While I was going through articles and stories about babies, I read that babies can cry for hours without stopping and when I read it, I thought oh, but that's what babies do, to cry. However, in some situations, babies just tend to cry so much and one can even tell that this type of situation is not normal and may require medical attention.
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One of the reasons why a baby may be crying excessively is due to colic, when a child has colic, he or she would cry excessively for about three hours within 24 hours, and it happens in at least three days in a week. When the child begins to cry, there is almost nothing that can be done to relieve the crying baby.
Normally, babies cry to communicate their needs to their babies and caregivers, but when the screams are loud and inconsolable without any clear cause, it may just be colic and the funny thing is, it happens about the same time every hour of the day, mostly in the afternoons and evenings.
Colic usually starts within the first few weeks after birth and gets intense when the child is 4-6 weeks old, it ends abruptly when the child gets to 3-4 months of age. That is the more reason why it is often nothing very serious to panic about, as usually, it would have no significant influence on the baby.
However, parents would feel the stress and discomfort associated with this occurrence, which adds significantly to the stress and fatigue of parents, this condition has been linked through research to contribute significantly to postpartum depression and shaken baby syndrome, so while it may not have a great impact on the health of the child, it is important to reach out for help when such occurs.
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Doctors have not been able to outrightly understand what causes colic, but there is an assumption that the baby may be having a difficult time getting used to the world. Becoming sensitive to so many things like; light or loud noises, and since crying seems to be the only form of expression the baby knows for now, you wouldn't blame him for letting it out loud and clear.
There are however some theories about why it happens and some of the speculated reasons are; gas, hormones that cause crankiness or belly pain, sensitivity to light or nose, a growing digestive system with muscles that spasm often, excessive stimulation, milk allergy, fear, excitement, and frustration. We also have suspected cases of early childhood migraine, a developing nervous system, and milk allergy.
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Other health conditions may also have a colic appearance, so there is a need for a thorough health examination to determine if the problem is colic or something else. Infection, uneven heartbeat, injuries to the muscles, fingers, or bones, troubled eyes, sensitivity to breast milk or formula, and stomach problems can cause symptoms that are closely related to colic.
If we have been able to ascertain that colic is the problem, then there may be no need to panic too much, these suggestions should help out a bit;
Change the sleeping position of your baby often.
Talk or sing to your baby often.
Make use of a pacifier.
Swaddle your baby in a soft blanket.
Hold your baby in bare skin against yours.
Place baby in a swing or a vibrating swing.
Give baby a warm bath.
Speaking to a medical expert is important, as you cannot determine if colic is the issue or other problems as mentioned above. On the other hand, a doctor will guide you on how your baby's symptoms will get better. There will be people to advise you on various self-care options, but be sure to get a certified medical opinion.
References
https://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/what-is-colic
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10823-colic
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/colic/symptoms-causes/syc-20371074
Hi, I am Tobi, a writer, speaker, relationship blogger, and lover of good music. I love making friends and learning from people. If you want to hear me speak on relationships and general life issues, you can find my YouTube channel where you can watch any episode for free, please do not forget to subscribe, friends. I sincerely appreciate every love I get from here, Kindly do well to keep them coming.
