Three-month colic has increasingly become a pseudo term. When a baby frequently breaks out into persistent crying in the evening during the first three months, doctors are better off calling it “primary excessive crying” or “persistent evening crying.” It is still not clear whether the causes are really colic.
What is three-month colic?
Three-month colic refers to a condition after birth in which a baby cries for more than three consecutive hours. This condition repeats at least four times a week for at least three weeks in a row. After three months, this excessive crying does not have to stop. It is not a time limit. There are no scientifically established causes for this condition. Three-month colic affects about 15 percent of babies in the first months after birth. This condition usually begins in the second week of life. The babies cry in the late afternoon, evening or night after the meal. It is then very difficult to calm them down. The abdomen is bloated. These symptoms disappear on their own after a few hours. Because the apparent cause of excessive crying is due to bloating or colic, this condition is often called three-month colic.
Causes
The causes of three-month colic are not known. However, a number of factors are discussed. Among them is an adaptation disorder of the intestine. The digestive system in babies is not yet fully developed. Therefore, some newborns have trouble adjusting to a replacement food. The baby might not tolerate certain foods, such as being allergic to cow’s milk. It may not yet be able to coordinate the swallowing process properly. The excessive crying may be a reaction to the parents’ tension and nervousness. Some parents also do not yet know how best to handle the child. It could actually be flatulence. Or the child may still be suffering from birth trauma due to difficulties during pregnancy. Professional support helps – especially with the first baby. Some parents wait too long before seeing a doctor or therapist. The child’s complaints need differential diagnosis. The parents themselves also need help, advice or support.
Symptoms, complaints and signs
- Excessive crying in infancy.
- Flatulence, possibly bloated abdomen
- Abdominal pain
- Red face
Diagnosis and course
Three-month colic is characterized by a specific temporal rhythm of crying. The infants are newborns or up to three months old. The onset of excessive crying.
- Lasts for at least three hours,
- Occurs at least four days a week, and.
- Already lasts longer than three weeks.
Differential diagnosis must exclude intussusception and volvulus. Invagination is the invagination of one section of intestine into another. The children have colicky pain, are pale and apathetic. The stool turns into bloody mucus. Volvulus is a special form of mechanical ileus. It occurs only in the first months of life and in the first years of school. The intestine has rotated on its own axis. The children have abdominal pain and have to vomit. Children diagnosed with intussusception or volvulus are immediately referred to the nearest pediatric hospital for surgery. If the symptoms of three-month colic persist for several months, cow’s milk allergy is suspected.
Complications
Three-month colic can lead to a variety of complications. First and foremost, there is very loud crying in the baby, which can be attributed to the pain from the bloating. The baby often feels pain in the abdomen and suffers from redness in the face. Due to the pain in the abdomen, it is not uncommon for vomiting or diarrhea to occur. Often, three-month colic also has a negative effect on the parents’ psyche, as they suffer from sleep disturbances and lack of sleep. An aggressive basic attitude can also develop, which is strengthened by depression. Targeted treatment can be carried out primarily by the parents themselves, by calming the child. In doing so, no further compilations can occur.If three-month colic occurs after breastfeeding, a strict diet may be prescribed to avoid possible allergies or intolerances. Powdered milk can often be used for breastfeeding. Three-month colic itself usually does not lead to any further complications or discomfort and disappears on its own. For parents, they can be a very uncomfortable and stressful time, as the child does not stop crying.
When should you go to the doctor?
If three-month colic lasts longer than three months or causes unusual symptoms, a visit to the pediatrician is recommended. For example, if the child suffers from extreme diarrhea or vomiting, it is essential to clarify this. At the latest when symptoms of dehydration or malnutrition appear, such as dry mucous membranes or apathetic behavior, medical advice is required. The same applies if the child shows signs of sleep deprivation or stress. In this case, the doctor can prescribe mild sedatives and alleviate the symptoms in a targeted manner. It is advisable to talk to the pediatrician in charge before the onset of three-month colic in order to be prepared for the condition. Since three-month colic is also a burden for parents, therapeutic help may be indicated. Especially with the first child, it is advisable to work through the difficult phase in conversation with a therapist and possibly even seek support in raising the child. If there are major complications, such as severe diarrhea or vomiting, the emergency physician must be called immediately.
Treatment and therapy
No medical therapy exists for three-month colic. The symptoms will disappear on their own. Parents can have a calming effect on the child. Physical closeness to caregivers helps. Other gentle external stimuli such as whispering or steady rhythms like walking can be used as a distraction. Babies like to be carried around and receive attention. Some children also just want to be breastfed more often. Some doctors still make some recommendations: All foods that contain additives should be omitted. If the mother is breastfeeding, her diet has top priority. She should make a plan for how often and what exactly she wants to eat and when. If the mother herself gets a craving for something sweet, then fruit or some glucose are a better alternative to sweets. The mother should also not drink cow’s milk herself. She could try goat’s milk or temporarily avoid milk altogether. Egg and soy can also cause allergies. If the mother loses weight during breastfeeding, harmful substances stored in the fatty tissue are released and then passed on to the infant through the breast milk. If the child is not breastfed, the following considerations may be helpful: The instructions for use on the milk powder explain exactly how the milk is prepared. After preparation, the bottle must be left to stand for 10 – 15 minutes so that the air can settle out of the mixture. The foam crown must not be administered as well. It may also help to change the brand or manufacturer. The milk may be mixed with caraway tea. In some cases, a defoamer also helps.
Outlook and prognosis
Three-month colic is usually harmless. Although the acute phase of the disease represents a great effort for the child and the parents, after three months the complaints recede by themselves. Consequential damage is not to be expected and the child develops normally after the three-month period has passed. In individual cases, the disease can cause psychological problems in the parents. Due to the lack of sleep and the constant stress associated with the recurring colic, depressive moods, personality changes or anxiety set in, among other things. Existing mental illnesses can intensify. However, three-month colic itself does not usually lead to longer-lasting health problems. The prognosis is accordingly positive. If the illness is recognized and treated at an early stage, it often subsides even before the three-month mark and is less stressful for the child and parents in the course of the illness. However, diarrhea can cause a lack of fluids and nutrients, which can lead to dehydration. If the symptoms of dehydration are treated promptly, the prospect of recovery is good.
Prevention
The basic requirement for a contented baby is a good relationship with caregivers and rest for sleeping. A baby needs breast milk until its own digestive system develops for other food. Otherwise, all factors that can provoke allergic processes in the baby must be eliminated. Babies are also happy with a bottle of tea, for example, sage tea, chamomile tea or caraway tea. After the meal, the air should first escape from the stomach before putting the baby to sleep.
Aftercare
The measures or options for aftercare are relatively limited in most cases of three-month colic. First and foremost, those affected are thereby dependent on an early diagnosis in order to identify and treat the cause of three-month colic. The earlier a doctor is consulted, the better the further course of this disease usually is. For this reason, early detection of this disease is a priority. In most cases, the treatment itself is carried out by the parents or the relatives themselves, who are usually trained by a doctor to alleviate the symptoms of three-month colic. However, if the measures do not bring success, a doctor must be consulted again in any case. In many cases, parents have to rely on the use of powdered milk in case the child cannot take breast milk. Care must be taken to prepare it properly. In some cases, tea can also be used to dilute the milk. However, regular checkups by a doctor should also be done to monitor the child’s body. The life expectancy of the child is usually not reduced by this disease.
What you can do yourself
If a baby suffers from three-month colic, care should be taken at feeding time not to drink too hastily. Also, an upright sitting position can help prevent swallowing air, in addition to facilitating regular burping during and after the meal. When feeding with a bottle, too large a teat hole or foaming can lead to increased swallowing of air and thus to flatulence. Flatulent ingredients in some foods can be passed on to the baby via breast milk and trigger colic: breastfeeding mothers should therefore avoid eating cabbage, onions and leeks. Individually, other foods may also cause discomfort in the infant; this may need to be found out by an exclusion diet. A quiet environment and a regular daily routine have a positive effect on the baby’s well-being and can promote falling asleep. Sometimes carrying around, rocking in a baby carrier, or a ride in a stroller can be helpful; soft music or a steady source of noise can also help calm the baby. For acute colic, a gentle abdominal massage with caraway oil can provide relief, and heat applications also have a cramping-relieving effect. Since three-month colic is also a great strain on parents, they should not be afraid to accept help from relatives or friends and to give themselves occasional time off.
