Colic in the abdomen in newborns: treatment and prevention

Colic in newborns: what do doctors usually prescribe?

For intestinal colic, medications or dietary supplements are usually prescribed containing probiotics, enzymes, or based on the active substance “simethicone”. It is also recommended to use folk remedies for colic (herbs, seeds).

Do not be surprised if a child is prescribed a drug in capsules. Carefully open the capsule (it consists of two parts) so as not to spill the “powder”, and dilute the contents in a small amount of water or breast milk. Below we present a list of the most popular drugs for colic in newborns with an indication of their composition for greater information.

Probiotics-containing preparations

Can probiotics be given to newborns? Colic in the abdomen in newborns is treated with drugs containing probiotics. These include Bifiform, Bifidumbacterin, Linex, Acepol, Hilak Forte and others.

• Beefiform. Ingredients: Bifidobacterium longum, Enterococcus faecium, lactic acid starter, gum, magnesium stearate, lactulose, anhydrous dextrose.
• Bifidumbacterin. Composition: Bifidobacterium bifidum N1, lactose.
• Linex. Ingredients: Lactobacillus acidophilus Bifidobacterium infantis Enterococcus faecium lactose, potato starch, magnesium stearate. The composition of the capsule shell: methylhydroxybenzoate, propylhydroxybenzoate, titanium dioxide (E171), gelatin.
• Acepol. Composition: live acidophilic lactobacilli, kefir fungus polysaccharide.
• Hilak Forte. Composition: Escherichia coli DSM 4087 Streptococcus faecalis DSM 4086 Lactobacillus acidophilus DSM 4149 Lactobacillus helveticus DSM 4183, sodium phosphate heptahydrate, potassium phosphate, lactic acid, concentrated phosphoric acid, potassium sorbate, citric acid monohydrate.

Preparations containing simethicone

Colic in the abdomen in newborns is also treated with preparations containing the active substance "simethicone". They reduce pain in the intestines and the amount of gas, are not addictive in the child, are not absorbed. These include: Espumisan, Simethicon, Sub-Simplex, Disflatil, Bobotik.

• Espumisan. Composition (capsules): simethicone, methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, glycerin, dyes E104 and E110. Composition (oral emulsion): simethicone, methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium salt, polysorbate 80, sodium cyclamate, colloidal silicon dioxide, sodium saccharin, banana flavor, hydrochloric acid, purified water.
• Simethicone, Sub-Simplex have a similar composition.
• Bobotik. Ingredients: simethicone, sodium saccharinate, methyl parahydroxybenzoate, propyl parahydroxybenzoate, sodium carmellose, citric acid monohydrate, raspberry flavor, purified water.

Enzyme preparations

Sometimes, medications based on the enzymes amylase, lipase, and protease are prescribed to treat colic in the abdomen in newborns. They contribute to the breakdown of nutrients. These include: Mezim, Creon. With lactase deficiency, Lactazar is prescribed. It helps to digest milk sugar, which in the intestine does not turn into gases and does not form colic.The effect of this drug will be only if the baby really does not tolerate milk sugar.

• Creon. Composition: pancreatin, amylase, lipase, proteases, macrogol, liquid paraffin, methylhydroxypropyl cellulose phthalate, dimethicone, dibutyl phthalate. The composition of the capsule shell: iron oxide red (E172), iron oxide yellow (E172), titanium dioxide (E171), gelatin.
• Lactazar Composition: lactase enzyme, maltodextrin.

Herbal preparations

If the newborn has a stomachache, grandmothers advise young parents to use folk remedies and give the baby grass fennel, caraway seeds and anise, chamomile, dill seeds. They can be used as tea, preferably in pure form, and not in granules. When preparing herbal "potions", observe the exact proportions. To save time and for convenience, you can buy in the pharmacy special preparations (drops) based on the above herbs: BabyKalm, Bebinos, Plantex.

• BabyKalm. Ingredients: extracts of vegetable oils - dill, anise, mint.
• Bebinos. Ingredients: chamomile flower extract, propylene glycol, saccharin, sorbitol, fennel fruit extract, coriander seed extract.
• Plantex. Ingredients: fennel fruit, dry aqueous extract, fennel essential oil, acacia gum, anhydrous dextrose, lactose.

If you have been prescribed a number of drugs or suggested to try each in turn, do not rush. As a rule, the parents manage to buy up the entire pharmacy during colic in the child, and in the end they find one single drug that helped. But not the fact that he helped, most likely the child is already 3 months old. And this is the age at which colic in the abdomen in newborns usually go away on their own. Keep in mind that any interference with the natural formation of the gastrointestinal tract can harm the baby.

How to prevent colic and gaziki in newborns?

There is the most effective prophylaxis against colic in newborns. But, most likely, now it’s too late for you to talk about this. If you read these tips, then the problem has already touched you. Let us be more specific: while the child is still in the mother’s tummy, his gastrointestinal tract is laid. And the future health of the baby depends on how well the mother eats and how healthy her intestinal microflora is. Therefore, get healthy bifidobacteria and lactobacilli with food. Encapsulated preparations with probiotics are less useful, so you should give preference to fresh kefir, yogurt and bi-ice cream. Healthy mom - healthy baby!

7 tips for preventing colic in babies

1. Diet. If a child eats mother’s milk, then you should exclude from the diet products that cause gas formation in the intestines: cabbage, mushrooms, grapes, legumes, peppers, cucumbers onions, cheese, cottage cheese. Learn more about what you can not eat nursing mother, read our other article.
2. Gymnastics. Do not forget to do gymnastics for the child, this is useful not only for the prevention of colic.
3. Tummy massage. Do a light massage of the tummy after feeding: clockwise in a circular motion around the navel.
4. Warm diaper. Before feeding, lay the baby on the tummy with bent knees on a warm diaper.
5. Proper attachment to the chest. The baby should capture the nipple and most of the halo of the chest. See that the child does not suck on his lip. The pressure should be tight, otherwise the baby swallows air.
6. Column exercise. After feeding, hold or swear the baby “in a column” (upright) for ten minutes.
7. Herbal tea. Drink herbal teas with fennel, anise, dill seed.

If it’s not colic, then what?

Perhaps the child's teeth are being cut. There are some kids who have already got out their first tooth in a month and a half!

Your child has colic or not colic; in any case, you need to show the child to the pediatrician. A surgeon, a neurologist go through a month, but if the situation is critical, you can do it earlier. The surgeon will exclude the umbilical hernia, the neurologist - intracranial pressure.Go through a standard examination, do an ultrasound and find out the cause of the baby’s bitter cry. The main thing - do not be nervous and create harmony in the house! Be healthy!

We also recommend reading our article “Colic in infants: 10 tips for relieving pain in a baby”, In which we covered such topics:

• what are intestinal colic
• why there are colic in the abdomen in newborns,
• colic symptoms
• 10 tips to relieve pain in a child with colic.