What to give to an infant with colic. How to help a child with colic - tips and review of medications. How to prevent colic in a baby

Colic in infants is such a common phenomenon that all young parents dread the period when their newborns begin to cry and become upset. As a rule, the first symptoms of colic in infants begin 2-3 weeks after birth and last up to 3-4 months. Colic occurs in almost all children, regardless of health, conditions of birth and even nationality; for example, among the Chinese, the period of colic in newborns is called “one hundred days of crying,” which approximately characterizes the average duration of this unpleasant phenomenon. Why does colic occur and how does it manifest in infants, what to do with colic to help the child?

Features of the digestive system of infants

After birth, the baby’s digestive organs, like his whole body, begin to get acquainted with new living conditions. The circulatory system and muscle tissues adapt to the new force of gravity, the vestibular apparatus and perceptual system learn to recognize what position the child is in, the respiratory organs get used to the very process of breathing, because before birth, air did not enter the lungs of the fetus. And the digestive tract begins to get acquainted with food.

Despite the fact that nature provides the most optimal of all possible nutrition for a child - breast milk, the stomach and intestines need to get used to it. Movements, contractions of internal organs, balance in the production of digestive enzymes, even breathing patterns - all this affects the state of the food digestion process and causes colic in infants. How does this happen?
Colic refers to several manifestations of discomfort: spasms in the intestines, pain due to increased gas formation, difficulty with bowel movements. These normal, physiological phenomena occur in the body of every person, but babies are especially sensitive to them. What are the causes of colic?

Why do colics occur in the tummy?

Symptoms and signs of colic in a baby are varied, but they all indicate that something is happening in the small tummy that the baby does not like. Moreover, the average time of onset of colic coincides with the period when maternal hormones received during the period of intrauterine development and childbirth cease to act in the body of children. They have a relaxing, relaxing effect, and their removal from the body, as a rule, coincides with the beginning of the “hundred days of crying.” Moreover, it is often accompanied by skin rashes, the so-called “three-week rash,” acne of hormonal origin, similar to teenage skin problems.
Colic can manifest itself as follows:

the baby is worried for no reason;
the legs are often bent at the knees and pulled up towards the stomach;
screams sharply and piercingly during feeding or cries in the evenings, although the rest of the time he is completely healthy and calm;
Possible difficulty passing stool;
increased gas formation and flatulence.

The nervous system of babies is imperfect: it is still learning to recognize which impulses are important and which signals from internal organs should not be responded to. The movement of food mass through the intestines can be perceived as discomfort and cause dissatisfaction in the child. This is the first reason for crying from colic.

The second reason, which is often associated with the mother’s diet, is increased gas formation. Many studies have proven that the formation of gases in a child’s intestines is not at all a consequence of a nursing mother’s failure to comply with special diets. Everything that enters the mother’s stomach undergoes a process of splitting into basic elements, and in this form it does not matter at all whether the mother ate the permitted dried goods and boiled beef, or feasted on cabbage, sushi and buns. With an unbalanced diet, milk may contain more or less proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals, but there will not be more or less cabbage. This is why bottle-fed babies also have colic. Although no “forbidden” products are included in the mixture.

So, maternal nutrition does not affect the digestion of a healthy child. Why does colic occur?
The main reason for increased gas formation in babies is learning the breathing process. While eating, crying, or being overexcited, the child swallows air. If it further enters the intestines, then the swelling of the walls causes the same discomfort, which is expressed in sharp crying during feeding and in the evenings, when the child gets tired and the volume of air accumulates.

When does a mother's diet cause colic?

The diet of a nursing mother, as well as an incorrectly selected formula, can cause intestinal colic in newborns and infants if the child has allergic reactions to the components of the food/mixture, or food intolerance.
In such a situation, colic, as a rule, symptoms are not limited to. Signs include skin rashes, loose stools or frequent constipation, frequent regurgitation with an increased volume of excreted masses, even vomiting, swelling of the larynx and difficulty breathing may be noted.
What to do if colic in a newborn manifests itself this way? Go to the doctor to determine the cause of the allergy or food intolerance, and adjust your diet. The most common allergens are cow's milk proteins, soy, wheat, chicken eggs and their processed products. Excluding allergens from the diet of the mother or child (when formula feeding) helps improve the baby’s well-being.

What to do if your baby has colic?

Techniques for helping a baby can be divided into two groups: preventive, which help prevent the causes of flatulence, and “emergency”, which work if colic has already begun.
Preventive measures include:

Checking the baby's nipple latch. Although nature intended it for babies, babies also need to learn this process. Proper latching on the breast protects babies from swallowing air during feeding. When artificial feeding, you must carefully select the most suitable size and shape of the nipple for the bottle;
Carrying a baby in a “column” or “soldier” position is an excellent way to help air masses swallowed during feeding or crying to come out and not get into the intestines. Even if the baby does not have the habit of burping after eating, carrying it on your shoulder for a few minutes will not hurt, but rather will help avoid an evening session of mournful crying.

Both before the onset of colic and during the process, you can use the following simple methods of helping children:

The “bicycle” exercise is familiar to all experienced parents, in which the child’s legs are alternately bent at the knees and pressed against the tummy. This helps the food mass move evenly through the intestines;
Tummy massage is a method that is gratefully accepted by infants (as well as mothers in the postpartum period, since their digestive organs also need attention after a change in the volume of the abdomen). With gentle pressure, slowly move clockwise around the umbilical fossa;
warmth on the stomach, a warm diaper, a warm soothing bath will help relieve spasms that occur due to overexcitation of the nervous system.

In some cases, a pediatrician may recommend carminative drugs (fennel teas, dill infusions) or simethicone drugs (Sab-Simplex, etc.). They reduce the amount of gases in the intestines and make it easier to get rid of them, but do not remove the cause of increased gas formation - swallowing air, and therefore do not contribute to teaching the baby to eat and breathe properly. And the period of colic may drag on.

How to help a newborn with colic? This question is asked by almost any young mother when faced with such a common but alarming phenomenon. Of course, any mother cannot calmly watch her beloved child suffer, and therefore is ready to do anything to calm him down. Most often, the problem is solved quite simply within a short time. However, if this phenomenon does not subside or often recurs, then the child should be shown to a pediatrician.

1 Essence of the problem

For a child, this is the reaction of his intestines to food in the form of pain. Most often, this phenomenon is a normal physiological process of adaptation of the infant’s gastrointestinal system to the realities of life. In young children, the digestive organs cannot yet function fully, which is facilitated by an imperfect enzyme system, lack of a balanced intestinal microflora, and low intestinal motor ability. The processes of digestion and absorption of even such easily digestible food as mother's milk are not fully formed.

These imperfections in the body of newborns lead to the fact that the process of fermentation and gas formation is actively underway in their intestines. It is this process that causes pain in the baby, which is commonly called. The first manifestations of colic usually occur in a baby 10-30 days after birth. By 3-4 months of age, such phenomena already occur much less frequently, or even disappear altogether.

The vast majority of cases of colic occur in completely healthy children with good appetite and normal development. Most often this is a natural reaction and will not harm the baby. At the same time, in order for him not to suffer even for a short time, it is necessary to solve the question of how to help a newborn at home, without resorting to the help of a doctor. Along with this, this phenomenon should be taken very seriously, because in rare cases, colic becomes a symptom of a pathological process, and in such cases treatment is necessary.

2 How to recognize the symptoms?

A small child cannot say that he is in pain. The task of parents is to find out about colic in the stomach by indirect manifestations and behavior of the baby. The following symptoms help identify intestinal colic:

Prolonged and intense crying that does not stop with normal calming measures (rocking, caressing, etc.). This symptom is most pronounced in the first month of a child’s life.
The phenomenon is most often observed in the evening.
Nervous pressing of knees to tummy.
Bloating and tension in the abdomen, it is tight to the touch.
The baby strains and grunts, which may cause him to spit up.
Redness of the face.
Colic may be accompanied by constipation or, conversely, loose stools with greenish mucus.
The most characteristic behavior: the baby arches his body, knocks his legs and arms, which indicates the presence of pain.

The child, as a rule, refuses to eat, but if he was persuaded to attach to the breast, then loud cries are heard during feeding. Colic, in itself, is accompanied by intestinal spasms, and feeding stimulates its contraction, which increases the pain towards the end of the process. Swallowing air while screaming leads to intense belching and sometimes vomiting.

There is a very simple method that, with a fairly high probability, can detect the presence of colic in a newborn. To do this, just take the child in your arms, hold him close, start talking in a soothing voice and caress him. It will not be possible to calm a colic child with this method, and on the contrary, it will intensify the crying.

3 What causes this phenomenon?

Before deciding how to help a child with colic, you need to try to understand the reasons that provoke it and try to eliminate them. If you suspect pathological factors, you should immediately consult a doctor.

The following reasons can cause an unpleasant anomaly:

Violation of the rules for feeding an infant: incorrect posture, swallowing a large amount of air, distractions during feeding.
Excessive amount of food, i.e. overfeeding
The emotional state of a nursing woman and her bad habits (smoking, alcohol);
Incorrect placement of the bottle during artificial feeding. It should be located at an angle of no more than 45 degrees.
Poor quality formula or incorrect complementary feeding regimen.

Common causes include such anomalies as dysbacteriosis, individual lactose intolerance, gastroesophageal reflux, and increased sensitivity of the child to external influences. The reaction of the baby's body largely depends on the diet of the nursing woman, since the composition of breast milk can change under the influence of the food consumed. The most provoking foods can be considered the following: cabbage, corn, onions, tomatoes, nuts, coffee and caffeinated products, fermented milk products, hot seasonings, carbonated drinks, marinades and pickles.

4 What can you do at home?

When discovering that the baby is suffering, any woman strives to do everything possible to quickly help her newborn with colic. Of course, you can give your baby any medications only as prescribed by a pediatrician, but you can take some measures at home without going to the doctor. The question of how to calm a child can be solved using the following methods:

A light tummy massage helps a lot, but not earlier than 14-17 minutes after feeding. The massage is performed by lightly moving your fingers clockwise. The effect of the massage can be increased if it is performed after placing a warm heating pad on the tummy for 5-6 minutes.
Gymnastic exercises: press your legs with your knees to your tummy with force.
After lifting from the breast, the baby should be placed in a vertical position for 12-16 minutes so that the air can freely escape.
The baby should be placed on his tummy as often as possible. In this position, stroking your hands from the side above the pelvic bone towards the lower back helps.
If colic is very intense, a gas tube can be used with great care.
It is necessary to provide the most soothing conditions: carrying in the arms; laying the baby on top of you so that its bare tummy rests against the mother’s belly; motion sickness in arms or in a stroller; providing an unobtrusive monotonous, soothing sound (humming, light music, murmur of water, etc.).
When colic attacks occur, it is recommended to feed infants expressed milk from a bottle with a nipple.

It should be remembered that infant colic is very often caused by the mother's diet.

If a nursing woman regularly drinks tea with the addition of cumin, lemon balm, anise, and fennel, then you can forget about childhood intestinal troubles.

Along with this, you should significantly limit the consumption of the following foods: pasta, fresh vegetables, bananas, apples, grapes, yogurt, kefir, yeast bread, muffins, legumes, garlic, eggs, ice cream.

5 Effective remedies

Sometimes intestinal colic occurs intensely and for a long time. In such cases, you should contact your pediatrician, who usually prescribes the following medications:

probiotics (Linex, Lactobacterin, Bifidumbacterin forte, Probifor, Bifiliz);
medications based on simethicone (Smecta, Bobotik, Espumisan, Sab Simplex);
sedatives that can be given to newborns (Anvifen, Phenibut, Pantogam);
medications to normalize intestinal microflora (Acilact, Biobakton, Probifor, Florin Forte, Bifikol);
agents that regulate gas formation (Milicon, Gaviscon);
enzyme-based medications (Creon, Lactazar).

Medications can quickly eliminate problems, but the risk of side effects, given the imperfections of the infant’s body, is quite high, which requires their use only after examination by a pediatrician. Traditional medicine has been recommending safe formulations for a long time. The following folk remedies are especially popular:

Fennel drink in the form of tincture: 2 tbsp. plants in 0.5 liters of boiling water with infusion for 1-1.5 hours.
Dill water: prepared from infusion (1 tablespoon of dill seeds per 200 ml of boiling water) - you can use ready-made pharmacy packaging.
Anise decoction: 5 g of anise seeds are poured with water (200 ml) and cooked over low heat for 12-15 minutes.

As a rule, they do not pose a great danger, but we must try to help the child get rid of the problem as quickly as possible. To do this, you can use simple tips or contact your pediatrician.

The digestive system in infants is not fully formed, for this reason, children in the first three months of life may feel discomfort associated with the accumulation of gases in the intestines, which provoke colic. This problem has physiological causes, does not require special treatment, and, as a rule, goes away on its own by three months. The task of parents is to prevent the occurrence of colic, in all available ways, and to alleviate the baby’s condition if pain in the tummy does occur.

How to tell if your child has a stomach ache

Babies express their feelings and needs by crying. The cause of crying can be fear, boredom, discomfort from wet diapers, hunger, changes in ambient temperature and pain. The source of anxiety can be determined by the intensity of the crying, its intonation and the baby’s characteristic behavior. So, in case of pain, the baby’s cry is sharp and piercing, and does not stop after the child is picked up. The child may refuse food and not respond to soothing words or lulling.

Pain syndrome in infants occurs most often with otitis media, intracranial pressure, infectious diseases accompanied by inflammatory processes, as well as various pathologies of the digestive system. Therefore, only a doctor can determine what exactly is hurting a baby.

If the baby has a normal temperature, there are no signs of intoxication of the body and visible inflammatory reactions, and sharp crying is replaced by periods of calm, when the baby walks, sleeps normally, eats with appetite and gains weight, infant colic is diagnosed. Colic is an attack of intense pain caused by increased gas formation and stretching of the intestinal walls, resulting in spasm.

The main symptoms of colic are:

Sharp crying that appears suddenly, often in a dream, or after the child has eaten. A baby can scream incessantly from several minutes to several hours, most often in the evening and at night. The crying stops as suddenly as it started, rather than subsiding gradually, while the baby may immediately begin to smile or fall asleep. After some time, everything repeats again.
With pain caused by colic, the baby may turn pale or, conversely, blush. Muscle tone is increased, the stomach is tense.
The child pulls his legs towards his tummy or twists them.
After the gases pass, the child feels better.

Unfortunately, not only gases can bother a baby; some pathological conditions of the digestive system, accompanied by pain in the abdomen, are potentially dangerous to the health and life of the baby. Parents should know how certain diseases manifest themselves in order to promptly seek medical help.

Symptoms and manifestations of pathologies that may be accompanied by abdominal pain in infants - table

Pathology	Possible reasons	Symptoms and manifestations
	The intestinal microflora of newborns is in the process of formation. Any changes in the diet of a nursing mother can affect the digestive processes. When bottle-fed, babies experience a lack of beneficial bacteria, and physiological dysbiosis can last longer than in infants. Concomitant factors affecting the qualitative and quantitative composition of microflora include the use of antibiotics in the treatment of a baby or a nursing mother.	Unstable stool - greenish diarrhea with mucus may be replaced by constipation. The child is restless, refuses food, and loses weight. After feeding, regurgitation, rumbling in the intestines and bloating are possible.
Lactase deficiency	Lack or deficiency of the lactase enzyme, which is involved in the breakdown of milk sugar. The pathology can be congenital with a genetic predisposition, as well as acquired. The secondary form occurs in children born before the 24th week of pregnancy, as well as when the baby is overfed.	Milk sugar (lactose) is not digested and disrupts the intestinal microflora, causing fermentation and impaired intestinal motility. FN is accompanied by bloating, rumbling, belching or vomiting after feeding. If severe diarrhea and vomiting occur, symptoms of dehydration may appear and develop rapidly. This condition is dangerous for the baby's life.
Allergic reaction	It occurs with the early introduction of complementary foods, as well as if new food is introduced during the period of illness, when the baby’s immune system is activated. In newborns, food allergies can occur when the nursing mother does not follow the diet.	Indigestion is accompanied by diarrhea, abdominal pain and skin rashes.
Constipation	In breastfed children, constipation occurs when the body is dehydrated or the mother's milk is high in fat. Artificial people are more susceptible to the disease. A mixture that is too thick or inappropriate can cause constipation, accompanied by cramping.	Constipation in a breastfed baby is considered to be a prolonged absence of stool, accompanied by restlessness in the baby. The child, when trying to have a bowel movement, strains and turns red. With constipation, stool is defragmented and has a dense consistency.
Intestinal obstruction	In infants, the main cause of intestinal obstruction is volvulus or pinching of the intestine, which is associated with impaired peristalsis. In some cases, obstruction occurs due to a tumor or the presence of intestinal abnormalities, as well as severe constipation.	prolonged absence of stool; bloating; vomiting with bile.
	Acute intestinal infection due to infection with various types of Shigella.	increase in body temperature to 39–40 degrees; weakness; vomit; diarrhea mixed with mucus and blood.

If a child, in addition to the signs characteristic of infant colic, has other symptoms indicated in the table, you should immediately consult a doctor.

For infant colic, the rule of “three” applies - they appear in the third week of life, last three hours a day, three days a week and go away on their own as soon as the baby is three months old

Causes of colic in infants

Colic in infants appears in the third week of life and stops when the baby is three months old. The main reason for their occurrence is called functional immaturity of the digestive system, which leads to increased gas formation in the intestines.

There are a number of factors that contribute to the appearance of infant colic, as well as influencing their intensity and duration:

Swallowing air during feeding. Incorrect attachment to the breast or incorrectly selected nipples on formula bottles (too large or small hole) contribute to the swallowing of air, which bursts the walls of the stomach and intestines.
Enzyme deficiency in newborns. To digest food, the baby needs enzymes; if the baby was born ahead of schedule, their production in the stomach has not yet been established. This can lead to indigestion, which results in frequent regurgitation of curdled milk. Incompletely digested food causes fermentation processes in the intestines and leads to increased flatulence. As you get older, the problem goes away on its own. In addition to the factor of gastrointestinal immaturity, overfeeding leads to digestive disorders.
Changes in intestinal microflora. At birth, the child’s intestines are sterile, the colonization of its microflora occurs gradually, and its composition can constantly change. Any changes may be accompanied by constipation or diarrhea. Doctors do not diagnose dysbacteriosis until one year, since the quantitative and qualitative composition of the microflora is at the stage of formation.
Non-compliance with diet by a nursing mother. The composition of breast milk varies depending on the foods a woman consumes. For this reason, foods that cause constipation and food allergies should be excluded from the menu. And also, you should not get carried away with increasing the fat content of milk, as this can lead to digestive upset in the baby.
Incorrect feeding regimen. Pediatricians recommend feeding babies as needed. When a child is hungry, the stomach secretes a sufficient amount of juices and enzymes necessary for digestion. When feeding on time, the digestive system may not be ready, which causes heaviness and pain in the abdomen, and puts additional stress on the pancreas.
Violation of the temperature regime in the room. The microclimate in the room where the baby is located affects the digestion processes. If the child is hot and the air in the room is dry, the baby refuses food, feels thirsty, and may experience constipation and colic. When you feel cold, a large amount of energy is spent on thermoregulation, while intestinal function slows down, and cramps may occur.
Weak abdominal muscles. The condition of the abdominal muscles affects intestinal motility - with hypertonicity and severe crying, overexertion of the abdominal muscles can cause vomiting. Weak muscles with hypotonicity, on the contrary, lead to a slowdown in intestinal motor function, which is accompanied by constipation.
Unstable emotional situation in the family. Even after birth, the baby and mother are one, physically and emotionally. So, a mother can anticipate the baby’s awakening; she releases breast milk a few minutes before the baby’s hungry cry. Children, in turn, also adopt the mother’s mood and emotional state, show anxiety during her long absence and fall asleep better in the same room with the parent. Therefore, it is not surprising that stress, postpartum depression and quarrels in the family can affect the behavior of a baby, cause anxiety in him, and with it colic of psychosomatic origin.

Improper feeding is one of the most important factors in the occurrence of colic. Inappropriate or thick formula, a large hole in the nipple, incorrect inclination, large portions - all this leads to increased gas formation and abdominal pain

What to do if your newborn has a stomach ache

Pediatricians, including Dr. Komarovsky, are inclined to believe that infant colic is a temporary phenomenon that simply needs to be endured. However, there are a number of recommendations that, if followed, can prevent the appearance of abdominal pain or relieve the symptoms of colic in infants. Before performing them, you should make sure that the cause of crying and discomfort was colic, and not other pathologies of the digestive system, the treatment of which requires medical attention.

How to help a baby?

At the first symptoms of colic, a compress from a warm diaper will help. To do this, a diaper folded in four and ironed is placed on the tummy. Instead of a diaper, you can use a salt heating pad purchased at a pharmacy.
Another way to distract your baby from pain is to switch his attention to a bright object or a uniform sound. Many parents note that the baby stops crying when water comes from the tap or the steady hum of a vacuum cleaner or blender.
Placing the baby on its tummy, on the mother’s bare belly, is no less effective. Moderate warmth eliminates the spasm, and the usual rhythm of breathing and heartbeat lull the baby to sleep.
Warm water also helps eliminate intestinal spasms. Often, babies suffering from constipation and abdominal pain due to intestinal spasms have bowel movements immediately after taking a warm bath, so immediately after bathing you should not swaddle the baby or put a diaper on him; it is enough to wrap him loosely in a terry diaper.
If gases accumulate, a gas outlet tube or, as a last resort, a pipette without a rubber tip will help. This method should be used only as a last resort, if other methods have not alleviated the baby’s suffering.

Methods for eliminating colic in babies - photo gallery

This heating pad emits heat at the optimal temperature and eliminates cramps. Modern gas outlet tubes have a retainer that does not allow the tip to penetrate deeply and prevents injury to the rectum Warm water and a feeling of weightlessness relaxes the baby and promotes better removal of gases Tactile contact with the mother's skin eliminates infant colic and calms the baby

Abdominal massage for colic

Another effective way to eliminate infant colic is to massage the tummy, which relaxes spasming muscles, stimulates peristalsis, the release of gases and eliminates pain due to the release of gases and accelerating blood circulation.

It’s very easy to do this massage yourself, just follow some rules:

the air temperature in the room should be 21–23 degrees;
Mom’s hands should be dry and warm; you can preheat your palms by rubbing them against each other;
movements are performed clockwise, and in no case in the opposite direction;
You should perform light, massaging strokes, without affecting the right hypochondrium;
massage should be done daily, 15 minutes before feeding.

Tummy massage for colic - video

Gymnastics for constipation and increased gas formation

Place the baby on the back and pull the legs brought together and bent at the knees towards the chest, briefly holding them in this position. Number of repetitions 5–6 times.
Alternately pull the leg bent at the knee towards the opposite elbow. So, you need to try to reach your right elbow with your left knee and vice versa. Do 3 pull-ups on each leg.
Turn the baby over onto his tummy and stroke his back from top to bottom, from the shoulder girdle to the lower back, without touching the line of the spine.
After the navel has healed, you can lay the baby on a large ball (fitball), after covering it with a diaper. The baby is placed on the surface of the ball, tummy down, holding the lower back with one hand and the feet with the other, and rocked back and forth. The amplitude of rocking should not be strong, as this will cause fear and resistance in the baby, which will lead to a negative effect from the exercises.

It is better to do gymnastics immediately after bathing, when muscle tone is relaxed and the child is in the mood for communication. If the baby is very tired, wants to sleep or eat, it is better to refuse gymnastics, since there will be no positive result from such activities.

Medicines for colic and abdominal pain

For severe abdominal pain caused by increased gas formation, drugs based on simethicone are used; such drugs are not absorbed into the blood, do not accumulate in the body and are not addictive. Simethicone helps eliminate gas bubbles during flatulence by reducing their surface tension. The gases that are released can be either absorbed by the intestinal walls or excreted naturally, thanks to intestinal peristalsis. Most often, pediatricians prescribe the following safe drugs:

Espumisan;
Bobotik;
Simikol;
Infacol;
Sub Simplex;
Colikid.

Herbal preparations that reduce gas formation in infants:

Bebinos;
Plantex;
Dill water;
Baby Calm.

If the cause of abdominal pain in an infant is associated with changes in the intestinal microflora, probiotics are prescribed:

Bifiform baby;
Linex baby;
Bifidumbacterin;
Acipol.

In case of enzyme deficiency, the doctor may prescribe medications containing the enzymes amylase, protease, and lipase. Such medicines improve the digestion of food, eliminate constipation and flatulence. Enzyme-containing products are unsafe because they can be addictive, and if they are abruptly discontinued, they can provoke inflammation of the pancreas. The most commonly used medications are:

Lactazar;
Mezim;
Creon.

Medications for colic - photo gallery

Espumisan L Plantex Bifiform baby Lactazar

Diet

Pain may occur due to the mother's failure to follow a special diet. Thus, the list of prohibited foods that should not be consumed by a woman breastfeeding a baby includes:

Vegetables that increase gas formation are white cabbage, legumes, radishes, cucumbers, onions, garlic, eggplants, radishes.
Fruits that cause heaviness in the stomach - pears, cherries, plums, grapes, raisins.
Products that promote fermentation in the intestines - whole cow's milk, hard cheese, black and malt bread;
Foods that cause constipation - nuts, chocolate, baked goods, strong black tea, semolina porridge;
Allergens - more than one egg per day, citrus fruits, strawberries, honey, orange and red fruits and vegetables in large quantities.
Products that contribute to inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract - smoked sausages and fish, canned food, products containing dyes or flavor enhancers.

In the first months of breastfeeding, the mother's diet is very limited, however, gradually, the menu can be expanded, adding new dishes to it. It is important to keep a food diary so that if your baby develops digestive disorders, you can know exactly what caused the malaise.

Folk remedies for colic in babies

Medicines, although considered safe for babies, however, in addition to simethicone, contain additional components (flavors and sweeteners), which, if used frequently, can cause diathesis in the baby. For this reason, many parents resort to equally effective folk remedies to eliminate the symptoms of flatulence and abdominal pain in infants. The easiest to prepare and time-tested are decoctions made from chamomile flowers, dill seeds or fennel.

Name	Ingredients	How to cook	How to give to a baby	Indications
Dill water	dill seeds - 1/2 tsp; boiling water - 100 ml.	The seeds are ground in a coffee grinder or by grinding in a mortar. The seed powder is poured with boiling water and left in a thermos for 30 minutes. The finished water is filtered through several layers of gauze.	Dill water is given to the child 10 minutes before meals, 3 times a day.	infant colic; flatulence; bloating with constipation.
Fennel seed infusion	fennel seeds - 1 tsp; water - 200 ml.	The seeds are ground to better extract essential oils from them. Pour a glass of boiling water and place in a steam bath for 10 minutes. The resulting liquid is filtered through a non-metallic sieve and cooled.	A decoction of fennel seeds is given to the baby 1 teaspoon before each feeding.	improves digestion; eliminates excessive gas formation; improves peristalsis; relieves spasm of intestinal smooth muscles.
Chamomile decoction	dried chamomile flowers - 1 tsp; water - 150 ml.	Dry raw materials are poured with water and brought to a boil. Boil the broth over low heat for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and strain; Boiled water is added to the resulting broth to bring it to its original volume.	Chamomile decoction is given in the intervals between feedings, 1 tsp three times a day. In the summer, you can dilute the decoction with boiled and cooled water and give it as herbal tea.	Chamomile helps eliminate inflammation and activates the digestive system.

If such products are used by a nursing mother, then the likelihood of colic in the baby is reduced by half.

Treatment prognosis and possible complications. Consequences

Infant colic is not a disease - it is a physiological process of development of the digestive system that does not require special treatment. Taking medications only briefly relieves the symptoms of pain, without eliminating the root cause of their occurrence. Pediatricians note that there is no universal remedy for getting rid of colic; some babies are helped by massage and a warm bath, others only by medications, and others are distracted from pain and calm down at the first sounds of the rhythmic hum of household appliances.

When an infant exhibits abdominal pain, it is important to exclude other causes of its occurrence, since an incorrect diagnosis can lead to complications. Thus, warming the tummy with a heating pad is contraindicated in case of inflammatory processes in the body, and taking medications based on simethicone can harm the baby with intestinal obstruction. Therefore, at the first signs of abdominal pain, parents should not prescribe treatment on their own, but be sure to show the child to a pediatrician.

Prevention

It is impossible to prevent the occurrence of infant colic; this is the path that all parents and children must go through, however, by eliminating the factors that contribute to its occurrence, the frequency and intensity of the pain syndrome can be significantly reduced.

Methods for preventing colic in infants are:

Daily regime. In order to normalize digestive processes, you should not put your baby to bed immediately after feeding. After the child wakes up, it is necessary to maintain a wakefulness regime, the duration of which depends on the age of the baby. It is better to do active communication or gymnastics in the first half of the day, and in the late afternoon schedule a relaxing massage and bathing so as not to overstimulate the baby’s nervous system.
You should not overfeed the baby, since the amount of food for which there are not enough enzymes undergoes a process of rotting in the intestines, which leads to increased gas formation.
Correct attachment to the breast, preventing air from being swallowed and injury to the nipple. If cracks in the nipples have already formed, silicone pads should be used until they heal, since the fear and pain that the mother experiences during feeding are transmitted to the baby and can trigger an attack of colic.
It is necessary to dress the child in loose clothing made from natural fabrics. Swaddling, an incorrectly worn diaper, or tight-fitting onesies can create pressure on the intestines, which can affect bowel function. When choosing clothes, you should exclude outfits made from synthetic fabrics that disrupt thermoregulation and cause overheating of the baby.
Carrying your baby upright after each feeding allows air to escape as a burp.
Strengthening the abdominal muscles with the help of gymnastics, massage and regular laying on the stomach improves peristalsis, prevents constipation and flatulence.

Why is the baby crying? There can be many reasons for this, and very important ones: he is hungry or scared, cold or, conversely, suffering from the heat, he is lonely and wants communication. All this can be dealt with quickly and easily. But crying caused by discomfort in the tummy is not as easy to relieve as the abdominal pain itself.

Behind the scary word “colic” for new mothers, there is often a series of sleepless nights spent rocking the baby and searching for a way to relieve the baby from unpleasant sensations.

It will be easy to help a child with colic if you know what its nature is and what should be in your first aid kit in case it occurs.

Why do babies get colic?

There is no need to be afraid of colic in babies: this is a natural process for children under 3-4 months. This phenomenon is due to a number of reasons: from the immaturity of body systems to errors in feeding.

Colic in babies can be caused by the mother or baby taking medications, in particular antibiotics. Some experts even put forward theories that colic in newborns can arise from stress or an uncomfortable climate in the family.

Features of the digestive system

The digestive system in newborns is imperfect; it continues to develop until one or one and a half years. After eating, all parts of the baby’s intestines begin to work intensively at once, which, of course, causes inconvenience to the child.

The baby’s gastrointestinal tract lacks all the necessary enzymes, which causes gas formation and, as a result, discomfort in the abdomen.

Feeding mistakes

Colic can be caused by an ill-organized infant feeding regimen, namely:

for bottle-fed babies - inappropriate formula, excessive volumes of formula in one feeding and failure to comply with the requirements for preparing the formula, as well as using an insufficiently fresh product and the baby sucking on an empty bottle;

for infants - improper attachment to the breast, as a result of which the child swallows air.

Poor nutrition of the mother and negative factors during pregnancy

The mother’s lifestyle during pregnancy has a noticeable influence on the development of the baby’s digestive system. It has been noted that insufficient motor activity of a pregnant woman slows down the development of all systems of the child’s body, including the digestive system, since the fetus lacks oxygen.

Of course, the bad habits of the pregnant woman, if any, will have their say. According to medical research, children of smoking mothers are more susceptible to colic due to increased plasma levels of the hormone responsible for moving food through the intestines.

The occurrence of intestinal colic in infants is influenced by improper nutrition of the nursing mother. If a woman does not follow the diet prescribed for lactation, is overly fond of baking, especially yeast baked goods, and includes in her diet a lot of sweets, legumes, raw vegetables and fruits in large quantities, fatty and fried foods, problems with the baby’s tummy cannot be avoided.

Symptoms of childhood intestinal colic

Of course, while parents have not yet “studied” their child enough, it can be quite difficult to determine the reason for the baby’s crying. However, in the case of colic, there is no time to think and guess - you need to help the baby as quickly as possible, so it is useful to know what other symptoms accompany them:

the child not only cries, but screams shrilly;
the baby passes gas, and after this (as after stool) it becomes much easier for him;
while crying, the baby twists its legs, presses them to its stomach, like its arms;
the baby's face turns red;
The child generally behaves restlessly, tosses and turns, and cannot fall asleep.

In addition, it is worth noting that crying caused by colic can even last for several hours.

How to help baby with colic?

To alleviate the condition of a baby with colic, there is a whole arsenal of different remedies.

Massage

Tummy massage is a good anti-colic remedy. The warmth of mother's hands calms the baby, helps to relax the baby's abdominal muscles, and relieves cramps. Correct movements (all circular movements must be clockwise!) promote the movement of gas bubbles in the intestines to the exit and activate the reflex work of the muscles.

The sequence of massage is as follows:

First, it is enough to place warm palms on the baby’s tummy for a few minutes.
Next, using your palm or fingertips, we perform stroking and gentle pressure in the area below the ribs, moving from right to left; as an option, we simply pinch the tummy around the navel.
Placing our palms across the baby’s tummy, we stroke with them one by one the entire area from the ribs to the symphysis pubis.
We place one hand in the navel area, and with the other we stroke the tummy along the line of the oblique muscles.
We massage the area of the colon: either in a spiral from the navel to the left thigh, or along a U-shaped path from the right iliac region to the left.

Fans of acupuncture will like the acupressure version of anti-colic massage, which involves influencing three points - at the bottom of the foot, just below the patella and just above the ankle on the inside of the leg.

It should be remembered that massage has contraindications. This remedy should not be used if there is a strangulated umbilical hernia, suspected volvulus or intestinal obstruction.

Compresses

Heat helps to relax tense abdominal muscles in children. It is not for nothing that many generations of mothers use such a proven anti-colic remedy as a warm compress. In fact, it is a flannel diaper ironed on both sides, which is placed on the baby’s tummy.

For the same purpose, heating pads are used (but only with fabric covers, so as not to burn the baby's skin!), toys with natural fillers - cherry pits and millet grains, which perfectly retain heat. But, perhaps, the best thermal “compress” for the baby is the mother’s body: hold the baby close to you (stomach to stomach), this will calm him down and relieve pain from colic.

Using a gas outlet tube

Very often, discomfort in a baby’s tummy is caused by an excess amount of gas in the intestines. You can help your child get rid of them using a gas tube.

Before use, the tube must be boiled and cooled to room temperature; immediately before insertion into the anus, the tip of the tube is lubricated with oil, baby cream or Vaseline.

It is better to place the child on his side and bend his legs - just like when inserting a candle. After inserting the tube, you need to twist it a little. After a few minutes, the gas will go away and the baby will feel better.

Remember that you cannot use the gas outlet tube too often: this procedure is not very pleasant, and the intestines can “get used to” removing gases only when external irritation occurs. The minimum break between uses of the tube is 4 hours.

Folk remedies

You can alleviate the condition of a baby with colic using folk carminatives. It is recommended to brew dill, cumin, fennel and anise seeds (in a proportion of 5 g per 100 ml of water) - the resulting drinks do an excellent job of removing gases.

The decoctions are prepared as follows: the seeds need to be boiled in water for 1-2 minutes, and then left to stand under the lid for another half hour. Taking such teas is good not only for the baby, but also for the nursing mother, because with milk the beneficial substances will get exactly where they should.

Pharmacy drugs

If the methods and folk remedies tried by mom do not produce results, dad’s finest hour comes - it’s time to run to the pharmacy.

The choice of anticolic medications is quite wide:

fennel-based preparations (Plantex) and dill water (however, it is worth remembering that these remedies will not help relieve a painful attack, they must be taken in a course);
“Bobotik”, approved for children from one month of age (8 drops no more than 4 times a day during or after feeding);
"Espumizan", which is not absorbed by the intestines and is completely eliminated from the body (25 drops as needed);
similar to the previous drug “Infacol”, which alleviates the baby’s condition on the 2nd day of use (0.5 ml before feeding);
plant-based drug "Babykalm", not recommended for children with allergies (10 drops before feeding);
herbal preparation “Bebinos” (10 drops 3 times a day during or after feeding);
“Simplex”, approved for children from a month (15 drops 2 times a day, including at night).

Most products contain simethicone in one dosage or another - a substance that helps break up and remove gas bubbles from the intestines. Remember that you should use any of these medications only after carefully reading the instructions and consulting with your pediatrician.

It is better not to give herbal remedies for colic to children with a tendency to allergies, or to give them a very small dose at first (3 drops) to see how the body reacts.

How to prevent colic in a child?

Of course, it will not be possible to completely avoid colic. However, these unpleasant sensations can be minimized using preventive measures such as:

the mother's adherence to the diet (no - fatty, fried, sweet, baked; limit raw vegetables and fruits; exclude legumes and cabbage);
correct attachment to the breast;
careful selection of the mixture (possibly on a fermented milk basis or with a complex of bifidobacteria), preparing it strictly according to the instructions and using only fresh product, sterile containers and nipples;
the use of anti-colic bottles: their inclined shape allows the child not to throw back his head while eating, and special valves on the bottom prevent air from entering the container during feeding;
the use of anatomically shaped nipples with one small hole, which ideally complement anti-colic bottles and also prevent the baby from swallowing air while eating;
for a few minutes - this will help the air that the baby might have swallowed during feeding to come back out;
placing the baby on the tummy is a kind of stationary massage of the tummy and strengthening of its muscles;

sufficient motor activity of the baby, contributing to the proper functioning of all body systems.

Knowing how to help a baby with colic, you will face this problem head on and quickly relieve the baby from discomfort. You may have to try a lot of things, but in the end everything will work out.

Remember that your baby's tummy problems will only last a few months. Be patient, take the baby in your arms and take pity - it will become noticeably easier for both him and you.

Intestinal colic is one of the most pressing problems in the first months of a baby’s life. Intestinal colic is the name given to abdominal pain associated with increased gas formation in the child’s intestines. This is due to the adaptation of the baby’s gastrointestinal tract to the new conditions of postnatal development. The child begins to show restlessness, which usually ends in uncontrollable, prolonged crying. The first colic in infants may appear 2 to 4 weeks after birth and usually disappears by 3 months. Colic occurs in completely healthy children who have a good appetite and normal development.

Tatyana Prokofieva (pediatrician, candidate of medical sciences, mother of three children), talks about intestinal colic:

Symptoms of colic

Unreasonable concern of the child;
The baby presses its legs towards the tummy, which indicates cutting, cramping pain in the stomach or intestines;
Screams shrilly for several hours, almost always in the late afternoon, although the child has had a good appetite throughout the day and is healthy;
Sometimes releases gases;
Pallor may appear;
The baby starts crying and fussing soon after feeding;
A sign of food intolerance is frequent green, mucous stools (or, conversely, constipation).

Causes

Incorrect infant feeding technique, when the baby swallows air along with the milk. ()
If the baby is bottle-fed, the bottle should be at an angle of up to 45° so that air accumulates at the bottom.
Overfeeding. Consuming large amounts of milk can cause gas in the stomach and regurgitation. In this case, it is better to feed the baby more often, but in small portions.
Inappropriate mixture (See).
Incorrect diet for a nursing mother.
Colic occurs more often in children if the nursing mother smokes.

ATTENTION If a nursing mother drinks during breastfeeding, then colic in infants can be completely avoided! Keep this in mind!

Foods that cause colic

It is better for a nursing mother who is breastfeeding to exclude from her diet:

Cabbage;
Dishes with added spicy seasonings;
Corn;
Cow's milk and some dairy products;
Tomatoes;
Nuts;
Products containing caffeine;

(See the article about nutrition and what a nursing woman can eat — )

If the occurrence of colic is associated with the listed products, then after eliminating them from the diet, the mother will experience colic. disappear within 1-2 days after their exclusion.

Help with colic

With colic, a newborn baby will be helped by the following methods that parents can do at home on their own without going to the doctor:

Note to moms!

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When will they pass?

Despite the anxiety and concern, parents must understand that colic and gassy are common in newborns, and to This will pass in 3 - 4 months , because By this time, the child’s gastrointestinal tract will be quite well developed.