Duration of a three month colic | Three months colic

Duration of a three month colic

From the first appearance until the three-month colic subsides, usually three months pass. However, there are both shortened and prolonged courses. The duration of three months of colic certainly depends on how the infant responds to possible strategies and therapy attempts.

Unfortunately, this varies greatly from child to child. Some swear by certain drugs that have not been successful with others. Thus the three-month colic often remains a test of patience for the stressed parents.

Breastfeeding and three months colic

As already described, the exact cause of the three-month colic is uncertain. A too large drinking quantity and gas formation with flatulence and colicky intestinal movements, e.g. by indigestible food, are possible causes. A direct connection between breastfeeding and three-month colic is not described.

Breast milk is and remains the best food for the infant. When breastfeeding, care can be taken to ensure that the baby completely surrounds the nipple and does not swallow too much air when drinking. The correct breastfeeding position can also help.

The baby should be as upright as possible and should lie with its stomach against the mother’s belly. Burping after the meal also prevents abdominal discomfort. Burping can be supported by bending the baby slightly forward over the mother’s shoulder and tapping the baby’s back with the hand.

If the baby cries, especially after the last meal in the evening, the amount of breast milk may not have been sufficient. Then it can be tried to feed other substitute food in addition. While breastfeeding, various other foods can be tried out in parallel and tested for tolerance.

Specifics of the Three Months Colics in Preemies

In premature infants, the three-month colics manifest themselves as insatiable crying attacks, just like in the case of ripe infants. However, many parents report that the three-month colic often lasts longer than in other children. The three-month colic also occurs in premature babies in the second to fourth week of life.

During the same period, another clinical picture occurs especially in premature infants, necrotising enterocolitis (NEK). In the beginning, a distended abdomen is seen, as it can also occur with the three-month colic. In contrast to the three-month colics, NEK absolutely and imperatively requires therapy and thus represents an important differential diagnosis in premature infants.

Please consult your doctor first to find out why your child is suffering from three-month colic. Depending on the cause, the therapy differs. Gentle abdominal massages can provide relief in the case of flatulence, and mothers should avoid foods that cause flatulence when breastfeeding their babies.

An orderly daily routine is also important for many children. This has a calming effect and can reduce stress. If the parents feel overwhelmed by the situation alone, there are also crying ambulances in some cities where they can find support.

Psychotherapeutic support for the parents can also be helpful in many cases. However, none of these measures have been scientifically proven; it is important to try them out and see what helps your child best. Some parents have been helped by puck (a certain wrapping technique in which the child is completely wrapped in a cloth), but not every child tolerates not being able to move freely in case of abdominal pain.

On the other hand, exercise can also help, weighing in a sling or rocking can have a calming effect on the child. If the child is old enough to drink tea, fennel tea can provide relief as it has a calming effect on the gastrointestinal tract and can reduce flatulence. The tea can also be drunk by the mother, just like Rooibos tea.

However, please note that none of these methods have been scientifically proven and therefore there is no guarantee of relief. There are two drugs that have been studied for the treatment of three-month colic, but it is not advisable to use them as each drug has side effects. The first tested drug belongs to the anticholinergics and affects the nervous system, which also controls our intestines.

The drug dicyclomine inhibits the nervous system and leads to lower intestinal activity. The drug obviously shortens the screaming time, but is not approved in Germany because of the many side effects.Another tested drug called Simeticon is also said to act on the intestines and reduce flatulence. However, no increased efficacy of the drug compared to placebos could be found.

Therefore it is not advisable to treat the three months colic with medication. Osteopathy as a gentle and holistic healing method tries to identify and dissolve functional disorders in the body. Osteopathy is definitely worth a try for Three Months Colic.

The methods are positively evaluated by most parents and in many cases not only the child comes to rest in the osteopathic session but also the parents find a moment of relief. In osteopathy it is assumed that the Three Months Colics can be related to blockages in the area of the thoracic spine. These are released by applying light pressure.

The success varies from child to child. Homeopathy is an often tried therapy for three-month colics. Carbo vegetabilis, Asa foetida, Lycopodium, Okoubaka or Nux vomica are used against three-month colic for flatulence and colicky abdominal pain. The globules can be ingested by the baby itself or through breast milk, if the mother is taking the globules. All topics on pediatrics can also be found under Pediatrics A-Z

• Childhood problems with breastfeeding
• Behavior during lactation
• Fight cramps
• Flatulence
• Abdominal pain baby
• Growth spurt