The so feared infant colic. Saturday. Eight in the afternoon. Your baby, your partner and you. The three at home. Peace and tranquility reign in your home. It’s definitely been a good day and you’re taking the opportunity to rest after a few sleepless nights. You look into each other’s eyes, crossing your fingers that your baby remains calm like this. But suddenly, as if something had happened without you noticing… he bursts into tears. Abruptly, suddenly, immediately. Again. Like every afternoon. You look at the baby, you look into each other’s eyes again and you ask yourself the question:“What has happened to him? Will he be hungry? Will you want pampering? Or will it be the so feared infant colic ?” Along the following lines we delve into this.
My baby won’t stop crying… Why?
We already know more than enough that all newborns cry. Especially during the first three months. Don’t worry, it’s normal. Your baby is healthy and hisway to express your basic needssince he is not yet able to reason or tell you in any other way.
Some of the doubts about breastfeeding They relate to the question:“Why is my baby crying?” For multiple reasons:because you are hungry, because you are cold, because you feel some discomfort, because you have gas, because you feel alone and ask for care… Or because you have colic.
Eye! Not all of your baby’s crying spells are associated with infant colic. But as always, we go little by little.
Infant colic is…
When we talk about infant colic we are referring to ainconsolable crying. A totally normal condition that Although it is annoying, it does not usually have major medical importance.. Around 40% of babies suffer from colic whose onset occurs around the3rd-6th week of life. What is the good news? what is somethingpassenger whose end occurs spontaneously around the 4-6 months of life.It is aboutsudden episodes of uncontrollable, persistent, irritable cryingAlthough they can appear at any time, they usually occur most frequently byevening-night. Sometimes crying is accompanied by facial redness, kicking, swollen belly,… Does this happen for any specific reason? No, there is no triggering factor and your baby’s development is totally normal.
Infant colic occurs regardless of sex and culture, being observed more frequently in children who are not fed through breastfeeding.
Causes of infant colic
“Why, sir, why?!”– you will ask yourself on more than one occasion as a result of the desperation of intense minutes of deep crying. That is the crux of the matter sincethe cause is unknown. Intolerance to cow’s milk? Heavy digestion and gas resulting from intestinal immaturity? Consequence of the rapid advance of food through the baby’s digestive system? Fruit of his temperament? Gastroesophageal reflux?
Gemma Pujol, doctor of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Pediatric Nutrition at the Sant Joan de Déu Hospital, states that “Although the exact cause is not known, it is believed that the intestinal microbiota together with the immaturity of the digestive system and the immaturity of the central nervous system generate an abnormal response to stress, producing these symptoms of crying and irritability.”
For your peace of mind what is recommended isgo to a pediatrician, midwife or physiotherapistwho after a detailed examination(it is not necessary to perform any type of imaging test or analysis to know)It will determine if the baby actually suffers from colic or, on the contrary, it is something different.. Check the possibility of changing formula milk or modify something in your diet if you are breastfeeding. Here you can read more about nutrition in pregnancy.
How do I know if my baby suffers from infant colic?
Who knows your baby more than you? Nobody. One way to know if your baby suffers from colic is to apply the well-known“Wessel’s rule of 3”:
- 3 times a week.
- More than 3 hours crying every day.
- A minimum of 3 weeks.
Another indicator that we can take into account is observe that the inconsolable crying does not stop despite holding him in your arms and trying to satisfy his needs. However, it is important to analyze each case specifically to know what happens. Here you can read more about the lactation crisis.
Does infant colic have treatment?
Recommendations to calm infant colic
At SingularMom we want to make your life a little easier. Here we leave you a series of Recommendations to calm infant colic :
- Although sometimes it may be difficult for you, it is essential that you take care of your emotional health and you are the mostpeacefulpossible. Remember that Your nerves will only complicate everything. Repeat after me: Everything is fine.
- Once you are calm Check that your baby is not crying for any apparent reason: poop, pee, hunger, discomfort, cold, need for affection… Find a quiet place where you can be alone.
- The prenatal sensory stimulation It is not only positive inside the uterus but also outside during the first months of life.Lean on music, movement, vibrations and caresses to calm you down.
- The carrying, the caresses, the kisses and the skin to skin contact They can be of great help.
- Lean on your partner and family during these moments. During those endless cries it is easy to lose your temper, it is important to lean on your partner and take turns, avoiding shaking at all times. Here you can read more about how pregnancy affects the couple.
- Aspecialized physiotherapistcan be of great help to you. Some postural measures and massages for colic that may be of help to you are the following:To promote intestinal mobility, gently flex and stretch your legs up to your chest; Massage his abdomen and apply light pressure from his hips to his belly. In the following link you can take note of some measures advised by Tomás Heredia, physiotherapist and director of SingularMom, tocalm your baby.
It’s okay not to be okay . Make this your daily mantra. If taking care of a baby is not an easy or simple task… imagine what it means to do it when the little one suffers from infant colic.Frustration, nerves, sadness, anger or even guilt are totally normal emotions that can be triggered by stress, uncertainty and fatigue.Take care of yourself so you can take care of your baby. You are doing very well.
At SingularMom we want to be by your side throughout the entire parenting process, not just during pregnancy. We know that birthmarks a before and after in your life. Our desire is to accompany you by making the path easier and more bearable.
