The cramps

Description

Colic is frequent, prolonged and intense crying or fussiness in a healthy infant. Colic can be particularly frustrating for parents because the baby's distress occurs for no apparent reason, and no amount of consoling seems to bring any relief. These episodes often occur at night, when the parents themselves are often tired.

The episodes of colic usually peak when a baby is about 6 weeks of age and decreased significantly after 3 to 4 months of age. While the excessive crying will resolve with time, the management of colic adds significant stress to the care of his newborn son.

You can take measures that may reduce the severity and duration of episodes of colic, relieve stress, and strengthen the confidence in your parent-child connection.

Symptoms

Babies have been known to complain and cry, especially during the first three months of life. The range of what is considered typical crying is difficult to pin down. In general, colic is defined as crying for three or more hours per day, three or more days a week, for three weeks or more.

Features of the cramps may include the following:

  • Intense crying that it may seem more like screaming, or an expression of pain
  • Crying for no apparent reason, unlike crying to express hunger or the need of a diaper change
  • Extreme irritability even after the crying has decreased
  • Predictable timing, with episodes that often occurs in the night
  • Facial discoloration, such as reddening of the skin or blush
  • The tension of the body, such as stopped or tensed legs, stiffened, arms, fists clenched, back arched, or tense abdomen

Sometimes it is a relief in symptoms after the baby pass gas or have a bowel movement. The Gas is probably the result of the ingestion of air during prolonged crying.

When to see a doctor

Excessive, inconsolable crying can be colic or an indication of a disease or condition that causes pain or discomfort. Schedule an appointment with your doctor for a complete exam if your baby is experiencing excessive crying or other signs or symptoms of colic.

Causes

The cause of colic is unknown. It may be the result of numerous contributing factors. While a number of causes have been explored, it is difficult for the researchers to give an account of all the important features, such as why it usually begins later in the first month of life, how it varies among babies, why it happens at certain times of the day and why is resolved in your own time.

Possible factors that have been explored include:

  • Digestive system that is not fully developed
  • The imbalance of the healthy bacteria in the digestive tract
  • Food allergies or intolerances
  • Overfeeding, underfeeding, or infrequent belching
  • The early form of childhood migraine
  • The family of stress or anxiety

Risk factors

Risk factors for colic are not well understood. The research has not demonstrated differences in risk when the following factors were considered:

  • The sex of the child
  • Preterm and full-term pregnancies
  • Formula-fed and breast-fed babies

Babies born to mothers who smoked during pregnancy or after birth have a higher risk of developing colic.

Complications

Colic does not cause short-term or long-term health problems of a child.

Colic is stressful for parents. The research has shown an association between colic and the following problems with the parents of well-being:

  • Increased risk of postpartum depression in mothers
  • Early cessation of breastfeeding
  • Feelings of guilt, exhaustion, helplessness or anger

Shaken baby syndrome

The stress to soothe a crying baby, sometimes asks parents to shake or otherwise harm your child. Shaking a baby can cause serious damage to the brain and death. The risk of these reactions uncontrolled is higher if the parents do not have information about soothe a crying child, the education about the cramps and the support needed to care for a baby with colic.

The cramps

Diagnosis

The care of your baby's doctor will perform a complete physical examination to identify possible causes of your baby's distress. The exam will include:

  • Measuring your baby's height, weight, and head circumference
  • Listen to the heart, the lungs and the abdominal sounds
  • The examination of the limbs, fingers, toes, eyes, ears, and genitals
  • The evaluation of the reaction to touch or movement
  • Looking for signs of rash, swelling or other signs of infection or allergies

Lab tests, x-rays and other diagnostic tests are not usually needed, but in doubtful cases that help to rule out other conditions as possible causes.

Treatment

The main objectives are to soothe the child as much as possible with a variety of interventions and ensure that parents have the support they need to cope.

Strategies to calm down

You may find it helpful to have a plan, a list of strategies to calm down you can try. You may have to experiment. Some work better than others, and some may work for a time, but not in another. Soothing strategies may include:

  • The use of a pacifier
  • Taking your baby for a car ride or ride in a stroller
  • Walking or rocking your baby
  • Wrap your baby in a blanket
  • Give your baby a warm bath
  • Rubbing your baby, the belly, or placing your baby in the tummy for a back massage
  • Playback audio of the heartbeat or have quiet, relaxing sounds
  • To provide white noise through the execution of a machine white noise, vacuum cleaner or the clothes out of the dryer in a nearby room
  • The dimming of the lights and enjoy the visual stimulation

Feeding practices

The changes in feeding practices may also provide some relief. Bottle-feed your baby in an upright position and burp frequently during and after eating. The use of a curve of the bottle will help with the vertical of power, and a foldable bag bottle can reduce the intake of air.

Proof of the changes in the diet

If a soothing, or practices of power are not the reduction of crying or irritability, the doctor may recommend a short-term test of the changes in the diet. If your child has a food allergy, however, there is the likelihood of other signs and symptoms such as a rash, wheezing, vomiting, or diarrhea. Changes in the diet may include:

  • Formula changes. If you are feeding your baby with formula, your doctor may suggest a one-week trial of an extensive hydrolysate formula (Similac Alimentum, Nutramigen, Pregestimil, other) that has proteins broken down into smaller sizes.
  • The maternal diet. If you are breastfeeding, you may want to try a diet without common food allergens, such as dairy, eggs, nuts and wheat. You can also try to remove potentially irritating foods, such as cabbage, onion or drinks with caffeine.

The parents of self-care

Taking care of a baby that has colic can be exhausting and stressful, even for experienced parents. The following strategies can help to take care of yourself and get the support you need:

  • Take a break. Take turns with your spouse or partner, or ask a friend to take for a while. Give yourself a chance to get out of the house if possible.
  • The use of the cradle for short breaks. It is ok to put your baby in the crib for a time during an episode of crying if you need to collect yourself or to calm your own nerves.
  • Express your feelings. It is normal for parents in this situation to feel helpless, depressed, guilty, or angry. Share your feelings with family members, friends and your child's doctor.
  • Don't judge yourself. You can't measure your success as a parent by how much your baby is crying. Colic is not a result of bad parenting, and the inconsolable crying is not a sign that your baby is rejecting you.
  • Take care of your health. Eat healthy foods. Make time to exercise, such as a brisk daily walk. If you can, sleep when the baby sleeps, even during the day. Avoid the consumption of alcohol and other drugs.
  • Remember that it is temporary. The colic episodes, often improve after the age of 3 to 4 months.
  • Having a plan of rescue. If it is possible to make a plan with a friend or family member that step when you are overwhelmed. If necessary, contact your health care provider, a local crisis intervention service or a mental health help line for further assistance.

Potential future treatments

One of the factors that may contribute to colic is an imbalance of the useful bacteria in a baby's digestive tract. A treatment under investigation is the use of the good bacteria (probiotics) to create a proper bacterial balance to improve digestive health in general.

Some studies have shown a reduction in crying times when the babies with colic were treated with a bacteria called Lactobacillus reuteri. Studies have been conducted with small groups, and the results have been somewhat mixed. Most of the experts are in agreement that there is not sufficient evidence at this time to support the use of probiotics for the treatment of colic.

Alternative medicine

Several small studies have shown that some of the benefits or mixed results for alternative treatments. There is not enough evidence, however, to judge the potential to benefit more than the risks. Alternative remedies under investigation include:

  • Herbal teas
  • Herbal remedies, such as oil of fennel
  • Sugar water
  • Complains of water, a mixture of water and herbs
  • Massage therapy
  • Chiropractic manipulation
  • Acupuncture

Known risks include the following topics:

  • The Regular use of herbal tea or other liquid preparations may lead to decreased intake of milk or a drop in sodium levels in the blood of an infant.
  • The lack of regulation of the products may result in the contamination, without the label of ingredients or inconsistent dose of herbal remedies.
  • Some homeopathic remedies contain low amounts of potentially toxic substances.

Talk with your baby's care provider before using alternative medicine for the treatment of your baby with colic.

Preparing for your appointment

It is a good idea to prepare ahead of time to make an appointment with your pediatrician. Here's some information to help you prepare.

What you can do

To prepare for your appointment, take some notes about:

  • The time and duration of crying episodes
  • The age of your baby when the prolonged and recurrent pattern of crying began
  • Observations on the behavior of your baby, or other factors, before, during or after an episode
  • Your baby's feeding and sleeping schedule
  • The strategies that has been used to calm your baby
  • The people involved in the care of your baby, such as the other parent, grandparent, nanny or child care center professionals

Write down any additional questions you may have about your baby's health or development. During your appointment, do not hesitate to ask any other questions you may have.

What to expect from your doctor

Your baby's care provider is likely to ask a series of questions, such as:

  • Can you describe a typical episode of crying?
  • What does your baby cry sound like?
  • How your baby's body tense?
  • When episodes occur? How long does it last? How many times a week?
  • What things do you do to try to soothe your baby? How do those things work?
  • Does your child have problems with food?
  • Does the crying that occurs right after eating?
  • What to feed your baby, and how often?
  • How often and how much your baby spits?
  • How much time does your baby sleep at a time? There have been recent changes in sleep patterns?
  • Does your baby never seem to have problems breathing during these episodes?
  • How do you cope when your baby is crying? What about the rest of your family?

Your answers to these questions can help your baby's care provider to determine if there are other conditions that may be contributing to the crying and upset.

The symptoms and treatment of Colic