Colic: definition, symptoms, causes, to treatment

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Definition

What is colic?

Colic is a condition when a baby cries continuously for no apparent reason. This condition is not a disease and will not harm the baby.

Babies with colic often cry more than 3 hours a day, 3 days a week for 3 weeks or more.

Whatever you do to help the baby during this episode doesn't seem to work to relieve the baby's crying.

Colic is a condition that can make it difficult for both the parent and the baby. However, you should know that these conditions are relatively short term.

Within weeks or months, colic will stop, and you will get past the first challenge of parenting.

How common is colic in babies?

Colic is a condition that usually occurs most severely when the baby is around 6-8 weeks old and goes away on its own between the 8th and 14th week of age.

This condition can be treated by reducing risk factors. Talk to your doctor for more information.

Symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of colic?

It's normal for babies to fuss and cry, and fussy babies don't always have colic. In a healthy baby, signs of colic include:

Predictable crying episodes

Babies with colic often cry at the same time every day, usually in the afternoon or evening.

Crying from colic can last from a few minutes to three hours or more a day.

Pooping or urinating and passing gas are signs of the end of an episode of colic.

Intense crying that cannot be relieved

Crying from colic is intense, sounds miserable and often high pitched. A baby's face may turn red, and it is difficult to calm down.

Crying for no apparent reason

Crying is normal in babies. However, crying indicates that the baby needs something, such as food or clean diapers.

Crying continuously and without an obvious cause is a sign that the baby has colic.

Posture changes

Apart from crying, changes in body posture are also a symptom of a baby experiencing colic.

For example, curled legs, clenched fists and tight abdominal muscles are common during episodes.

When should I have my baby checked by the doctor?

Early diagnosis and treatment is a way to stop colic from worsening and prevent other medical emergencies.

Therefore, talk to your doctor immediately to prevent this serious condition.

Babies who cry for no reason are not always colicky. The first step you need to take is to make sure that your baby does not have a health problem that makes him cry.

Call your doctor immediately if your little one experiences:

• Fever up to 38 ℃
• Less active than usual
• Not feeding properly even though the breastfeeding position is correct
• Do not suck hard on the breast or bottle while feeding
• The baby's stool is runny or has blood
• Gag
• Experiencing weight gain or loss
• Unable to rest easy, no matter what you do

If your baby has any of the signs or symptoms above or any other questions, please consult a doctor.

Cause

What causes colic?

Until now, the cause of colic is still not known with certainty.

The Mayo Clinic says researchers have difficulty explaining this condition, such as why it usually starts at the end of the first month of life.

How the condition varies between babies, why the condition occurs at certain times, and why the condition resolves on its own are also difficult to research.

However, some experts have explored several theories about the causes of colic, namely:

• Allergy
• Lactose intolerance
• Normal bacterial changes in the digestive system
• An underdeveloped digestive system
• Anxious parents
• Differences in the way babies are fed or sedated.

However, it is still unclear why some babies develop this condition and some don't.

This condition occurs regardless of the birth of the baby, namely the first, second, third, or so on.

Colic is a condition that can also occur in babies who are breastfed or formula fed.

What increases my baby's risk for colic?

There are factors that increase the risk of colic in the baby, for example the mother of the baby who smokes during pregnancy or after delivery.

There are actually many other theories about what causes children to be prone to colic. However, nothing has been proven.

For example, colic is less common in the first child or in infants who are fed formula or the diet of a breastfeeding mother does not trigger this condition.

What complications arise from a baby with colic?

Colic is a condition that does not cause short or long term health problems in children.

However, this condition can cause stress to the parents.

There is a relationship between colic and the following problems:

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

The stress of calming a crying baby sometimes prompts parents to shake their bodies or harm their child.

Don't do this as shaking the baby can cause serious brain damage, even death.

The risk of this uncontrolled reaction is greater if parents do not have information about calming a crying child.

Diagnosis

How is this condition diagnosed?

If the doctor suspects that your baby has this condition, a physical exam and several tests will be recommended. Colic examinations are:

• Measure the baby's growth (height, weight and head circumference).
• Hear the sound of your baby's heart, lungs and stomach.
• Examining the limbs, including the fingers and feet, eyes, ears, and genitals.
• Assess reactions to touch or movement.
• Look for signs of inflammatory diaper rash, or other signs of infection or allergies.

You will also be asked how crying affects the mother's condition and shown how to feed and burp the baby

The doctor can also suggest that you record when and how often the baby cries.

If your baby has symptoms that worry you, such as vomiting or fever, the doctor can order laboratory tests or X-rays to find the cause.

Treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

How is colic treated?

Colic is a condition that improves on its own, often by 3 months of age.

However, there is no proven treatment that is consistently effective in every baby. Some of the treatment options may include:

Gas reliever medication

These drugs are classified as safe, except in infants who must use thyroid replacement drugs.

Probiotics

Probiotics are substances that help maintain the natural balance of "good" bacteria in the digestive tract to treat colic.

This is because babies with colic can have this imbalance of bacteria. One of them, Lactobacillus reuteri, significantly reduced the symptoms of the colic condition.

However, study results have been mixed. Some showed benefits, while others found no benefit.

However, experts have not found sufficient evidence to recommend probiotics to treat this condition.

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be done to treat colic?

Here are lifestyle and home remedies that can help you deal with colic:

Hold the baby as upright as possible while breastfeeding

If you are breastfeeding, it may be helpful to breastfeed from one breast until it is very low before changing sides.

This gives the baby a rich, fatty hindmilk, potentially more satisfying than a watery foremilk at the start of breastfeeding.

Adopt strategies that soothe the baby

You may find it helpful to develop strategies to treat this condition. You need to experiment, such strategies include:

• Using a pacifier
• Take your baby for a walk in a car or stroller
• Take a walk rocking your baby
• Wrap your baby in a blanket
• Bathe your baby with warm water
• Massage the baby's stomach or back
• Plays calm and soothing sound audio
• Turn on the vacuum cleaner
• Dim the lights and limit other visual stimulation

The things above are some of the ways to treat colic in babies.

Consider changing your diet, if you are breastfeeding

A breastfeeding mother's diet does not appear to play a role in infant colic symptoms.

However, in infants with a history of allergies, eliminating potential allergens from the diet can prevent food allergies in babies.

If you are breastfeeding, your pediatrician may recommend that you avoid foods that are likely to cause allergies, such as dairy products, nuts, wheat, soy and fish, for 2 weeks to see changes in baby's symptoms.

Change infant formula

Like breast milk, formula does not appear to cause symptoms.

However, switching to a hydrolyzate type formula can make a difference if the baby is allergic to cow's milk or has a milk intolerance.

Change bottles

There are various bottles and nipples with different options for treating this condition.

Trying different types of bottles or nipples is a way to help relieve symptoms.

Bottles that have foldable pockets can reduce the amount of air your baby swallows.

What can I do to avoid the stress of a colicky baby?

Soothing a colic baby can cause stress and fatigue, even in experienced parents.

The following methods can help you deal with stress:

Rest

You can take turns with your partner or someone closest to you to soothe a colicky baby.

Give yourself the opportunity to leave the house if possible.

Use the crib for short breaks

Place the baby in the crib for a while when he cries. At that time, you can calm yourself from feeling nervous and anxious.

Express your feelings

It is normal for parents to feel helpless, depressed, guilty, or angry when the baby is colic.

Share your feelings with family members, friends, or your pediatrician.

Avoid beating yourself up

Avoid measuring success as a parent by how often your baby cries. Colic is not the result of bad parenting.

A baby's crying also cannot be interpreted as a child's rejection of their parents.

Take care of your health

Eat a healthy diet. Make time for exercise, such as walking.

If possible, sleep when the baby is sleeping, even during the day. Also, avoid alcohol and illegal drugs

Remember that this condition is temporary

These episodes usually get better by the 3rd to 4th months of the baby's age. So, believe that this phase will soon be passed.

Meet with a doctor or psychologist

If possible, make plans with a friend or relative to take over if you get overwhelmed.

Doctors and psychologists are the right people to provide assistance in treating mental health due to colic babies.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.