It can be difficult and worrisome for parents and family members, as one looks for solutions to ease and relieve the baby’s suffering when their newborn cries out in distress for hours at a time, for what seems like no cause. Colic in a baby can cause havoc in the home leaving you feeling powerless, furious, guilty, anxious, and self-conscious.
Whether they are breastfed or given formula, 1 in 5 newborns have colic during the first month of life. Colic is frequent, prolonged and intense crying or fussiness in a healthy infant.
The cause of colic is uncertain, according to the Mayo Clinic. Its severity varies across infants and may be caused by a variety of contributing circumstances. The majority of the time, colic goes away on its own and your newborn should grow out of it, according to medical professionals. Most importantly, colic is not dangerous to your child.
According to Vital Baby here is how you can identify the different colicky cries in babies, and how to cope with it:
Colicky Cries:
Colic is characterised by loud, agonising screams and intense weeping that are distinct from hunger or diaper wetness complaints. Babies will tenser their core muscles, clench their fists, and arch their backs. Babies with colic typically cry in fits, which tend to happen at the same time at night and disturb both your and the baby’s sleep cycles.
Colicky Causes:
Colic may also result from an infant’s undeveloped digestive system making it more difficult for them to digest meals. Their developing digestive system may have an imbalance of beneficial bacteria, or it could be brought on by an allergy to certain foods or cow’s milk, which results in stomach pain, gas, and cramping in the muscles. This reinforces the recommendation that infants under six months old should only be fed breast milk because their digestive systems are not yet ready to handle solid meals (even watery rice milk).
At a time when their nervous system is still growing, a colicky baby may also be sensitive to light, noise, and excessive stimulation of fear, frustration, or enthusiasm. It might also be a sort of a headache that kids get. Parents frequently overfeed and burp seldom because they believe their infant is crying out from hunger, which makes the symptoms worse. Stress and anxiety in the family can sometimes cause colic.
Your baby should not cry for longer than three hours per day, three days per week, or for longer than three weeks in an infant who is otherwise healthy and well-fed, which is frequently used to identify colicky babies. They might have frequent burps or a lot of gas, although this could also be from crying and swallowing air.
Stress Management & Colic:
To rule out any possibility, it’s crucial to discuss your baby’s exact symptoms and your worries with your paediatrician or clinic sister. Constant weeping causes parents a great deal of stress, and studies have linked it to early breast-feeding cessation, postpartum depression in mothers, and feelings of guilt, tiredness, helplessness, or rage.
Parents may shake or otherwise injure a screaming infant as a result of the stress of trying to comfort them. When a baby is violently shaken by an adult out of frustration or anger, the baby’s brain bounces back inside the baby’s skull, resulting in bruising, swelling, pressure, and bleeding (intracerebral hemorrhage), which can quickly result in severe, permanent brain damage or even death.
Soothing Support for Colic:
Most of the time, there is no need to treat colic, and taking drugs is often not recommended. A medical expert, however, can advise you if your child gets colic. Consult a doctor right away if your infant starts to exhibit colic symptoms following a mishap, injury, or illness, develops blue lips or skin while crying, or starts acting strangely when it comes to eating, sleeping, or acting in general.
Baby chiropractic adjustments considerably reduce the symptoms of colic, according to the research. Infants cry a lot when their digestive systems aren’t working properly because of a baby’s misaligned spine and neurological system. By reactivating the nerve flow to the baby’s small intestines and boosting peristalsis, which aids in moving gas and liquid through, a minor spine adjustment can assist the digestive system get back to work.
Don’t overfeed your baby; only provide the recommended amount. Positioned against your shoulder, wind baby properly before and after feedings with gentle but firm upward strokes. After feeding, keep them upright for 30 minutes. Taking turns with your partner in the care of your colic-stressed youngster will allow you to relax and take a break.
A colicky baby can now be soothed, cared for, and prevented thanks to the fantastic products made possible by contemporary technology. The new Vital Baby SOOTHE series of pacifiers was created to offer a solution to assist soothe babies when they need it most, especially when you are exhausted and your baby is angry. Symmetrical teats on the Airflow Soother Adventure and Glow in the Dark Soothers R128.70 make it simple for babies to grasp the soother in their mouths. The wide-open Airflow shield helps to safeguard sensitive cheeks against skin irritation, and the 100% soft silicone is taste- and odor-free and soothing for babies.
Also see: Why talking to your baby while in the womb is important
