Neonatal colic

For many newborns, because their language development is not mature, when they feel pain in their body, they can only express it by crying. This is very distressing for some new parents, because they do not have much experience and cannot judge why their children are crying. So, what should parents do when their newborn baby suffers from colic?

If the baby continues to cry after all external discomforts have been eliminated, the most common reason is "colic". Although it is called "colic", there is actually nothing special about it. Strictly speaking, it is not a disease name, but a "syndrome". It is caused by the incoordination of many factors. It often occurs in newborns under three months old. About 10% of newborns will have the onset period extended to more than 4 to 5 months. As the newborn grows older and his neurophysiological development matures, the colic will gradually improve.

Since colic is not a "disease", how does it occur? Colic occurs because the baby's intestines and nerves are not fully developed. The movement/peristalsis of the digestive system at each stage is not well coordinated and controlled by the nerves, and the intestinal gas cannot be discharged smoothly, forming the basis for colic. A common developmental problem in which a well-nourished, healthy infant cries for at least 3 hours a day, 3 days a week, for more than 3 weeks. It starts around 3 weeks after birth, reaches its peak at 2-3 months, and gradually improves and returns to normal after 4-6 months.

Symptoms of neonatal colic

1. A common symptom of neonatal colic is that the baby will suddenly scream, sometimes crying at the top of his lungs, and even crying until his face turns red and his neck becomes thick, but he still refuses to stop.

2. Some newborns may have shaking heads, arched bodies, and slightly rapid breathing. At the same time, their abdomens may be swollen, their palms may be clenched into fists, and their feet may be stretched or bent. Mothers may feel cold when they touch their baby's hands and feet.

3. The above symptoms can last from tens of minutes to several hours. No matter how the mother shakes, holds, or coaxes the baby, it is often not very useful. The baby will not stop crying until he is exhausted. Sometimes there will be a slight improvement after your baby has a bowel movement or farts. This symptom can occur at any time, but it most often occurs in the evening or early evening, and almost at a fixed time every day.