A heating pad can help relieve colic in a newborn.

The word colic comes from the Greek kolikos (pain in the intestines). Abdominal pain attacks are called colic.

, characteristic of children in the first months of life and causing the child to show anxiety and cry. The typical picture of colic is familiar to many parents: during feeding or shortly after it, the baby begins to behave restlessly. He presses his legs to his tummy and wiggles them. Then his face turns red and he starts screaming loudly. The child is picked up, but he does not calm down. His tummy may growl. Such crying can continue for quite a long time, until there is no passage of gas or stool.

Colic is described by the so-called “Rule of Three”:

• they begin from the third week of life;
• last at least three hours a day;
• occur predominantly in children in the first three months of life.

Causes of colic

The exact cause of colic and its mechanism are not yet known to medical science. The vulnerability of the gastrointestinal tract of children is explained by a number of reasons:

• At birth, the baby's intestines are sterile. Gradually, it begins to be populated by microorganisms (this is associated with changes in the color of stool in newborns). The activity of microorganisms causes the formation of gases. If the process is intense, it may be painful;
• Digestion is regulated by the nervous and endocrine systems. In the first months of life, these systems may malfunction, causing painful intestinal spasms. Subsequently, intestinal self-regulation is normalized;
• food stretches the stomach (in the first months of a baby’s life, the baby’s size increases significantly); with a reduced pain threshold, this can also be the cause of children's crying.

Colic can be directly caused by:

• improper feeding (swallowing air during feeding);
• impaired digestion of food (for example, when introducing complementary foods or switching to artificial feeding);
• allergies to formula components or complementary foods;
• the fact that the baby does not stay at the mother’s breast for long enough during the feeding process. As a result, he receives more “foremilk”, and it is too rich in carbohydrates, which contribute to increased gas formation.

It is known that maternal smoking during pregnancy doubles the risk of colic in the child.

How to get rid of infant colic

From the above it is clear that drug therapy is not always required. A calm and comfortable atmosphere for the baby in the family, tummy massage, gymnastics and selection of proper nutrition will help.

Calm down and check the temperature in the room. It should be no more than 20 degrees. Humidify and ventilate the room.

To facilitate the removal of gases and reduce pain, free the child from tight clothing and stroke the tummy clockwise. This procedure, of course, cannot be carried out immediately after eating (to prevent the baby from regurgitating). After the massage, bend and straighten the baby’s legs several times. Fold the flannel diaper several times, iron it and place it on the baby's stomach. First make sure that the diaper is warm and not hot. Carry him in your arms and rock him.

Do not give any medications before being examined by a doctor - they will blur the picture and make diagnosis more difficult.

Colic: myths and scientific facts

With the birth of a child, parents have many worries, one of which is related to colic - a burning topic that concerns many.

Pediatrician Olga Lugovskaya will share information in the “truth or myth” format.

Myth 1.

Only breastfeeding babies experience colic.

Is it true.

Colic occurs in children both on breastfeeding and on IV to the same extent.

Myth 2.

Abdominal pain in a child provokes colic.

Is it true.

You will be surprised, but the cause of colic is still not known.

Presumably they may arise due to:

• Migraines
• Smoking mother
• Formation of intestinal microflora
• BKM or lactose intolerance
• Immaturity or inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract
• Increased secretion of serotonin
• Violations of feeding technique (swallowing air, overfeeding/underfeeding)
• Psycho-emotional characteristics (severe anxiety, postpartum depression in the mother, quarrels in the family).

Myth 3.

It is difficult to recognize colic in a child.

Is it true.

Often colic begins in the afternoon, at the same period of time.

Criteria for diagnosis, known as the “rule of three”:

1. The child cries more than 3 hours a day

2. More than 3 days a week

3. More than 3 weeks

The Rome Consensus IV (2016) identified clinical manifestations based on which a diagnosis can be made:

• Arise and end before 5 months. life;
• Long and repeated episodes of child crying, anxiety or irritability that arise for no apparent reason and cannot be prevented;
• There are no other diseases or conditions.

Myth 4.

Colic can last up to a year.

Is it true.

Symptoms disappear between the ages of 3 and 5-6 months.

Myth 5.

There are a large number of medications that relieve colic.

Is it true.

The effectiveness of simethicone, dicyclomine, proton pump inhibitors, herbal and homeopathic remedies has not been proven.

Myth 5.

There is no way you can help a baby during colic.

Is it true.

You can relieve symptoms by:

• Calm music or white noise
• Warm diaper or heating pad on the tummy
• Swaddling
• Riding in a stroller
• Swimming in warm water
• Constant tactile contact with the child when he is restless: massage his tummy, do the “bicycle” exercise, carry him in your arms, rock him.

All of the above can be alternated if you think that not a single method helps.

These tips are not supported by evidence, but they will help you stay calm and sane in a situation where you really want to help your child.

If the child is on IV, then discuss with the pediatrician the issue of replacing the formula, perhaps this will help.

Summarize:

Infantile colic is a benign, self-limiting process during which a healthy baby begins to cry inconsolably.

“Benign” means that the baby is fine.

“Self-passing” - despite all your efforts, it will pass in 3 or at the latest - in 5-6 months.

How to make it at home or what to replace it with

If you don’t have a heating pad, you can relieve the spasm in your tummy using one of the following methods.

1. Water is poured into a 0.5 liter plastic bottle at a temperature of 60 C. The container is tightly closed. The bottle is wrapped in several layers of fabric and applied to the tummy for 5 - 6 minutes.
2. Sew a bag from thick natural fabric. The salt is heated in a frying pan, without adding oil, to a temperature of 60 C. Pour the salt inside the bag and tie it tightly. Wrap the structure in a towel. The homemade device is applied to the baby’s tummy for 5-6 minutes.
3. They sew a cover from multi-colored plush in the form of a soft toy. Separately, a bag is prepared from thick fabric. Cherry pits are washed well and dried. Filling is poured into a fabric bag and sewn up. Before use, place the bag of cherry pits in the microwave or oven. The bones are heated to 55 C, placed in a toy and applied to the tummy for 5 minutes.

Causes of colic

Spasms can appear for various reasons. Only a doctor can determine them after a comprehensive examination. The baby’s digestive system has its own physiological characteristics; due to its immaturity, food intake provokes unpleasant symptoms.

The appearance of colic is influenced by:

• improper functioning of the gastrointestinal tract due to imperfections of the endocrine and nervous systems; • lack of enzymes that are necessary for food processing; • allergic reactions to formula or components of mother's milk; • disturbance of intestinal microflora; • air entering the esophagus due to poor feeding technique.

Stressful situations can also cause cramps. A nursing mother is advised to give up gas-forming products, follow a diet, and refrain from smoking.

The pain usually goes away quite quickly. You can talk about the presence of lactase deficiency or the development of an intestinal infection if bloating in the abdomen and pain symptoms last more than 3 hours. If complications occur, the baby requires medical attention. The specialist will make a diagnosis and give recommendations if there are any unpleasant sensations. About 5% of babies experience serious illness due to colic.

The medical doctor offers to make an appointment with a general practitioner. A full range of diagnostics and treatment of urological diseases in Tula. Tel. for recording.

Republican Children's Clinical Hospital

We all know that the best food for a baby is breast milk. It contains many different elements (more than 400 at the last count of scientists) necessary for the development of a child. These include special fats that promote brain growth, and proteins that are much easier to digest than cow's milk proteins (forming a dense clot in the stomach, unlike the delicate clot of mother's milk), vitamins and minerals in such a form that their absorption from milk is many times more effective than absorption from formula, enzymes that help digestion, antibodies that support the child’s immunity, and much, much more. For many years, manufacturers of artificial formulas have been trying to bring the composition of formulas closer to breast milk, but it is impossible to completely reproduce milk - i.e. To. it is a living liquid, so to speak, “white blood”, and not a chemical-technological powder dissolved in water.

As the baby grows, the composition of the milk changes to suit his needs. First, colostrum, which contains more proteins and immune protective factors, and less sugars; then transitional milk and, finally, from the second or third week after birth, mature milk. Somewhere from this moment, possible intestinal disorders in the child begin.

LACTOSE

One of the most important components of breast milk is the human milk sugar, lactose .

This sugar is found naturally only in the milk of mammals, and its highest concentration is found in human milk. Moreover, anthropologists have found the following relationship - the smarter the animal, the more lactose the milk of this type contains.

In addition to giving breast milk a nicer, fresher taste (taste and compare breast milk and formula, if you have them), lactose provides about 40% of a baby's energy needs and is also essential for brain development. In the small intestine, the larger lactose molecule is broken down by the enzyme lactase into two smaller molecules, glucose and galactose. Glucose is the most important source of energy; galactose becomes an integral part of galactolipids necessary for the development of the central nervous system.

Lactose that is not broken down in the small intestine (for example, there is not enough lactase for it) moves on and stimulates the formation of intestinal colonies of the bacteria Lactobacillus bifidus. These fermenting bacteria provide an acidic environment in the gastrointestinal tract and suppress pathogenic bacteria, fungi and parasites. Gases are a by-product of fermentation. An abundance of gas in infants is normal. The more fermentation, the more gases.

POSSIBLE PROBLEMS WITH LACTOSE

If the activity of lactase (the enzyme that breaks down lactose) is reduced or absent (a condition called lactase deficiency, or LN), lactose feeds bacteria in the small intestine and also enters the large intestine in significant quantities. There, lactose creates a breeding ground for the proliferation of numerous microorganisms, which result in diluted stools, increased gas formation, and pain in the intestines. The resulting extremely acidic stool can itself cause further damage to the intestinal wall.

Insufficient lactase activity can lead to a decrease in weight gain, because, firstly, milk sugar itself, which is an important source of energy, is not absorbed, and, secondly, intestinal damage leads to a deterioration in the absorption and digestion of other nutrients in human milk.

CAUSES OF FN AND ITS TYPES

What are the possible reasons for the decrease in lactase activity in the child’s intestines? Depending on this, lactase deficiency is divided into primary and secondary. Let me highlight another type of lactase deficiency, in which, due to the individual characteristics of lactation and the organization of breastfeeding in the mother, a child who has the enzyme in sufficient quantities nevertheless experiences similar symptoms.

1. Lactose overload. This is a condition similar to lactase deficiency, which can be corrected by changing the management of breastfeeding. In this case, the baby produces the enzyme in sufficient quantities, but the mother has a large volume of the “front reservoir” of the breast, so between feedings a lot of lactose-rich “front” milk accumulates, which leads to similar symptoms.

2. Primary lactase deficiency occurs when the superficial cells of the small intestine (enterocytes) are not damaged, but lactase activity is reduced (partial LN, hypolactasia) or completely absent (complete LN, alactasia).

3. Secondary lactase deficiency occurs if lactase production is reduced due to damage to the cells that produce it.

Lactose overload is more common in “very milky” mothers. Since there is a lot of milk, children rarely breastfeed, and as a result, at each feeding they receive a lot of “foremilk”, which quickly moves through the intestines and causes symptoms of FN.

Primary LN occurs in the following cases

Congenital, due to a genetic disease (quite rare)

· transient LI of premature and immature babies at the time of birth

Adult-type LD

Congenital LN is extremely rare. Transient LN occurs because the intestines of premature and immature infants have not yet fully matured, so lactase activity is reduced. For example, from the 28th to the 34th week of intrauterine development, lactase activity is 3 or more times lower than at 39-40 weeks. Adult-type FN is quite common. Lactase activity begins to decline at the end of the first year of life and gradually decreases, in some adults it decreases so much that unpleasant sensations arise every time they eat, for example, whole milk (in Russia, up to 18% of the adult population suffer from adult-type LI).

Secondary LN is much more common. It usually occurs as a result of some acute or chronic disease, for example, an intestinal infection, an allergic reaction to cow's milk protein, inflammatory processes in the intestines, atrophic changes (with celiac disease - gluten intolerance, after a long period of tube feeding, etc.).

SYMPTOMS

You can suspect lactase deficiency based on the following signs:

1. loose (often foamy, sour-smelling) stools, which can be either frequent (more than 8-10 times a day) or rare or absent without stimulation (this is typical for bottle-fed children with LI);

2. the child’s anxiety during or after feeding;

3. bloating;

4. in severe cases of lactase deficiency, the child gains or loses weight poorly.

There is also mention in the literature that one of the possible symptoms is excessive regurgitation.

The baby usually has a good appetite, begins to suck greedily, but after a few minutes cries, drops his breast, and presses his legs to his stomach. The stool is frequent, liquid, yellow, sour-smelling, foamy (reminiscent of yeast dough). If you collect the chair in a glass container and let it stand, you can clearly see the separation into fractions: liquid and denser. It must be borne in mind that when using disposable diapers, the liquid part is absorbed into them, and then stool abnormalities may not be noticed.

Typically, symptoms of primary lactase deficiency increase with increasing volume of milk consumed. At first, in the first weeks of a newborn’s life, there are no signs of disturbances at all, then increased gas formation appears, even later - abdominal pain, and only then - loose stools.

Much more often we have to deal with secondary lactase deficiency, in which, in addition to the symptoms listed above, there is a lot of mucus, greens in the stool and undigested lumps of food may be present [].

Lactose overload can be suspected, for example, in the case when a mother accumulates a large volume of milk in her breasts, and the child’s milk gains are good, but the child is bothered by pain similar to that of primary LN. Or green, sour stools and constantly leaking milk from the mother, even with slightly reduced increases.

quotes from mothers 1 we begin to feed and after a couple of sips the baby begins to arch over in pain - there is a very noticeable rumbling in her tummy, then she begins to pull back the nipple, releases it, farts, grabs the breast again and again again. I wean from the breast, massage the tummy, fart, start feeding again and “25 again”... From the very beginning, the baby’s stool is unstable - from bright yellow to brown or green, but always watery, with diarrhea, with white lumps and a lot of mucus... Very severe pain when feeding. The rumbling of your tummy can be heard a meter away. weight loss, dehydration.

2 and it all started with a roar when he ate my breast and immediately screamed... the milk in the stomach did not stop, liquid stool with mucus immediately jumped out... and we did not gain weight

3 We were also diagnosed with this same lactase deficiency. Moreover, it all started abruptly, there was normal stool, and then suddenly - diarrhea. She screamed so hard that my heart just broke. She pushed and writhed all the time. …. The baby lost 200 grams in weight in three days (!).

comment: perhaps in this case, lactase deficiency was a consequence of an intestinal infection and the resulting intestinal damage.

TREATMENT

I want to emphasize that each time it is necessary to treat not the analysis, but the child . If you (or your pediatrician) find one or two signs of lactase deficiency in your child, and an increased content of carbohydrates in the stool, this does not mean that the child is sick. The diagnosis is made only if there is both a clinical picture AND a poor analysis (usually a stool test for carbohydrates is taken, the acidity of the stool can also be determined, the pH is 5.5, with FN it is more acidic, and there are corresponding changes in the coprogram - there are fatty acids and soaps). The clinical picture does not mean just foamy stools or stools with mucus, and a more or less ordinary child, moderately restless, like all infants, but with LN there are simultaneously bad frequent stools, pain, and rumbling in the tummy during each feeding ; Another important sign is weight loss or very poor weight gain . You can also understand whether LI occurs if, upon starting the treatment prescribed by the doctor, the child’s well-being has significantly improved. For example, when they started giving lactase before feeding, abdominal pain decreased sharply and stool improved.

So, what are the possible treatments for lactase deficiency or a similar condition?

1. Proper organization of breastfeeding. In Russia, the diagnosis of “Lactase deficiency” is given to almost half of infants. Naturally, if all these children really suffered from such a serious illness, accompanied by weight loss, humans would simply die out as a species. And indeed, in most cases, there is either “treatment of tests” (if the child is in a normal condition, without expressed anxiety, and good gains), or incorrect organization of breastfeeding.

What does the organization of breastfeeding have to do with it? The fact is that for most women the composition of the milk released from the breast at the beginning and at the end of feeding is different. The amount of lactose does not depend on the mother’s diet and does not change much at all, that is, at the beginning and at the end of feeding, its content is almost the same, but the fat content can vary greatly. The waterier milk flows out first. This milk "flows" into the breasts between feedings when the breasts are not stimulated. Then, as the breast is sucked, richer milk begins to flow out. Between feedings, fat particles stick to the surface of the mammary gland cells and are added to the milk only during hot flashes, when the milk is actively moving and expelled from the milk ducts. Higher fat milk moves from the stomach into the baby's intestines more slowly, and therefore lactose has time to be processed. Lighter, foremilk moves quickly, and some of the lactose can enter the large intestine without having time to be broken down by lactase. There it causes fermentation, gas formation, and frequent sour stools. Thus, knowing the difference between foremilk and hindmilk, you can understand how to deal with this type of lactase deficiency. It is optimal if a breastfeeding consultant helps you with this advice (at a minimum, it makes sense to get advice on a forum or by phone, or better yet in person)

· a) Firstly, you cannot express after feeding, because... in this case, the mother pours out the fatty milk or freezes it, and the baby who is suckling at the breast receives less fatty milk with a high lactose content, which can provoke the development of ln.

· b) Secondly, you need to change the breast only when the baby has completely emptied it, otherwise the baby will again receive a lot of foremilk and, without having time to suck out the hindmilk, will again switch to foremilk from the second breast. Perhaps the compression method will help to empty the chest more completely.

· c) Thirdly, it is better to feed with the same breast, but more often, since with long breaks, a larger amount of foremilk accumulates in the breast.

· d) It is also necessary to properly attach the baby to the breast (if the baby is attached incorrectly, it is difficult to suck out the milk, and the baby will not receive hind milk), and also make sure that the baby not only sucks, but also swallows. In what cases can you suspect improper attachment? In case you have cracked breasts and/or feeding causes pain. Many people think that pain during feeding is normal in the first months, but in fact it is a sign of an improper latch. Also, feeding through shields often leads to improper latch and ineffective sucking. Even if you think the attachment is correct, it is best to double check

· e) Night feedings are desirable (more hindmilk is produced at night).

· f) It is undesirable to wean the baby from the breast before he is full; let him suck for as long as he wants (especially in the first 3-4 months, until lactase is fully matured).

So, we have the correct latch, don’t pump after feeding, change breasts every 2-3 hours, and don’t try to feed less often. We give the child a second breast only when he has completely emptied the first. The baby suckles at the breast for as long as he needs. Night feeding is recommended. Sometimes only a few days of this regime are enough for the child’s condition to normalize, stool and bowel function to improve.

Please note that infrequent breast alternation should be used with caution as... this usually leads to a decrease in milk supply (therefore, it is advisable to ensure that the baby pees about 12 or more times a day, this means that there is most likely enough milk). It is possible that after a few days of this regimen, the amount of milk will no longer be sufficient and it will be possible to switch back to feeding from two breasts, and the child will no longer show any signs of LD. If your baby has high gains , but there are symptoms similar to LN, perhaps it is a decrease in breast alternation (every 3 hours or less, as described) in order to reduce the total volume of milk, which will lead to a decrease in colic. If all this does not help, perhaps we are really talking about lactase deficiency, and not about a similar condition that can be corrected with the help of proper feeding management. What else can you do?

2. Exclusion of allergens from the diet . Most often we are talking about cow's milk protein. The fact is that cow's milk protein is a fairly common allergen. If a mother consumes a lot of whole milk, its protein can be partially absorbed from the intestines into the mother’s blood, and accordingly into the milk. If cow's milk protein is an allergen for a child (and this happens quite often), it disrupts the child's intestinal activity, which can lead to insufficient breakdown of lactose and LN. The solution is to exclude whole milk from the mother’s diet first. You may also need to exclude all dairy products, including butter, cottage cheese, cheese, fermented milk products, as well as beef, and anything prepared with butter (including baked goods). When the mother eliminates all allergens, the child’s intestinal activity improves and the symptoms of LI stop. After this, you can try adding the most “harmless” foods one at a time - such as beef, yogurt, hard cheese; It's likely that you don't need to follow a very strict diet to keep your baby feeling well, but noticeably limiting cow's milk often helps. Sticking to a strict diet for a long time is only possible if you have agreed it with your doctor (for example, a nutritionist). Another protein (not necessarily cow's milk) may also be an allergen. Sometimes it is necessary to exclude sweets as well.

3. Pumping before feeding . If changing breasts less frequently and eliminating allergens is not enough, you can try expressing some portion of carbohydrate-rich foremilk BEFORE feeding. This milk is not given to the baby, and the baby is put to the breast when fattier milk comes out. However, this method must be used with caution so as not to trigger hyperlactation. When using this method, it is optimal to enlist the support of a breastfeeding consultant.

If all this does not help and the child is still suffering, it makes sense to consult a doctor !

4. Lactase enzyme . If the above methods do not help, the doctor prescribes lactase. It is the doctor who determines whether the child’s behavior is typical for an infant or whether there is still a picture of LI. Naturally, it is necessary to find a doctor who is as friendly as possible to breastfeeding, advanced, and familiar with modern scientific research. The enzyme is given in courses; often they try to stop it after the child is 3-4 months old, when the maturation of the lactase enzyme ends. It is important to choose the right dose. If the dose is too low, the symptoms of FN may still be strong; if the dose is too high, the stool will become excessively thick, similar to plasticine; constipation is possible. The enzyme is usually given before feeding, dissolved in some breast milk. The dose, of course, is determined by the doctor . Usually the doctor recommends giving lactase once every 3-4 hours, in which case in between it will most likely be possible to feed on demand. Attention! may be counterfeit : see comment.

5. Lactase-fermented breast milk, low-lactose or lactose-free formula . In the most extreme cases, doctors to lactase-fermented expressed breast milk or lactose-free formula. It is quite possible that it will be enough to replace only part of the feedings with lactose-free formula or fermented milk. If the need for these measures arises, it is advisable to remember that supplementary feeding of the baby is usually a temporary measure, and the use of a bottle can lead to breast refusal. It is better to use other methods to feed the baby, such as a spoon, cup, syringe. The immediate and long-term consequences of feeding healthy children from birth with lactose-free formulas are unknown, so lactose-free formula is usually recommended only as a temporary therapeutic measure. There is also always a danger of developing an allergy to this mixture, because... Soy (if it is a soy mixture) is a common allergen. Allergies may not begin immediately, but after some time, so it is advisable to maintain breastfeeding as much as possible, which is preferable. This method of treatment is applicable primarily for genetic diseases associated with the failure to break down lactose or its components. These diseases are extremely rare (approximately 1 in 20,000 children). For example, this is galactosemia (a disorder of the breakdown of galactose).

Pediatrician of the highest category, head. department of Levchenko G.D.

Pediatrician Libedka Y.A.
Answer

Which heating pad is better?

According to user reviews, the design with cherry pits is considered the best heating pad. Infants from 5 to 6 months are given it as a toy. The child can play with it, developing fine motor skills. A device with natural filling can be used to warm a baby’s crib before bedtime.

In second place in popularity is the salt heating pad. It is absolutely safe, easy to use, durable.

The warming gel heating pad also demonstrates a wonderful effect. It has a number of advantages (ease of use, efficiency, durability). The disadvantages include high cost.

Thus, all types of heating pads, with the exception of electric ones, can be used against colic when applied to a newborn’s tummy.

Video of a DIY heating toy

Types of heating pads

There are many types of heating pads. The main difference between them is the type of filler that is used to retain heat. This could be water, saline solution, an electric heating element, cherry pits, etc. Based on the type of filler, the top material is selected, which should be safe, not cause allergic reactions and allow heat to pass through well. So, if there is still a need to use a device for your baby, then stores and pharmacies offer the following range of heating pads:

• water;
• electric;
• saline (salt);
• dry (toy heating pad, with cherry pits);
• gel

Intestinal colic in newborns

The mechanism of development of intestinal colic in newborns is due to impaired motor function of the digestive tract and increased gas formation in the intestines, causing sharp local spasms and distension of the intestinal wall. The main etiological factors of intestinal colic in newborns can be associated directly with the child himself or with his mother.

On the part of a newborn, the appearance of intestinal colic can be promoted by morphofunctional immaturity of the digestive tract, a violation of the neuroendocrine regulation of its function; reduced enzymatic activity of the gastrointestinal tract, lack of hydrochloric acid, lactase deficiency, disturbances of intestinal microbiocenosis.

Intestinal colic in newborns is caused by the anatomical features of the intestinal structure and the maturation of the nervous system, which continues until 12-18 months of age and may be accompanied by vegetative-visceral disorders. If the baby's feeding technique is violated, sucking on an empty nipple or breast with a small amount of milk, as well as in premature infants, excessive swallowing of air (aerophagia) is observed, leading to the appearance of intestinal colic in newborns. Age-related and individual immaturity of enzymatic systems and intestinal dysbiosis in newborns cause incomplete breakdown of fats and carbohydrates, contributing to increased gas formation and expansion of the intestinal lumen.

The development of intestinal colic in newborns may be associated with a deficiency of certain hormone-like substances (gastrin, secretin, cholecystokinin, motilin) ​​that regulate the motor and secretory functions of the gastrointestinal tract. The cause of intestinal colic in a newborn may be hypoxia and asphyxia suffered during the prenatal period or during childbirth. It has been established that the lower the gestational age and body weight of the newborn (i.e., the greater the degree of prematurity), the higher the risk of developing intestinal colic. In premature newborns, intestinal colic is usually more pronounced and more protracted.

Allergic reactions (gastrointestinal form of food allergy during the transition from natural to artificial feeding, the presence of food additives in mixtures, etc.) can also cause intestinal colic in newborns. Rarely, intestinal colic in newborns can be caused by congenital developmental anomalies (cleft lip, cleft palate, tracheoesophageal fistula).

Maternal factors that provoke the development of intestinal colic in newborns include a burdened obstetric and gynecological history (preeclampsia), inverted nipples, bad habits and nutritional errors of the nursing mother (excess cow's milk, very fatty foods, foods that increase flatulence), violation of feeding technique (overfeeding , improper dilution of mixtures); emotional instability and stress in the family.