Welcome to Parenthood! We do not have any intentions to scare you but it is tough and will get tougher with age and stages. For the next two years of your life, you will see yourself surrounded by diapers, nappies, multi-vitamins and unlimited toys. Things will get out of control but a cute little smile from your baby sorts everything out.
Each baby is different but they all have one thing in common “crying”. Yes, baby cries are tensifying. They scare you like anything. Being a new parent, you try every possible way to find out why your little one is bursting into tears. One possible reason may be “Colic”. Colic is indeed a monster that leaves your baby in gripping stomach pain resulting in a continuous and intense cry.
What is Colic?
It is frequent, prolonged and intense fussiness of an healthy infant. It appears for no apparent reason and can be frustrating for parents. No amount of consoling seems enough to bring any relief. It often starts in the evening and continue till late night when parents are extremely tired.
When an infant touches 6 weeks of age, colic episodes usually reach at peak. The constant crying and grunting gets resolve with time but managing it adds stress while caring for your baby.
Though there are tips to reduce the severity and frequency of colic episodes and reduce stress. Before jumping onto the causes and preventions, let us first know about the symptoms.
Symptoms of Colic
Crying and fussing are normal for infants in the very first three months. Colic, majorly can be defined as crying for three or more hours a day, three or more days a week for three or more weeks. Other symptoms may include
● Screaming or expressing pain
● Crying for no reason
● Fussiness
● Predictable timing, episodes often occur in evening
● Reddening of the face
● Pulled up legs, stiffened arms, clenched fists and tensed abdomen.
Causes
There are no known causes of colic. There are many factors contributing to it. It usually varies from infant to infant and begins at the first month of their life. It happens at a certain time of the day and resolves on its own.
Based on researches and studies, the possible causes of colic are :
● Underdeveloped digestive system
● Imbalance of healthy bacteria in the digestive tract
● Overfeeding, underfeeding or infrequent burping
● Food allergies
● Family stress or anxiety
Other factors are:
● Sex of the child
● Preterm babies
● Bottle feeding
● Infants born to mother who somked during pregnancy.
When to Call a doctor
When your baby is crying inconsolably, it may be an indication of illness or pain. It your child is experiencing extreme pain and excessive crying, schedule an appointment to know the reasons.
Colic is stressful for both baby and the parent. If your baby is experiencing colic, help her ease the pain by providing OTC drops under supervision of pediatrician. Burp your baby after every feed and give ample tummy time to reduce the problem of colic. If you have any suggestions or questions, feel free to ask us in comments below.
Instead of Colic and crying you should know about the information related to Jaundice In Newborns. Find out the Home Remedies For Jaundice In Newborns.
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