Crying is the first way that a baby shows who he or she is. Because of this, experts say that a baby crying a lot every day is just normal. But colic could be the cause of an infant's sudden irritability, excessive crying for more than 3 hours a day, and obvious discomfort.
In fact, dealing with an infant with colic is one of the hardest parts of being a parent. Colic is severe abdominal pain caused by spasm, blockage, or distention of any hollow viscera, such as the intestines. Colic is a common problem in the first three weeks to three months of a child's life, and more and more parents are worried about it because it makes their baby cry a lot and makes them feel uncomfortable.
Colic is a painful condition that a baby usually shows signs of in the first three weeks of life. Depending on how bad the case is, this period of pain can last anywhere from three hours to 12 to 15 hours a day.
When a baby has colic, he or she becomes hypertonic and can change positions by contracting, suddenly stretching, and stiffening in a spastic way while turning red. When these things happen, parents should start paying close attention to their babies because it could be colic or a sign of a more serious digestive problem.
Doctors and other people in the medical field haven't been able to figure out why babies have colic until now. Even though there have been many studies that point to possible causes of the condition that affects 20% of babies around the world, it is still not clear what causes it. Researchers say that a baby's colic may start in the intestines because a baby's digestive and nervous systems are still developing and are sensitive.
Others say that some environmental factors, such as certain milk formulas and cow's milk for some babies, can cause colic.
THE SYMBOLS
One of the most common signs that a baby has colic is that they cry a lot for no clear reason. Statistics show that one in ten babies have colic, which is a pain in the stomach that seems to start when the baby is very young. Most of the time, colic attacks happen before, during, and after meals. The cry usually starts and can last for at least three hours. Aside from crying a lot and loudly, other clear signs of colic are being irritable and having body cramps. The following are also signs of colic:
Vigorous and excessive for long periods of time, even though they tried very hard to feel better.
Crying that starts at about the same time every day or night and stops or doesn't stop
- Has gas pain - Slight bloating of the abdomen - Has a hard and bloated stomach - Unusual and patterned body contortions, like pulling the knees to the chest - Hard-clenched fists - Flailing arms and legs - Arched back - Often doesn't sleep - Always angry - Unreasonable fussiness
Face turning red from long bouts of crying; excessive belching or spitting up after eating; passing gas; having trouble going to the bathroom.
This list only has the most common signs of colic. If you notice these signs in your baby, it's best to take him or her to the doctor so you can be sure that he or she is not already sick with something more serious.
