Intestinal colic in newborns

Intestinal colic in newborns is a phenomenon that frightens young parents long before the birth of their first child. Colic is of different intensity, young children react in the same way. This phenomenon in infants begins almost from the first day of life. Many mothers strive to take all measures to eliminate them. Whether it is possible to get rid of them quickly, which helps to alleviate the child's condition, we learn from this article.

Norm, pathology of the state of the intestines of the newborn

When a baby is born, the body has a difficult job of adapting to its environment. The most important "achievement" of the baby is to cry after childbirth. The first cry is an indicator of the opening of the lungs, an indication that the child will continue to breathe on its own. Then the skin, kidneys, and other internal organs adjust to the conditions surrounding the baby. The intestine adapts gradually, adults learn about its adaptation when crying from colic begins.

In the first month, the doctor constantly monitors the newborn. Crying, anxiety, and poor sleep due to colic are considered normal. Adults should be concerned if:

• stool not daily or very frequent;
• there are blood streaks in the stool;
• feces are accompanied by foam;
• mucus comes out with feces;
• stool is unnaturally green, dark in color;
• the baby cannot empty himself.

Attention! With such phenomena, a cry is not an accompaniment to ordinary colic, but a signal about the development of a disease of the digestive tract.

Physiological causes of intestinal colic

Human development, medicine has not eradicated the problem of intestinal colic. Surprisingly, modern medicine does not clearly answer why painful spasms develop, and how to completely remove them. Up to 3 weeks of age, the child lives under the influence of mother's hormones, which alleviate his condition, normalize processes in the body. After 3 weeks, the baby completely goes over to an autonomous existence, then the symptoms of the phenomenon begin to appear.

The term "colic" is taken from the Greek language, the Greek word "colicos" means "pain in the colon." Several reasons intestinal pain of a newborn:

1. The immature intestinal neuromuscular apparatus cannot cope with the functions of promoting and absorbing food.
2. Immature enzymatic system of the organ, there is no normal production and action of enzymes.
3. The tendency to gas formation, in infants during the period of the final maturation of the intestines, flatulence is manifested.
4. The onset of muscle spasm.

Other causes of intestinal pain

Pediatricians are inclined to believe that physiological processes are not the only cause of a painful phenomenon. The behavior of the mother and baby plays a role in the occurrence of colic.

1. Improper grip on the nipple. Some newborns get used to the wrong grip on the mother's nipple during the first feedings. It depends on its shape, size and individual characteristics of the newly born. In addition to the discomfort of mothers, the lack of a feeling of fullness in children, improper seizure of the nipple can cause intestinal pathologies: air enters the digestive tract, increasing sensitivity to physiological pain.
   
   

   Correct and incorrect attachment to the breast of the child

   

   Correct latching of the breast when feeding

2. Lack of belching. After feeding, the baby needs to be kept in a "column": the trapped air comes out, it is easier for the digestive system to work. Sometimes the air does not come out through the belching, but is directed into the intestines, presses on the walls of the digestive organ, increasing the pain of colic.
   
   

   Bottle feeding your baby

3. Constant recumbency. Difficulty in the process of digesting food. Man was created erect, his organs from birth develop to walk upright. The horizontal position of the newborn makes it difficult to pass gas, the digestion process is difficult. During the day, the intestine accumulates gases pressing on the walls of the organ. It is especially difficult for sensitive children, they scream more, reporting pain.
4. Constant crying of the baby provokes colic. It turns out that the newborn cries from the pains, and the crying hurts even more. Opening the mouth wide when crying causes air to be swallowed. The mother should calm the baby in order to prevent new portions of the "irritant" from entering the body.
5. Overfed children experience intestinal pain. The stomach, intestines are not ready to digest an increased amount of food, enzymes do not work. Result: leftover food starting to ferment - the appearance of an increased amount of air.
6. Improper nutrition of mom, crumbs. Pain in the epigastric region occurs when the mother eats foods that cause flatulence, smoking, and alcohol abuse. Also, the reason is the formula that is not suitable for the child.
   
   

   Proper nutrition for mom

Infant colic symptoms

Signs of pain in the digestive tract are remembered by many adults. The lucky ones were those whose children reacted minimally to an unpleasant phenomenon up to 3 months. The intestinal pain of infants manifests itself in different ways:

1. Constant restlessness, the child is either moving or crying. Parents can only dream of a calm sleep of the baby.
2. The little one constantly bends, unbends the legs. Raising the legs to the tummy, he signals about "cutting" pain, manifested by spasms.
3. A high-pitched scream lasting several hours. Screaming, crying often appears in the evening, during the day the child eats, sleeps almost peacefully.
4. Release of gases. This process is difficult for children. Before the release of gases, they scream, after the release of air they calm down.
5. Pallor. Pallor of the skin is observed in children.
6. A common symptom of colic in babies is crying after feeding.

According to the signs, the parents and the pediatrician will find out that the baby is tormented by intestinal pains. To save the baby from pain, adults will have to try, gain patience and strength.

Helping newborns with colic

Not all advertising methods, doctor's prescriptions work for the treatment of colic. It remains to endure, wait for the baby to be 3 months old. For many children, medication, non-medication help significantly reduces the intensity of pain. Let's take a closer look at the methods used to help with colic.

Mom's diet

If the baby is breastfed, the woman should reconsider the diet. This will help prevent the flow of substances that cause flatulence in the milk into the newborn's body. Cannot be used for HS:

• white cabbage;
• hot seasonings;
• corn;
• fatty cow's milk, homemade dairy products;
• onion;
• nuts;
• tomatoes;
• caffeinated foods.

On a note! Eating a diet will help normalize bowel function.

Medications

If you cannot overcome an unpleasant phenomenon on your own, pediatricians prescribe drugs to relieve symptoms. Powder is common non-drug Plantex, hipp tea. The action of the funds is aimed at enhancing intestinal motility, calming spasms, and passing gas. Medicines based on the active ingredient simethicone are also used:

A drug	Image	Application
Espumisan		Promotes the disintegration of gas bubbles, gas is excreted from the body through the intestines, absorbed by its walls. It is used for flatulence, in pediatrics, the main use for colic. Babies should be given 25 drops. For babies, the drug is added to food, served in a bottle at each feeding
Bobotik		It acts exclusively in the gastrointestinal tract, is not absorbed into other organs. Produced on the basis of simethicone. It is allowed to use babies from the 28th day of birth. The dose is 8 drops, 4 times a day. The drug is diluted with water, food
Sub-Simplex		A preparation with the same active substance helps to reduce pain arising from intestinal distension. For babies for food, 15 drops drip water. This is a single dose. If colic symptoms are severe, apply the remedy after each feeding.
Cuplaton		The main substance is dimethicone. It acts like a simethicone. Children under 6 months of age are given 4 drops of medicine before feeding. It is allowed to use a medicine for a long period.
Riabal		Babies are given in syrup. The medicine has an analgesic effect, it is used if the symptoms of colic are intense. Before 3 months, the daily dose is 6 mg / day, given 3 times. The course of treatment is 1-2 weeks, the final number of days of taking the drug is determined by the doctor

Fennel-based products are also often used. Their effectiveness has been proven as carminative substances that reduce the formation of gases. These remedies do not remove the cause, they help to cope with the symptoms. Prescribing medications should be done by a pediatrician.

Help at home

Previously, people did not know about the existence of medications for the elimination of colic. Therefore, we used improvised means:

1. Place baby on tummy before feeding. This is done on a hard surface.
2. After feeding, the baby needs to be kept upright - this way the excess air comes out better.
3. Using a heating pad, ironed diaper. Put a warm object on your tummy, the method helps to minimize the intensity of colic.
4. Mother can help the baby emotionally and physically by putting a warm cloth on her stomach, then laying the baby down on her belly.
5. Slowly, gently pressing, the parents massage the baby's tummy. You need to massage clockwise, in the direction of gas movement.
6. Press the baby to the chest, swing it to the beat of the humming song.
7. During an attack of colic, put the baby on his back, gently press his tummy with his palm.
8. After eating, give an infusion of dill.
9. The gas outlet tube helps to remove gases.
10. If the baby is bottle-fed, try changing the mixture. Some children may find it easier to tolerate pain when using a different kind of formula.

Massage for babies

Massage is an effective way to help. Below are the basic principles of its implementation.

Movement	Description
	To make the baby calmer, make movements with your hands, as shown in the figure. It helps to increase intestinal peristalsis, eliminate gases
	Raise, lower the legs. Movement facilitates the elimination of gas from the lower intestines
	Turns of the legs to the left, to the right, the back lies exactly
	Placing the baby on the stomach has a therapeutic effect for colic. If you press a little on the back, the gases go away faster. You need to press very carefully

Intestinal colic in newborns is a nuisance that parents can experience. Carrying out the doctor's prescriptions, helping the baby with improvised means, massage, having gained patience, parents go through this period calmly, cheerfully. The reward for hard work is the toothless smile of a three-month-old baby. Dry mouth and bitterness causes, read on our website.

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