to your baby.

§  Change the baby formulas after consulting the doctor.

§  Try giving diluted cow-milk by adding equal amount of boiled and cool water on advice of doctor.

Advice for the mother:

Baby colic can make you feel frustrated, angry or even stressed out. Don’t lose hope and try to relax yourself.  It is sometimes OK to get angry or frustrated when things cannot be under your control. Do not lose your heart. Relax and try out the remedies without taking any burden. If everything fails to soothe your baby, visiting a doctor may be helpful.

Ask for someone’s help. Your partner may come to your help if he’s an understanding one.

Take brief periods of rest. Listen to the music or anything that relaxes you.

Take help of your family members or friends. Ask your elder relatives such as granny or some aged people who might know some of the effective or good remedies they know or have tried in the past.

Please subscribe the blog and share your valuable comments.!!!

Note: This blogpost is for informational and educational purpose only. It is not a substitute to medical advice, consultation or treatment. Seek medical help in any case.