Colic in Babies - It's Actually Not As Serious As Most Think

Mothers and dads who are not as experienced may not agree. The crying bouts that your infant will have will make anyone think that it is a life and death situation. It is not; but this does not mean that you will do nothing to alleviate the problem.

Colic is characterized by a pain in the abdomen and the stomach. Until now, health workers and physicians are still trying to pinpoint just what causes the colic. They still can't find the answer. Some think that this is as a result of allergy while others believe it is inborn. And because there is no specific cause, there is also no specific cure for the episode. Something that moms and dads find unfortunate as colic episodes is not exactly a stroll in the park.

Babies, when suffering from colic, will suddenly enter shouting matches that can destroy your eardrum. What is worse is that these crying and shouting episodes can last from one hour to as long as five hours, even the whole day, dependent on the seriousness of the colic and the way parents handle the position.

They will also become fussy and restless. Some parents tend to panic particularly when this is the first time that they have seen their children cry so loud and for so long. At one glance, they seem so inconsolable.

Colic happens to babies as young as three weeks old. This is the onset of the colic. For infants who are premature, colic can start at the 6th to eighth week after the supposed to be due-date.

Episodes will top out at the second month and will begin to wane at the third month. Often, colic episodes will cease towards the end of the fourth month.

The reason why is still a mystery for scientists, who don't even know what starts the problem initially. There is really no precise profile on who can get colicky. It can happen to any baby, whether they are healthy or not. Some experts think that people colic in infants can actually be genetic as moms and dads who have had colic when they were infants will most likely produce an offspring who will also be afflicted with colic.

One of the obvious signs of colic in infants is the crying episodes that will commence to become frequent and recurring. If the episodes happen at specific time or period of the day, usually after eating, colic might be the issue. Colic episodes can endure for a few minutes to an hour and can happen many times a day. Crying will also start without any real reason unlike when they are hurt or hungry.

Moms and dads should likewise observe the moment when they stop crying or when the crying episode cease. Often, crying will stop when they have passed gas or moved their bowels.

Another symptom in babies is their apparent restlessness. As their stomach pains them, they will most likely draw their legs onto their stomachs and abdomens with their hands clenched. When you touch their abdominals, they will be tense and hard. Babies also trash around and will appear to be in constant pain.

Babies putting up with colic will also have red cheeks, as a result of the exertion in crying and in keeping the pain under control.