Crying is a baby's way of communicating: they cry because they are cold, hot, or hungry, because their diaper is wet or dirty, because they are sick, or simply uncomfortable. But there are babies who cry for no apparent reason, every day, for several hours a day, without rest.
Colic is intense and frequent stomach pain that causes the baby to cry suddenly and continuously. It usually occurs from the second week of the baby's life, with greater intensity between the fourth and sixth week, and tends to disappear by three to four months.
How do I know if it's cramps?
The baby:
- shrink and stretch your legs;
- Move your arms and legs;
- wrinkle your forehead;
- He/she turns red/blushed while crying;
- close your hands;
- has a distended (swollen) abdomen.
What causes cramps?
- Poor latch: accumulated gas is caused by air that the baby swallows while feeding (during breastfeeding or when bottle-feeding);
- Swallowed air while the baby cries;
- Immature digestive system;
- Lactose intolerance (because it is not properly digested, it leads to fermentation in the intestine);
- Allergy to cow's milk protein or another component of the mother's diet;
- There are theories that suggest that agitation and emotional tension between the baby and those around him or her may also be a reason: crying generates stress in the family, the baby senses it and cries more.
In healthy babies, colic appears harmlessly and temporarily: it tends to disappear by the third month of life.
What can I do to relieve menstrual cramps?
- Massage the baby's belly in a clockwise direction;
- Place the baby on their stomach (cupping your hand on their tummy in this position also helps);
- "Colo andado" - walking with the baby in your arms;
- Change the baby's breastfeeding position, placing him or her in a more upright position;
- At each feeding, the baby should empty one breast first before switching to the other;
- The pediatrician may find it necessary to switch the milk to a lactose-free alternative (if they suspect the colic is due to lactose intolerance) or hydrolyzed milk (to facilitate the baby's digestion, since the baby still has an immature digestive system). Some supplements may also be recommended when there is difficulty digesting lactose, such as Coliprev .
- Some medications and dietary supplements containing simethicone, such as Infacol , or probiotics like Biogaia and Nancare Flora can also be used to reduce flatulence and abdominal discomfort. or Colimil .
These should only be used after guidance from a healthcare professional: they should not be used as a first resort, and it is essential to respect the recommended dosage. The baby in question and their medical history, as well as that of their family, should also be taken into consideration.
