Parent’s description: Sometimes the infant makes a fist with both hands and strains hard, his face is red, his abdomen is distended, sometimes he cries and fusses, and is relieved by farting or passing stool; sometimes he is difficult to be soothed. This is intestinal flatulence, which begins in the second month after birth in full-term infants and later in preterm infants. It disappears about 3-4 months after birth. There is no difference between boys and girls, and there is no difference between breastfeeding or formula feeding. Children with flatulence or colic do not differ from other children in all aspects of personality, intelligence, and spirituality.
Parents may be concerned about infant colic, which is generally defined as crying for more than 3 hours a day, more than 3 days a week, and more than 3 weeks in total in a healthy infant (excluding organic disease).
The possible basis for its occurrence is the rapid increase in the amount of food ingested by the infant and the relatively late maturation of the intestine. Its etiology is all speculative and uncertain. Theoretically it may include.
1. intolerance to certain proteins or lactose in formula milk.
2, Gastroesophageal reflux.
3, uncoordinated intestinal motility.
4. Excessive gas in the intestinal tract.
5.Changes in hormone levels in the infant.
6.Oversensitivity to various stimuli of the environment.
7.Immature development of the nervous system.
8.Tantrums or moodiness in infancy.
Intestinal flatulence or colic is an exclusionary diagnosis, which means that intestinal diseases need to be excluded, as well as systemic diseases. When an infant cries a lot, it is important to take it to the doctor and not just assume that it is intestinal flatulence or colic. The diagnosis is exclusive and requires the exclusion of other possible diseases, especially when the infant is found to be growing abnormally; accompanied by other symptoms (fever, poor spirits, significantly reduced milk consumption, frequent vomiting); and the phenomenon is still present beyond 5 months.
Diseases that need to be ruled out, in addition to intestinal diseases such as intestinal obstruction and infectious diarrhea, are.
1, infection (otitis media or urinary tract infection)
2, gastroesophageal reflux or intestinal spasm
3, inflammation of the nervous system
4, ophthalmic disease (trauma)
5, heart rate disorders
6, hiatal hernia
7.Fracture
8.Other abnormalities
Treatment
1.Feeding
Change to other formula.
Change to a hypoallergenic milk formula.
Avoiding specific foods if allergic to them.
Change the size of the teat to avoid swallowing more gas.
If breastfeeding is more urgent, use segmented feeding and pat the back between breaks
Avoid feeding only when the infant is visibly hungry, slightly earlier.
Avoid accidental sucking if there is spitting up.
2. Nursing
Gently rock the baby (cradle)
Hold the baby for a while and walk around
Increase outdoor activities
Put the baby in the stroller and play rhythmic music or other ways to produce a slight vibration
Gently massage the abdomen, rub hands together before massaging, or wipe hands with a hot towel
Lie the baby on his back, hold the baby’s lower limbs and do passive pedaling (similar to pedaling a bicycle)
Use a pacifier
Take a warm bath
Reduce adverse environmental stimuli
3. Medications
If gastroesophageal reflux is suspected, use morpholine or Prevacid, or other medications to promote peristalsis, which must be examined and prescribed by a physician
Chinese herbs or tea? Difficult to guarantee safety, try not to try or use under medical supervision.
Sometimes parents may think that a certain medication is working, but it may also be that the condition resolves on its own, and the phenomenon usually disappears after 4 months. There is no established effective treatment and don’t believe in a potent drug. When an infant is crying and upset and no abnormalities are found by the doctor, it can be difficult for the parents to care for the infant, sometimes to the point of anger or loss of patience with the doctor. Especially when losing patience may cause harm to the baby, seek early help from family members, take the baby to the hospital for examination, and confess your worries or anxiety. Or ask your family to watch the baby for a while while you go do something else or take a break outdoors to get some rest to calm down.