How to relieve colic in babies naturally

Infant colic is one of the main concerns of many mothers in the first weeks of life. see your baby cry inconsolably during a time that seems to never end, no matter how hard you try to calm him down, it can be desperate. In this article we will see what infant colic is and what its causes are, in addition to what natural solutions we have to treat it and improve symptoms.

What is infant colic

Infant colic is a benign disorder that affects about 40% of babies. They usually start to appear at two weeks of life and last approximately three or four months.

The symptoms of infant colic are very characteristic: the newborn start crying suddenly, he turns red, is agitated, clenches his fists, squirms… and is very difficult to calm down. The crying is similar to a scream and can last for more than three hours.

Causes and solutions

Initially it was believed that the cause of newborn colic was a lack of maturation of the digestive system. For this reason, premature babies were studied more exhaustively, with the idea that, being born before the hour, they were more likely to suffer from colic.

However, it was found that the percentage was not higher than that of full-term babies. Besides, crying in premature infants took between two and four weeks longer usual; that is, they appeared two weeks after the date of full-term birth.

This curiosity gave rise to thinking about the existence of an emotional rather than a physical component. Dr. Harvey Karp, a pediatrician and professor at the University of Southern California, is the forerunner of the hypothesis that human newborns require a fourth trimester of extrauterine gestation. He observed that in the cultures in which babies are constantly carried, swaddled and nursed without schedulescramps were less frequent.

1. Heat, contact and rocking

He heat in the abdominal area acts as an analgesic, while rock the newborn, sing a song and rock it in your arms They are infallible actions that mothers innately use to calm the pain of their babies.

A study published in June 2013 in the journal Pediatría Atención Primaria shows that children who develop in a healthy and balanced environment have a protective effect against colic. On the contrary, marital conflicts, alterations in family dynamics, anxiety or postpartum depression of the mother and hypersensitivity of the child to negative external stimuli enhance the appearance of colic.

2. Gastrointestinal dysfunctions

Among the various causes that cause digestive disorders is some babies have difficulty absorbing lactose or digesting carbohydrates. This situation produces an increase in gases due to fermentation of colon bacteria and, in turn, abdominal distension and pain.

Another possible factor is theintolerance to cow’s milk proteinsbut it was found that this circumstance is not decisive, since colic equally affects babies who drink breast milk and those who are fed with artificial milk.

The aerophagia or excessive presence of gases in the digestive tract It is an obligatory condition for the pain of colic to manifest. However, it appears that the aerophagia is more the result of crying than the cause. He paroxysmal crying that characterizes colic allows the penetration of significant volumes of air into the stomach, which contributes to making the pain worse.

The fact of hold the child upright favors the exit of this air and allows rapid improvement.

3. Alteration of the intestinal microbiota

The involvement of the microbiota in the appearance of infant colic is considered an increasingly important factor.

A study published in 2017 in the Archives of Clinical Microbiology magazine shows the relationship between the alteration of the microbiota and infantile colic. It was observed that the increase of some strains such as Clostridium, staphylococcus and especially of various enterobacterias(Escherichia, shigella, Klebsiella…) facilitates inflammation and intestinal hypersensitivity due to endotoxins and increased gas generated by this type of microorganism.

At the same time, it was verified association between the appearance of colic and the reduction of groups of protective bacteria, such as bifidobacteria or lactobacilli. Hence, various clinical trials have explored the effect of supplementing the microbiota of newborns suffering from colic with probiotics, due to their recognized modulating effect on the gastrointestinal microbiota.

About him use of probiotics to relieve infant colicthe study concludes that the administration of a probiotic supplement containing the strains Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12, Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus reuteri is effective in preventing colic in infants, while a symbiotic formula with various strains of L. rhamnosus, L. bulgaricus, Bifidobacterium brevis, B. Infants and Streptococcus thermophilus significantly improved symptoms in colicky babies in seven days compared to the placebo group.

Infusions for infant colic

The infusions provide medicinal properties, but you have to be cautious before giving them to newborns and try small doses first.

A clinical trial published in the Italian Journal of Pediatrics in June 2014 endorses, in addition to probiotic treatment, herbal supplements. Colicky babies can benefit from the calming effects of an infusion of german chamomile (matricaria recutita), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) and balm (melissa officinalis).

It has been proven that These plants reduce the appearance of colic by 35%without causing undesirable side effects.

In breastfed babiesthe infusion must be taken by the mother and for those who are fed with artificial lactation, it is mixed in the bottle.

Other effective remedies: trace elements

Trace elements are a good remedy both to prevent and mitigate colic pain. These are the usual recommendations, although you should always consult your pediatrician or an oligotherapy specialist.

If the baby is prone to them, he can be given a 2 ml dose of Match three times a week along with another daily Magnesium.In case of suffering from colic, alternate a dose of 1 ml of Phosphorus with another of Magnesium every 15 or 30 minutes until the pain subsides.