Health Campus

Determining The Signs of Colic

Crying is the primal means of an infant to express him or herself. This is why it experts say that it is only a common occurrence if a baby cries often everyday. However, if an infant shows sudden irritability, excessive crying for more than 3 hours a day, and suffer from noticeable discomfort, then this could be a sign colic.

Indeed, one of the difficult phases of parenting is dealing with the infant when he or she shows signs of colic—a severe abdominal pain caused by spasm, obstruction, or distention of any of the hollow viscera such as the intestines. Known as a common problem from the first three weeks up to first three months of a child’ s life, colic is becoming one of the foremost concerns of more and more parents because they also experience and discomfort when their baby starts crying endlessly.

Usually evident from the first 3 weeks of an infant’s life, colic consists of recurrent spasm and abdominal pain. This period of pain usually lasts from three hours up to 12 to 15 hours daily depending on the severity of the case.

When a baby suffers from colic, he or she becomes hypertonic and can show alternating body postures that involve contractions, sudden stretching, spastically stiffening while he or she turns red. When these signs occur, parents should start observing their babies intently because it might be a simple colic or can be signs of a more serious digestive problem.

Until now, doctors and people in the medical world have yet to discover the causes of colic in infants. Although, there have been various studies that indicate the possible causes of the condition that affects 20 percent of babies in the world. Researchers say that colic can originate in a baby’s intestines since he or she has sensitive and developing digestive and nervous system.

Others say that colic can be a result of some environmental factors like certain milk formulas and cow’s milk for certain infants.

THE SIGNS

One of the most common signs of colic in infants is excessive crying with no apparent reason. Statistics show that 1 in every 10 babies experience colic because it is an apparent abdominal pain experienced in early infancy. Usually, colic attacks are evident before, during and after each meal. The cry usually starts out and can continue for 3 hours and more. Aside from loud and excessive crying, periods of irritability, and body contractions are also apparent signs of colic. Other signs of colic include:

Vigorous and excessive for long periods of time despite extreme efforts of consolation

Onset crying that starts around the same time everyday or night and can be ending or never-ending

- Suffers from gas discomfort
- Slight bloating of the abdomen
- Has a hard and bloated stomach
- Unlikely and patterned body contortions like pulling of knees to the chest
- Hard-clenched fists
- Flailing arms and legs
- Arched back
- Frequent sleeplessness
- Chronic irritability
- Unreasonable fussiness
- Reddening face due to ling periods of crying
- Excessive belching or spitting up after feeding
- Passing gas
- Experience difficulty in passing stools

This list includes only the usual signs of colic. It is best if you visit a doctor once you see these symptoms in your baby so you can be sure that he or she is not experiencing more serious illness as early as now.

What Is Colic ?

Colic is so common among infants that most people are not surprised when it happens. However, for the first time this mother can be a terrifying experience and panic, especially with the normally quiet angel screaming non-stop in the background. Manifesto usually about two to three weeks of age. Become more important during the first two months and reduced in three months. Colic altogether stops at about three and a half to four months.

Colic is actually not so dangerous. May seem so the way the baby crying and screaming at the top of their lungs. In fact, may be so common that parents may experience episodes daily, and after the first episode, parents usually learn to deal successfully with confidence. However, doctors and scientists can not determine exactly what causes the exact date of colic. It just happened.

Colic, those who are not familiar with the matter, is abdominal pain that occurs after meals. Because the pain persists, a baby cry for hours until relief of colic. Weeping May for about four hours, depending on the severity of pain. Cheeks Babies’ will also become red from the effort and possibly pain.

When there is abdominal pain, the baby’s stomach becomes distended or may become enlarged. One leg is bent while the other will extended straight out. Becomes cold feet and hands clenched tight because of the disease. This is actually a common reaction for people who are sick to their stomachs.

Often, it will happen in the afternoon or early evening after every meal. But can occur at any time of day. Not all babies suffer from colic and some even suffer less often than others. Medical experts believe that genetics plays a role. It appears that if one or both parents had suffered from stomach pain when they were babies, their offspring will also experience episodes of colic.

However, there are factors that exacerbate a colic condition. Here are a few. Read on if you can avoid these factors and prevent your baby from suffering further.

1. Overfeeding can only worsen the situation when you have a baby in the arms of colic. Make sure your baby is suffering from hunger and not colic before eating again.

2. There are certain foods that will worsen the colic. Those with high blood sugar, those with pure juice will only increase the gas in the stomach and, therefore, aggravate the condition.

3. Allergies can also cause intestinal colic it is important for mothers to know exactly what their baby is allergic. This may be something they have directly eaten or something that you are transmitted through breast milk on you.

4. Thrills can also affect colic. Emotions such as anger, fear, anxiety and excitement should be avoided because it will exacerbate the pain for the baby.

The best way to help your baby to first not panic and then read as much as possible even before an episode occurs. Nonstop crying can be the result of a number of other things so important that you also keep your eyes open so you know exactly what the pain of your baby. Keep in mind that there is no known cause, there is no known cure for it except to make the experience comfortable and painless as possible.