For colic of the newborn s "means a typical syndrome of the infant characterized by crises of desperate and inconsolable crying, triggered by a very strong and acute abdominal pain. To be defined as such, a neonatal colic must last at least 3 hours a day, last for more than 3 days a week and persist at least for 3 weeks.
It is quite simple to hypothesize a neonatal colic: the infant, in addition to crying desperately, contracts by pulling the legs towards the abdomen and manifests continuous episodes of flatulence. The uncontrolled anal emission of gas, typical of neonatal colic, is probably explained by the " excessive ingestion of air during lactation and in the intestinal fermentation of breast milk. However, the differential diagnosis between gaseous colic in the infant and other neonatal diseases that cause similar symptoms is a must: allergy to cows' milk proteins, intestinal obstruction, hernia, peritonitis, hunger, etc.
The material published is intended to allow quick access to advice, suggestions and general remedies that doctors and textbooks usually dispense for the treatment of Newborn Colic; such indications must in no way substitute the opinion of the attending physician or other health specialists in the sector who are treating the patient.
What to do
- Try to calm the desperate baby by rocking him gently: place the baby on one arm, on his stomach, holding his head with the palm of your hand. With the other hand, touch the baby's back: this remedy is useful for calming and reassuring the baby
- If the baby is allergic to cow's milk, the mother who is breastfeeding him should avoid taking cow's milk (and derivatives) throughout the lactation period. Special hypoallergenic formulations have been studied for the feeding of the newborn allergic to cow's milk and who cannot be breastfed by the mother. Consult your doctor.
- When a breastfed baby experiences severe gas colic, the mother needs to pay particular attention to the diet. In fact, it is conceivable that gas colic is linked to the consumption of some foods taken by the mother
- Wrap the baby with a blanket and hug him to make him feel the presence of his mother or father. This seemingly obvious remedy is particularly effective in calming the baby's crying and colic
- Inexplicably, some children with colic are able to calm their crying in response to particular noises such as that of the vacuum cleaner or the hairdryer.
- Gently massaging the baby's tummy with circular movements helps resolve gas colic
- Warm the baby's tummy with a bottle of hot water (which must not be hot)
- Checking the duration of the baby's crying can help the doctor determine if it is colic or another similar disorder
- The cry of a gas colic should not be confused with the "capricious" cry of a child who is hungry. In the latter case, the most effective remedy is to feed the child adequately
- Taking the baby in her arms, with her tummy resting on the mother's arm, sitting on the Swiss Ball and cradling the baby seems an excellent calming and relaxing remedy. The "undulating" movement originated by the Swiss ball seems to remind the baby of the moments when he was in the womb
- The pacifier can help the baby with neonatal colic to calm down
- Pamper the baby and talk to him softly
- Always keep calm: carving out some space for yourself is a very useful remedy to keep calm even in stressful situations. The baby, in fact, can perceive the tensions and stress of the mother, consequently the colic could manifest itself more often
- Smile and make you smile: the child perceives the mood of the parents. An atmosphere of serenity and joy can only be an effective remedy for calming and relaxing the child.
- Singing a sweet melody can distract the baby from colic: singing is often an effective remedy for calming crying
- Turn on a stereo with soft melodies
- Sometimes, leaving the baby alone for a few minutes can help relax him. It is probably not true neonatal colic if the baby stops crying after 10 minutes left in the cradle alone.
- Contact your doctor immediately if you think inconsolable crying is not so much a result of gas colic as it is a fall or "other illness"
What NOT to do
- Screaming asking (unsuccessfully) the baby to stop crying. It is not uncommon for the mother or father, stressed by their child's interminable crying, to start screaming. It is a good rule to always keep calm. Otherwise, the baby, already tense by gas colic, tends to cry even more
- Drinking coffee and caffeinated beverages: The breastfeeding mother should refrain from drinking these substances as they can accentuate or promote neonatal colic
- Smoking: the toxins contained in cigarette smoke can not only seriously harm the baby's health but also aggravate gaseous colic
- Treat the child with supposed "do-it-yourself medicines" before consulting the doctor. This attitude turns out to be completely wrong, as well as being extremely dangerous for the baby's health
- Crying: it is not uncommon for the mother, in the throes of a breakdown of nerves, to start having a crisis of stressful crying. The advice is always to try to calm down
- Arguing: even quarrels between mother and father negatively affect the child's mood
- Giving excessive amounts of fluids to the child. Although relatively effective, "anti-colic" herbal teas should not be administered to the child in excessive doses, as they increase the risk of the material rising in the "esophagus.
- Feeding the baby every time he cries is not a reasonable way to calm neonatal colic
- Avoid that the child gets too used to the use of pacifiers: such behavior can cause serious repercussions on the health of the teeth (increased risk of crooked teeth and dental malocclusions in adolescence and adulthood)
What to eat
- There is no scientific evidence that the mother's food relates to the improvement of symptoms related to neonatal colic. A healthy, balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables and low in fat is recommended. "A diet low in common food allergens - such as milk, egg, soy, peanuts, seafood - can be a good food remedy to relieve neonatal colic
What NOT to Eat
- Neonatal colic could depend on "intolerance to cow's milk. In this case, eliminate cow's milk and dairy products" from the diet. The breastfeeding mother should also follow a diet free of milk and dairy products during the entire lactation period
- To prevent the baby from suffering from gaseous neonatal colic, the nursing mother should avoid certain foods that could accentuate the infant's abdominal spasms, such as spicy foods, spices, citrus fruits, caffeine and alcohol.
Natural Cures and Remedies
Neonatal colic can be gently treated with the remedies offered by herbal medicine. Under the advice of the doctor or pediatrician, the child can be given herbal preparations, syrups or herbal teas formulated with active ingredients extracted from plants with spasmolytic and carminative action:
- Fennel → the essential oil of Foeniculum vulgare it is an excellent antispasmodic remedy, able to limit the formation of gas in the intestine
- Chamomile (Chamomilla recutita) → in the form of herbal tea, chamomile is used as a natural remedy against neonatal colic due to its spasmolytic and sedative properties
- Green anise (Pimpinella anisum) → sedative and carminative properties
- Melissa (Melissa officinalis) → sedative, relaxing, anti-inflammatory properties
Pharmacological treatment
- CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE GIVING ANY DRUGS TO CHILD WITH NEWBORN COLIC
- Antimeteoric drugs, such as simethicone (Mylicon)
- Anticholinergic drugs: dicyclomine hydrochloride. Its use to remedy neonatal colic is still the subject of discussion among doctors, given the possible side effects (e.g. breathing difficulties, convulsions, apneas)
- Probiotics: the administration of probiotics can be a valid remedy to strengthen the immune system and keep the baby's normal intestinal flora in balance
Prevention
- After a meal of 30 grams of milk, try to stimulate the baby to burp
- Do not smoke, do not drink alcohol during pregnancy and breastfeeding
- When breastfeeding, the baby should remain upright. It is recommended that you often encourage him to burp
- Staying calm, eating a healthy, balanced diet, and being positive can help you overcome any possible situation
Medical treatments
Neonatal colic is an extremely common phenomenon in the infant, completely benign. The syndrome tends to resolve spontaneously, usually within 3-12 months of the baby's life.
Some parents use massage therapy and flower therapy as effective alternative remedies for neonatal gas colic. Always consult your doctor before administering any type of substance to a baby with neonatal colic.
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