Spasms in newborns what to do. Colic in infants: symptoms and how to save the baby from pain

Most often, pain syndrome with colic occurs during or after feeding, in the process of digesting food. According to statistics, about 70% of babies suffer from discomfort and spasms in the intestines. How to treat colic in newborns?

In most cases - not a disease, not a pathology. Therefore, it is impossible to “treat” them in the direct sense of the word. It is only necessary to help the child with colic in order to alleviate, alleviate the pain. Clinical studies show that by 3 months, colic resolves on its own. Some doctors insist on minimal diagnosis and treatment of colic, since the harm from the use of drugs can be greater for the body than the attacks themselves.

About the diet of a nursing mother

You need to start from the simplest, affordable things. First of all, mom needs to reconsider her diet. The diet of a nursing mother with colic can be a decisive factor influencing the process of digestion in infants. What to pay attention to?

• Avoid whole cow's milk. But at the same time, we must remember that fermented milk products must be in the mother’s diet.
• Avoid foods that cause colic in babies. These include: gas-producing vegetables and fruits (cabbage, legumes, peppers, cucumbers, onions, garlic, grapes, pears, melons, raisins), brown bread, muffins, carbonated drinks and water.
• Admonitions of Wise Relatives. By and large, they should also be excluded. Because often young mothers have to listen: “I ate something wrong, but the child suffers.” The mood of a woman, already alarmed, will not improve from this.
• Diary of a breastfeeding mother. It is useful to conduct it not only for the prevention of colic, but also for allergic reactions in infants. Many women complain that they have to torture themselves, give up many seasonal fruits and vegetables and go on a strict diet. At the same time, young mothers are afraid to introduce other products into the diet. Doctors recommend "testing" new foods in the diet in small portions and not mixing them on the same day. It happens that the baby will not react in any way to the cabbage, but will arrange a concert after the apples. It is always necessary to take into account the individuality of the child's body.
• The presence of gastroenterological diseases in the mother. These include: gastritis, constipation, dysbacteriosis, bile stasis, insufficient production of enzymes, etc. These diseases can affect the properties of breast milk and, accordingly, provoke problems in the baby.

And one more important point: if the mother is on a strict diet, and the baby’s colic does not stop, then the reason is not in the food. Some modern pediatricians believe that nutrition generally does not affect the appearance of colic in children.

How to help a baby

There are many non-drug ways to help calm your baby and reduce the pain of intestinal cramps.

• . From the first days of life, it is recommended to lay the baby on the stomach. This position not only strengthens the muscles of the back and neck, but also helps relieve intestinal spasms. Usually the baby is laid out on the stomach before feeding.
• . The reason for the increased in the intestines of the baby may be elementary overeating. If the baby cries, the mother thinks that he is hungry and feeds him. Even 10 grams of extra milk or formula for a newborn would be too much. For this amount of food, the baby may not have enough enzymes, milk will be poorly digested, and as a result, the formation of gases in the intestines. It is also necessary to gradually increase the interval between meals. If the baby is bottle-fed, it is possible that the cause of colic lies in the mixture. It is necessary to consult a pediatrician and find an alternative.
• . The baby should tightly grasp the nipple and part of the areola so that air is not swallowed during sucking. Also, make sure that the baby does not tuck the lower lip when sucking.
• Upright position after feeding. After each meal, it is recommended to carry the baby for 10 minutes. This will allow the baby to burp the air that has entered the stomach when sucking. The upright position is especially beneficial for formula-fed babies.
• Self-massage with breathing. In all babies, the abdominal type of breathing predominates. When the baby breathes in the tummy, it naturally massages the digestive organs. If he is wearing a diaper or tight-fitting sliders, this restricts movement. With colic, it is useful to leave the baby for some time without a diaper, naked.
• Anti-colic bottle. Some mothers who have tried a variety of remedies for colic have found "salvation" in a special bottle. With artificial feeding, the baby swallows air, which then accumulates in the intestines and causes trouble. Anti-colic bottles are equipped with a ring with a valve that does not allow air to enter the stomach during feeding. It is also important to choose the right nipple that mimics the female breast as much as possible.
• Gymnastics. Lay the baby on your back. Try to alternately bend and unbend the legs, pressing them to the tummy. Movements should be smooth and slow. If the baby resists, do not insist.
• Massage. The newborn is sensitive to tactile contact. During the massage, your hands should be warm and soft. Try stroking the baby's tummy around the navel in a clockwise direction. You can also take the baby in your arms, turn it around to face you, bend its legs and press it to the body. With one hand, hold the baby under the legs, and with the other, stroke his back. Massage of the digestive organs must be performed gently to relieve spasms. Intense movements, on the contrary, can lead to intestinal irritation and even more discomfort.
• Water procedures. Warm water will help the baby relax. After water procedures, the baby will sleep well.
• Warm or heating pad. Heat relieves or reduces spasms, stimulates the gallbladder and liver. Try to lay the baby on your stomach, put your hands on his tummy. Emotional warmth, tactile contact is also a kind of "warmer" that will help the baby calm down and survive the discomfort.
• Gas tube. Doctors recommend using this method in extreme cases. First, you need to remember that the procedure must be performed carefully: insert the tube to the desired depth so as not to injure the walls of the rectum. Secondly, addiction can develop to the gas outlet tube, and in the future the baby may have problems with stool and intestinal motility.
• Emotional state of mother and other family members. This point is usually not taken into account, but in vain. Because the newborn is sensitive to the psychological situation in the family and the mood of the mother, in particular. Anxiety and fear for the health of the child are natural reactions of every mother. It happens that a woman cannot cope with emotions, panics when a child cries during colic. In this situation, the baby, without any remorse, can be "entrusted" to a more emotionally stable family member. The baby will calm down faster in the arms of a calm and loving person. And mom at this time can take a shower or drink tea with mint. You also need to know that a woman may show signs of postpartum depression to varying degrees and coincide with the period of colic in a newborn. The reaction of the mother may be inadequate. In this case, she needs help no less than a child.

There is no specific therapeutic strategy for colic. They are functional in nature, so they disappear over time. You can use different methods at the same time. You can choose any one method that helps the baby the most. What is important to know? The cause of regular and piercing crying can be not only colic. Therefore, it is imperative to show the baby to narrow specialists - a neurologist, an orthopedist and a surgeon.

4 groups of drugs

Table - Medicines for colic in infants

Active substance	Dosage form	Name of the drug
Probiotic	Capsules, drops, powder, oil solutions	Acipol, Bifidumbacterin, Bifiform, Linex, Hilak Forte
Simethicone	Capsules, drops, suspensions, emulsions	Bobotik, Disflatil, Sub Simplex, Simethicone, Espumizan
Enzyme	Capsules, tablets	Creon, Mezim, Lactazar
Grass (dill seeds, fennel, anise, chamomile, cumin, coriander)	Drops, granules, oils	Bebinos, BabyCalm, Plantex

Before using any drugs, you should consult with your pediatrician. He will prescribe the dosage and duration of treatment, tell you which form of the drug is better to choose, talk about possible side effects and contraindications.

Preparations of the probiotic group

The gastrointestinal tract of the fetus is sterile. The first colonization of the intestine by microflora occurs when a newborn passes through the birth canal. It is not surprising that in the first months after birth, a baby can experience qualitative and quantitative changes in the intestinal microflora. At the same time, in children who were born naturally and are breastfed, the content of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli is much higher. In children who are bottle-fed and born by caesarean section, the content of beneficial bacteria is lower.

Probiotics are a group of living and beneficial microorganisms for the human body. These include various types of lactic bacteria (bifidobacteria, lactobacilli) and yeast. What benefit do they provide? Probiotics synthesize substances that promote the growth of normal intestinal flora, stimulate the production of enzymes, and strengthen the immune system. This group of drugs is not a drug. However, they should be treated with caution as they can overstimulate the newborn's immune system. Not always probiotic therapy leads to a positive result.

Simethicone-based preparations

These are the most effective medicines, with their help it is possible to stop the attacks of pain in the baby. Simethicone is a substance that reduces the formation of gases in the intestines and promotes their excretion. Simethicone is not absorbed in the intestines, does not affect the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, so it is prescribed to babies from the first days of life. Carminative preparations based on simethicone can be used for several weeks. There may be more concentrated doses or dilute ones. You can dilute the medicine in water or in breast milk. Contraindications are congenital problems of the gastrointestinal tract, hypersensitivity to simethicone, allergic reactions.

Enzyme preparations

The digestive system of the newborn is immature, characterized by a lack of enzymes, their reduced activity. Enzymes are important for the normal functioning of the digestive tract, they break down nutrients, participate in metabolic processes. Many babies are deficient in lactase, an enzyme that breaks down lactose, the main carbohydrate in breast milk. If lactose is not digested, it remains in the intestines and leads to gas, bloating, and spasms.

Lactase deficiency is compensated by the drug "Lactazar" and helps to digest milk sugar. By the way, lactose intolerance can be congenital, hereditary. To identify it, it is necessary to pass the feces for analysis. The dosage of enzymes depends on the level of undigested carbohydrates, which show the results of the analysis. The higher it is, the higher the dose. Enzymes are diluted in expressed breast milk.

If the baby is bottle-fed, then low-lactose mixtures are used. You also need to know that long-term elimination of lactose in the diet leads to constipation. Dosages of enzymes should be minimal, and the duration of therapy should be short, so that the body does not become addictive, and the digestive system is independently included in the work. You should also be aware of side effects after using certain enzymes, such as pancreatin, -, or, allergic reactions.

Herbal preparations

You can buy herbal preparations in granules, or you can brew dry grass. Still, the latter is preferable. In this case, you need to accurately maintain proportions. It is also necessary to brew the herb in the right way so that it does not lose its properties. The most effective -. These folk remedies for colic are known to many generations of mothers. Fennel has antibacterial, antispasmodic, choleretic, carminative effects, regulates intestinal motility, and calms the nervous system. In most cases, fennel is well tolerated by newborns. Only sometimes there are allergic reactions in the form of a rash. Therefore, doctors recommend giving "dill water", starting with 2 teaspoons, then you can increase the dose.

Medicines with active herbal ingredients can be used as a treatment and prevention of colic. They also have contraindications. For example, the popular "Plantex" should not be given with lactase deficiency, impaired glucose absorption, hypersensitivity to components.

Colic drops for newborns are the most common dosage form. They dissolve easily and quickly. In addition, with their help, the dosage is accurately determined, which is extremely important for the baby. If the baby was prescribed medicine in capsules, they must be opened and the powder diluted in liquid.

How to help a newborn with colic? First of all, you need to accept the fact - "it will pass." Then be patient and during this difficult period surround the baby with warmth and care. However, preventive measures should not be neglected: proper feeding and attachment to the breast, daily routine of the baby, regular laying on the stomach, gymnastics, massage, mom's diet.

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Greetings, dear parents! Only from one word "colic" my left eye begins to twitch nervously - the memories are still too fresh. According to statistics, 70% of parents go through this painful stage. Let's figure out how to help a baby with colic?

Let's get to know each other better

To defeat colic, it would be good to study their nature at least in general terms. Colic is a spasm in the tummy that occurs due to the imperfection of the child's digestive system. To be more precise, it's all about the notorious gaziki. It is they who mercilessly stretch the intestinal walls and cause such discomfort to the newborn.

How to understand that a child is naughty precisely because of colic?

1. Strongly presses the legs to the tummy, and then sharply pulls them out.
2. Clenches his fists tightly and closes his eyes tightly.
3. Acts up for no apparent reason.
4. The face blushed a lot.
5. Hard belly.

Often, colic goes hand in hand with constipation and bloating, and their activity is especially high in the evening, which is associated with a hormonal surge in the mother's body and an increase in the fat content of milk.

Starting in the first week after birth, in about 4 months, colic self-destructs, because the digestive system adapts and begins to fully function. But during this time, you can actually go crazy, watching the torment of the crumbs.

Causes of colic

Colic can be prevented or at least minimized, but for success you will have to follow certain rules:

• If you are breastfeeding, eat right. Braised hodgepodge, fluffy muffin with strawberry jam and a mug of coffee is the worst dinner you can eat. By the way, we recently discussed with you - choose from them those that will not cause increased gas formation in a child in the first months of life;
• If you still have not given up bad habits, it's time to do it;
• Do not be stressed, try to relax and get enough sleep. The situation in the family should be calm;
• Don't overfeed. And after each feeding, be sure to hold the baby upright so that he burps and releases air.

• Make sure that the formula for artificial feeding is chosen correctly. Often it is the mixture that provokes the appearance of colic.
• See if you are putting on the nipple correctly - is the baby swallowing air while feeding? By the way, in stores and pharmacies you can look for anti-colic nipples, in which air is specially vented. Handy little thing! For example, I used a pacifier from Avent.

Some mothers are convinced that colic is the scourge of boys. This is not true! The appearance of colic does not depend on gender, nationality, skin color ... - in general, you understand.

emergency measures

If everything is done correctly, then after the manipulations, the symptoms will go away, and the suffering of the little one will be replaced by smiles and cooing.

So, here are ways that help get rid of colic quickly and effectively:

• monitor the correct capture of the chest with GV - the child will not swallow air and will not suffer from gaziki.
  Radically but effectively! How to properly attach a baby to the chest can be found;
• within a few minutes, it is easy to massage the place near the navel clockwise before and after feeding;
• take the child’s legs and smoothly make a “bike”;
• give a drink of weak dill infusion;
• put a warm flannel diaper on the baby's stomach;
• “tummy to tummy” position - lie down and put the baby on your stomach with your face towards you - it’s better to do this half an hour before feeding (from personal experience, our baby was very helped by the warmth of the mother);

If none of the above helped, you can try more radical methods. One of them is a gas outlet pipe. Before using it, lay the baby on the side so that he presses the legs to the chest. Lubricate the anal passage with cream and gently, not deep, place the tip of the tube. This method will not help if the gases have accumulated in the intestines. We'll have to wait until they crowd at the exit - then act!

If all your efforts are in vain, consult a doctor.

Usually, pediatricians prescribe the following medicines for colic:

• babycalm for newborns (I personally liked it) - it has a carminative, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and sedative effect. This remedy effectively eliminates flatulence, accumulation of gases in the intestines, bloating and associated discomfort in infants;

• Another good medicine is Plantex. It is based on fennel, the effect of which is similar to dill. The drug dissolves in water, and you can give it from birth.
• espumizan and bobotik emulsions - reduce the amount of gas;
• smecta and activated charcoal - help gaziks find freedom. (Be careful with smecta, it caused constipation in us);
• bifiform and linex - stimulate the smooth muscles of the intestine (for us, bifiform did not have a noticeable effect).

And remember, colic is not a disease. In most cases, parental care and observance of elementary rules help to get rid of them. Patience, dear parents!

And be sure to watch an interesting video by Dr. Komarovsky on the topic under discussion:

Tell us in the comments how you fought colic, and if my article was useful for you, I would be glad if you share it on your social media page. See you soon!

The notorious colic is a phenomenon that almost all newborns face. They just need to be experienced, because they are just a side effect of the development and adaptation of the baby's intestines to new conditions. But what kind of mother will be able to watch indifferently how her baby is tormented? Therefore, before you panic and treat him with everything, you need to find out what colic is in a newborn, what you can do and what you can’t.

Infantile colic does not yet have a scientific definition. When making such a diagnosis, doctors usually rely on the fact that a well-fed and healthy baby is naughty, crying and worried for several hours a day. Colic occurs in the first months of life, usually at 2-4 weeks, and disappears on its own at about 4 months.

The exact causes of colic in infants have not yet been clarified. One of the main versions is the immaturity of the gastrointestinal tract. A baby is born with a sterile intestine, which begins to gradually populate with useful (and not so) microflora. The baby learns to eat in a new mode - if earlier he received all the nutrients from the amniotic fluid and the placenta, now they have to be digested on their own, and the waste is brought out. Engaging all the necessary systems and muscles at once and in the right order is not an easy task when you are only a few weeks old.

Also, colic in a newborn can occur as a result of swallowing air while eating. This is possible both with breastfeeding and with formula feeding, as a result of improper attachment to the breast or bottle. With this, you definitely need to work to teach your baby to eat properly.

And after feeding, it is advisable to hold it with a “column” so that the baby burps out excess air. Yes, and it is easier for all these masses to pass through the intestines when gravity helps them. Therefore, it is recommended to hold the child in your arms more often, helping his intestines to cope with the work.

Another cause of colic is called overfeeding. Proponents of this theory believe that frequent breastfeeding causes milk to accumulate in the stomach and intestines. Due to the lack of enzymes, the baby cannot digest it (simply not ready for such volumes), the milk begins to ferment, causing increased gas formation, and the newborn develops arching pains in the intestines.

It is difficult to fully agree with this theory, since a child on breastfeeding eats exactly as much as he needs, releasing his breast after he has eaten. Overfeeding can take place only if the mother feeds the baby not on demand, but at her own discretion. Attaching to the chest, on the contrary, relaxes the child, stimulates peristalsis and helps the baby to poop and poop.

How to understand that a child has colic

First of all, in order to determine that the child has exactly infantile colic, and not something else, you need not be too lazy and keep a detailed diary for several days. Everything is recorded in it - when, how much, after which the baby cried, what the mother ate, whether there was a reaction to a change in diet, etc.

After 3-4 days, you need to sum up, and if it turns out that the child cried less than 3-4 hours a day, this is not colic, but ordinary crying. This means that he was worried about an uncomfortable crease in his clothes, did not like the diaper, something loudly knocked outside the window, etc. In the case of colic, the baby cries at least 3-4 hours a day and 3 days a week.

As a rule, if the baby has colic, the symptoms will be only indirect, because he himself cannot explain what exactly worries him. The most common symptom, of course, is a loud, prolonged cry. Moreover, it is observed at about the same time, usually in the late afternoon, 20-30 minutes after feeding. The cry will be quite characteristic - since the pains during colic are not constant, but as if in waves, the child will also cry not constantly, but with short breaks.

Also, increased gas formation in infants may be accompanied by such symptoms:

• legs pressed to the tummy;
• bloating and hardness of the abdomen;
• redness of the face;
• arching in the back.

Gaziki in newborns often cause stool disorders - either constipation, or greenish mucous stools.

How to deal with colic in newborns

To date, official medicine does not offer any ideal remedy for colic, since it is believed that it simply does not exist. And those that are offered in pharmacies act like a placebo. But do not despair, because there are quite a few ways to help the baby, and sometimes the placebo works.

Massage and warm diaper

The simplest and most affordable remedy for colic in newborns is a light massage of the tummy and dry heat on it. To provide warmth, you can use an ironed diaper, as long as it is not too hot. You can also lay the baby on the stomach on the stomach of mom, dad, grandmother or any other free relative and keep it for a long time. It can be worn on the arm, placing its head in the palm of your hand, and hanging the legs on the sides of the elbow. You also need to wear it for a long time.

Another option is to lay your tummy on your knees, head away from you and again hold for a long time. For slings, an excellent option would be to constantly wear the baby in a sling - it is warm, the tummy is pressed against the mother, the force of attraction helps to get rid of excess gases.

Massage from colic should be done between attacks, as during his tummy will be very tense. The optimal time is 20 minutes after feeding, before the onset of an attack. If it didn’t work out to catch the right time before it, you can try to catch a more or less soft tummy during colic.

During the massage, the tummy is gently stroked clockwise for several minutes. You can also carefully and without strong pressure bring the baby's legs to the tummy and spread them apart without tearing them away from it. This will help the gasses get out.

And most importantly, do not forget to monitor the correct grip of the breast or bottle and, after each feeding, carry the baby in a “column” in your arms until he burps excess air.

Probiotics

Often, to relieve the symptoms of colic and gas in newborns, doctors prescribe probiotic complexes. However, they do little to treat this problem. The bifidobacteria and lactobacilli contained in them, of course, affect the functioning of the intestines for the better, but this is a temporary effect. Bacteria are quickly excreted from the body, without lingering there and without affecting the formation of microflora. The baby receives all the necessary, useful and able to "take root" bacteria with mother's milk.

If the doctor has prescribed probiotics to normalize digestion, they must be taken strictly according to the instructions and only as directed. Otherwise, you can greatly harm the baby, violating the already fragile balance in his body.

The drugs that are usually prescribed in case of colic include Bifiform, Acepol, Linex, Hilak Forte.

Medicines

Although there is no official cure for colic, many doctors may recommend that a mother use various colic medications for newborns. As a rule, these are products based on simethicone, a substance that can reduce the amount of gases and relieve pain. It does not cause addiction in the child and is not absorbed into the bloodstream, therefore it is considered a fairly safe remedy.

Simethicone-based drugs for colic in newborns include the following drugs:

• Subsimplex, Simethicone;
• Espumizan;
• Bobotik, Disflatil.

These drugs differ mainly in fillers and excipients. But it is better to choose a medicine on the advice of a doctor. The pediatrician will take into account the individual characteristics of the baby.

Feeding a nursing mother

Strictly speaking, colic in a child happens regardless of what the mother eats - those babies whose mothers are on a strict diet, and those whose mothers do not deny themselves anything, suffer from them. But to make life easier for the baby, it is still recommended to follow a certain diet. The abundance of gas-forming products during breastfeeding can provoke a deterioration in the well-being of the crumbs and cause additional bouts of colic.

The list of foods that cause colic in newborns traditionally includes:

• fresh fruits;
• raw cow's milk;
• foods rich in fiber;
• legumes;
• bread made from rye or whole wheat flour;
• pickled and fresh vegetables.

You should not completely abandon these products either, since fiber contributes to the normal functioning of the intestines, and fruits and vegetables serve as sources of vitamins and nutrients needed by mom and baby.

The diet of a nursing mother with colic in a child should be built individually. If the crumbs do not have a negative reaction to certain foods, it makes no sense to exclude them from the menu. A good help during this period will be a food diary for mom. It will help you track which foods cause colic while breastfeeding, and which you can continue to eat.

The right mixture for artificial people

An improperly selected mixture for colic can increase the discomfort in the baby and worsen his well-being. Therefore, artificial mothers are often advised to try other mixtures and see if there are any improvements. This method is used after the mother is convinced that there are no problems with attaching the crumbs to the bottle, and he does not swallow air during feeding. Otherwise, the main help for colic in artificial newborns will be control over the correct grip of the nipple, the position of the bottle, and the obligatory carrying of the baby in her arms after feeding to burp excess air.

Herbal decoctions

Also, folk recipes suggest using decoctions of anise, cumin, dill seeds or dried chamomile flowers in the form of tea. Of the ready-made herbal remedies, Bebicalm, Plantex and Bebinos can be called - they are made on the basis of herbs and are often prescribed for babies with colic.

To make your own dill water, all you need is fennel seeds and water. If fennel was not found, dill seeds can be used; they help with colic in about the same way, since they belong to the same plant family. A teaspoon of seeds is ground in a coffee grinder, poured with a glass of boiling water and insisted in a water bath for about a quarter of an hour. Then the infusion is filtered, topped up with boiled water to the previous volume and cooled.

It is allowed to give dill water to babies already in the second week. It is better to do this before meals - a teaspoon 3 times a day.

Daily routine, family atmosphere and mother's peace of mind

All this, of course, will not eliminate colic as a phenomenon, but it will help to survive them with less loss. The daily routine calms the baby and allows you to tune in the right way. By following it, it will be much easier to put him to bed or feed him. The rituals repeated day after day have a calming effect, and the calmness of the baby will be very useful during this difficult time.

It has long been no secret that the child is sensitive to the mood of the mother and the general atmosphere in the family, therefore, during colic, it is very important to surround him with warmth and care, and for the mother and other family members to maintain a positive attitude and patience, which can be difficult during strong and constant crying child.

Severe colic in the evening can be relieved by a long, at least an hour, walk in the fresh air. It is better to hold the child in your arms or carry it in a sling so that the tummy is pressed against the mother. As a result, the baby will quickly calm down and fall asleep soundly.

When does colic go away in newborns?

With the first bout of colic, parents are concerned about how old this will continue. There is no and cannot be an exact date when colic passes, because each baby is individual, but statistics show that this joyful event happens at about the age of 3-4 months. It is believed that in boys, colic occurs more often and passes later than in girls, but this observation has not been confirmed by official medicine.

Dr. Komarovsky suggests not to worry about colic in newborns by providing time treatment. Of course, this will require a lot of patience and endurance from the parents, but you need to understand that children's colic always goes away, regardless of whether they were treated in any way or not. And although this is a difficult time for both the child and the parents, it must be experienced with minimal losses and good mood.

Colic in babies is such a common phenomenon that all young parents fearfully expect a period of onset of screams and frustration in newborns. As a rule, the first symptoms of colic in infants begin at 2-3 weeks after birth and last up to 3-4 months. Colic occurs in almost all children, regardless of health, birth conditions and even nationality, for example, among the Chinese, the period of colic in newborns is called “one hundred days of crying”, which approximately characterizes the average duration of this unpleasant phenomenon. Why do colic occur and how do babies manifest, what to do with colic to help the child?

Features of the digestive system of babies

The digestive organs of the child, like his whole body, after birth begin to get acquainted with new living conditions. The circulatory system and muscle tissues adapt to the new gravity, the vestibular apparatus and the perceptual system learn to recognize the position of the child, the respiratory organs get used to the breathing process itself, because before the birth, air did not enter the lungs of the fetus. And the digestive tract begins to get acquainted with food.

Despite the fact that nature provides the most optimal of all possible foods for a child - breast milk, and the stomach and intestines need to get used to it. Movements, contractions of internal organs, balance in the production of digestive enzymes, even breathing patterns - all this affects the state of the process of digestion of food and causes colic in infants. How does this happen?
Colic is called several manifestations of discomfort at once: spasms in the intestines, pain due to increased gas formation, difficulty with defecation. These normal, physiological phenomena occur in the body of every person, but babies are especially sensitive to them. What are the causes of colic?

Why does colic occur in the tummy?

The symptoms and signs of colic in babies are varied, but they all indicate that something is happening in the small tummy that the baby does not like. Moreover, the average time of onset of colic coincides with the period when maternal hormones obtained during fetal development and childbirth cease to act in the body of children. They have a relaxing, relaxing effect, and their removal from the body, as a rule, coincides with the beginning of the "hundred days of crying." Moreover, it is often accompanied by skin rashes, the so-called “three-week rash”, acne of hormonal origin, similar to teenage skin problems.
Colic can manifest itself as follows:

• the baby is worried for no reason;
• legs are often bent at the knees and pulled up to the stomach;
• screams sharply and piercingly during feeding or cries in the evenings, although the rest of the time is quite healthy and calm;
• possible difficulties with the chair;
• increased gas formation and flatulence.

The nervous system of babies is imperfect: it is still learning to recognize which impulses are important, and which signals from the internal organs should not be responded to. The movement of the food mass through the intestines can be perceived as discomfort and cause discontent in the child. This is the first reason for crying from colic.

The second reason, which is often associated with the mother's diet, is increased gas formation. Numerous studies have shown that the formation of gases in the intestines of a child is not at all a consequence of non-compliance with special diets by a nursing mother. Everything that enters the stomach of the mother goes through the process of splitting into basic elements, and in this form it does not matter at all whether the mother ate allowed drying and boiled beef, or enjoyed cabbage, sushi and buns. In the composition of milk with an unbalanced diet, there may be more or less proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals, but there will be no more or less cabbage. That is why formula-fed babies also have colic. Although no "forbidden" products are included in the mixture.

So, maternal nutrition does not affect the digestion of a healthy child. Why do colic occur?
The main reason for increased gas formation in babies is learning the breathing process. During eating, crying, overexcitation, the child swallows air. If further it enters the intestines, then the distension of the walls delivers the same discomfort, which is expressed in sharp crying during feeding and in the evenings, when the child gets tired and the volume of air accumulates.

When does maternal nutrition cause colic?

The diet of a nursing mother, as well as an improperly selected mixture, can cause intestinal colic in newborns and infants if the child has allergic reactions to food / mixture components, or food intolerance.
In such a situation, colic, as a rule, the symptoms are not limited. Skin rashes, loose stools or frequent constipation, frequent regurgitation with an increased volume of secreted masses, up to vomiting, laryngeal edema and shortness of breath can be noted to the signs.
What to do if colic in a newborn manifests itself in this way? Go to the doctor to determine the cause of the allergy or food intolerance, and adjust the diet. Most often, allergens are cow's milk proteins, soy, wheat, chicken eggs and their products. Eliminating allergens from the mother's or baby's diet (when formula-fed) helps to improve the well-being of the baby.

What to do with colic in the baby?

Receptions to help the baby can be divided into two groups: preventive, which help prevent the causes of flatulence, and "emergency", working if colic has already begun.
Preventive measures include:

• Checking baby's nipple latch. Although nature provides for babies, babies also need to learn this process. Proper breastfeeding protects babies from swallowing air while feeding. With artificial feeding, it is necessary to carefully choose the most appropriate size and shape of the nipple per bottle;
• carrying a child in a “column”, “soldier” is a great way to help the air masses swallowed in the process of eating or crying to go out and not get into the intestines. Even if the baby does not have the habit of spitting up after eating, wearing a few minutes on the shoulder will not hurt, but rather, it will help to avoid the evening session of sorrowful crying.

And before the onset of colic, and in the process, you can use the following simple methods to help children:

• the “bicycle” exercise, familiar to all experienced parents, in which the child’s legs are alternately bent at the knees and pressed against the tummy. This helps the food mass move evenly through the intestines;
• tummy massage is a method that babies gratefully accept (as well as mothers in the postpartum period, since their digestive organs also need attention after a change in the volume of the abdomen). With gentle pressure, slowly move clockwise around the umbilical fossa;
• warmth on the stomach, a warm diaper, a warm soothing bath will help relieve spasms that occur due to overexcitation of the nervous system.

In some cases, the pediatrician may recommend carminative preparations (fennel teas, dill infusions) or simethicone preparations (Sub-Simplex, etc.). They reduce the amount of gases in the intestines and help to get rid of them more easily, but they do not remove the cause of increased gas formation - swallowing air, which means they do not contribute to teaching the baby to eat and breathe properly. And the period of colic can be delayed.

Update: July 2019

Intestinal colic in newborns occurs in almost everyone, about 80-90% of mothers face this problem. But do not panic about this, almost always it is a physiological phenomenon.

There are many means and ways by which you can alleviate the condition of the child and reduce the frequency and duration of colic in infants.

Intestinal colic is a painful spasm of the muscles of the large intestine due to irritation or stretching of the intestinal wall by gases.

Causes of intestinal colic in newborns

Physiological colic occurs due to the immaturity of the gastrointestinal tract in newborns. Neuromuscular regulation is still very poor. Enzyme systems are also still immature. All 9 months before the birth of the baby, his gastrointestinal tract did not work, the swallowed water did not have to be digested, enzymes were not required.

After birth, the baby begins to feed on breast milk, there is a need for digestion, enzymes begin to be produced to digest breast milk. In the first weeks of life, the newborn eats very small portions, so there may not be colic at first.

By the end of the first month of life, his needs grow, milk consumption increases, but the enzyme systems are still immature and will remain so for the entire first year of life, only by 6 months the child will begin to receive new enzymes, but the formation of this system takes a very long time. As a result, gas formation increases.

Also, improper attachment to the breast and short feedings can lead to colic. Some mothers listen to the “advice” of grandmothers who say that you can’t keep the baby at the breast for a long time. This is a huge mistake.

• Firstly, with short feedings, the baby receives only foremilk, it is very saturated with carbohydrates, which leads to gas formation.
• Secondly, the child does not receive back milk, which is much more nutritious and contains the maximum amount of not only fats and proteins, but also immunoglobulins.
• Thirdly, contact with the mother at this age is very important for the child, especially during colic, because it relieves pain, calms the child, and the warmth from the mother's body reduces spasm and reduces colic.

During the period of colic in the abdomen, the newborn experiences increased gas formation, which gives him great discomfort and severe pain, therefore it is during this period that it is so important for him to feel contact with his mother, because otherwise the child feels defenseless, and the best way to feel protection and care from his mother is get BREAST.

How does colic manifest in babies?

Colic in newborns has several symptoms, but the main one is crying.

There are a lot of reasons for crying in a newborn, for example, hunger, a wet diaper, a cutting tooth (teeth can erupt at any age, there are cases of children being born with one tooth), fear, a desire to be with mom, play, neurological diseases.

With colic, crying is characteristic, an attentive mother can distinguish whether the child is crying from pain in the tummy or from hunger. Crying with colic is sharp, loud, accompanied by pulling the legs to the tummy.

Crying is constant, very loud, begins abruptly, unexpectedly, sometimes shortly after feeding, such crying manifests colic in the baby. When pain passes, the child quickly calms down.

To the touch, the baby’s tummy is dense, swollen, gases can often and in large quantities escape, after which the baby becomes easier and calms down.

How to help the baby?

Every mother wants to alleviate the suffering of her baby during the period of colic in newborns. What can be done to make colic less and less common? Below are all the main activities that help reduce their manifestation, but the main thing that mommy should know is that you should not panic, but you need to be patient, because severe colic in the baby will pass on its own by about 3 months.

So, if a newborn has colic, what treatment is needed? There are several basic points that will help you with this problem.

Proper breastfeeding

• Allow your baby to breastfeed for as long as he wants, even if it takes several hours. At his age, this is not only normal, but necessary.
• Make sure that the child takes the breast correctly so that air does not enter the mouth. Otherwise, the baby will swallow it, thereby air will enter the lower sections of the gastrointestinal tract and cause painful intestinal spasms.
• Do not supplement with formula. You can always improve lactation, do not think that the child does not have enough milk, in 99% of cases these fears are groundless (see what to do).
• The introduction of the mixture into the child’s diet will only worsen the situation, since he does not have the enzymes for digesting the cow protein that they contain at all. Any new type of food for the intestines of a child is a huge burden. And without the need to create this load is impossible (see why).

Hold baby upright for 5-10 minutes after feeding. As a rule, the child swallows a little air when feeding, he needs to go out so as not to get into the intestines. To do this, they raise the child to a vertical position, following the simple laws of physics, the air exits through the child's mouth.

When feeding from a bottle, much more air is swallowed, since not a single nipple has such an anatomical shape as a woman's breast. Air enters when sucking in the area of ​​​​the corners of the lips. Therefore, you should not spend extra money on anti-colic bottles. Such bottles, in principle, cannot exist.

dry heat

Heat can relieve spasm, as it improves local blood circulation and causes muscle relaxation. It is best to use a warm diaper. It can be heated on a battery or a hot iron. Attach to the baby's tummy (be careful not to burn the baby's delicate skin). To keep the warmth longer, and the baby was calmer, put it together with the diaper on yourself.

Lay baby on tummy and do gymnastics

Place your baby on your stomach as often as possible. Just do not do it immediately after feeding, as there is a high risk of spitting up in this case. This will allow not only to train the muscles of the back, neck, and anterior abdominal wall, but will also increase intestinal motility, which means it will improve the discharge of gases.

Massage

Massage for colic in infants has a very beneficial effect. You need to do it before every feeding. It should be just a massage, not a light stroke. Confidently pressing, you need to make circular movements in the tummy clockwise. These movements should be done within 2-3 minutes. Then you can bend the baby's legs at the knees and press them to the tummy, this will facilitate the passage of gases. Repeat all these manipulations 2-3 times.

Diet

Everything you eat goes into your bloodstream and from there into your milk. If the child is breastfed, then it is important to exclude a number of foods from the diet for the first 3-4 months. This will not save you from colic at all, but it will significantly alleviate the situation.

There are several foods that cause colic in newborns. These include:

• milk and dairy products
• legumes (peas, beans, lentils)
• White cabbage
• apples, especially green ones
• grapes, raisins, bananas
• yeast dough

Also, sweets should not be abused. Many new mothers make the mistake of believing that milk will improve lactation, when it does not affect lactation in any way. Moreover, it causes very strong colic in a child, up to the appearance of a foamy stool, and can also provoke an allergy in a baby.

Herbal teas based on fennel and anise. You can drink both mother and child if it is children's herbal tea without sugar and its substitutes.

If all of these methods do not help to avoid colic in a newborn - what should I do? Medicine should be given. The types of medicines used for colic will be discussed in detail below. You need to give one thing, you should not give everything from the list of drugs at once. And before that, you definitely need to contact a pediatrician so that all other causes of the child’s anxiety are excluded and the most suitable drug for the baby is selected.

Medical treatment

It is almost always necessary to prescribe drugs for colic in infants. There are a very large number of them and they are all divided into several groups.

Simethicone preparations These drugs act on gas bubbles in the intestines. They allow them to merge, thereby facilitating the removal of gas in a natural way. Simethicone is not absorbed in the intestine. This group of drugs includes: Espumizan (emulsion 100 ml. 300-320 rubles) Espumizan L (emulsion in drops 30ml. 250r.) Subsimplex (200 rubles) Bobotik (drops 200 rubles)

Probiotics Newborn babies do not have the “good” bacteria in their gut that are essential for the proper functioning of the digestive system. Most of their newborns receive with mother's milk. But in order to speed up the settlement of the intestines with the necessary flora, on the recommendation of a doctor, you can give your child probiotics, but only in a certain course and dosage indicated by the doctor. These include: Creon 10000 (270-300 rubles) Lactazar (50 pieces 220 rubles, 100 pieces 380 rubles)

Herbal preparations Fennel, Anise have an anti-colic effect, they accelerate peristalsis and allow you to quickly remove gases from the intestines, thereby alleviating the condition of the child. Among them are: Plantex - dry extract and essential oil of fennel (10 pieces 270, 30 pieces 550 rubles) Baby Calm - extract of fennel, anise and mint (100-150 rubles)

If you follow these simple rules, then the time when colic in a newborn will pass will come very soon. Remember that colic is physiological, but you just need to alleviate the suffering of the child. But almost every baby has them up to 3-4 months, this time just needs to be experienced, it will pass and all difficulties will be quickly forgotten.