Baby Health Care: Intestinal Colic

There usually is no way of knowing what will happen to a child when it is born. The first few months of a child’s life is especially unpredictable.

First-time parents may become panicked if something is wrong and they do not know how to deal with it. However, this happens more often than parents would expect.

One Common Problem (Colic)

One of the problems facing newborns the most is colic. This is an intestinal discomfort that a baby often feels if the baby’s intestines do not work right.

This is said to occur as the child transitions from being fed via the umbilical cord directly from the mother via the intestinal tract. Sometimes the gastrointestinal system of a newborn just may not be fully developed yet.

This is in fact a process that could take several weeks. It is just a matter of time during which a baby will be able to properly digest the food given to him after birth.

Recognizing Colic

This is a condition usually characterized by intestinal spasms that cause infantile gastrointestinal pain. This is a result of the fermentation and gas formation within the baby’s intestinal tract, and this gas is what causes the pain or discomfort in a baby.

Dealing with Colic

This problem has been dealt with in a number of ways. You would be surprised what can prevent and treat intestinal colic in babies. You can in fact use a variety of techniques to deal with this problem.

• One of the most important tips that parents could make use of is to simply calm down. It sometimes is the unrest, anxiousness, or uneasiness that a parent feels that can aggravate a colic condition in a newborn.
• If a child is feeding from the bottle it is best to keep that bottle at a 30° to 40° angle. This is what helps keep the air out of the baby’s body, and is an added way to ease discomfort.
• As for putting the child on the tummy you should do this every 7 to 10 minutes. This allows the gases to properly discharge and it helps strengthen the muscles in the front abdominal wall.
• If you message your baby regularly, especially in the abdominal area, it can help sooth the baby. Gentle circular stroking performed with your hand for about 10 turns is one move that is very helpful.
• Reduction of high-fiber foods eaten by the mom can help a breastfeeding baby not experience colic. That means you should cut down on items such as cabbage, whole-grain bread, apples, or eggplant.
• One way to deal with painful cramps is to use some kind of heat source to place on the baby’s stomach. The heat could be applied via any object that can be safely warmed in the microwave or other heating device.

You can use one or a combination of methods above to alleviate baby intestinal colic discomfort. These tips are to help first-time parents become more familiar with the needs of a newborn baby. However, they do not replace doctor’s care.