Each mother seeks to surround her newborn child with care and warmth. And first of all, absolutely all newly-made parents dream that their baby grows healthy. However, it is known that it will not be possible to save the child from all problems. Every third mother faces the first troubles within two to three weeks after childbirth. These problems are abdominal pain in newborns.
When the tummy hurts a newborn, parents are very worried, because the pain of the baby is accompanied by a long cry. In order to quickly save your baby from suffering, Mom needs to understand the causes of its causes and eliminate them.
Why do newborns have stomachaches?
When the baby is born, he begins to get acquainted with the world around him. And the first thing that gets into the body of a little man is the mother colostrum and milk. Before taking the first portion of food, the whole digestive system of the child is sterile. But from the very first days a variety of microorganisms begin to enter the baby's body. Many of these microorganisms take a direct part in the digestion process of the child - with the mother's milk, the bifidobacteria enter the intestines of the baby, which form a normal flora in the body and fight any pathogenic bacteria. And just during the formation of microflora, in many cases, there are pains in the abdomen of the newborn. Approximately to three months the digestive system becomes more perfect and any unpleasant sensations of the kid any more do not disturb.
Nevertheless, abdominal pain in some newborns can be strong and prolonged, while in others it is practically absent. Modern doctors distinguish several main causes that lead to pain in the tummy of newborns:
- Artificial feeding. Despite the fact that manufacturers of infant formulas are talking about the usefulness of their products and their identity in breast milk, nothing can replace mother's milk for a baby. Breast milk is unique for every child and no technology in the world can reproduce its composition. When the mother is breastfeeding, the likelihood of pain in the tummy of a newborn decreases several times. Even one sip of a child's mixture at the age of up to six months is able to change the microflora in the intestines of a child and lead to the appearance of unpleasant sensations. Children's mixtures do not contain the full range of vitamins and nutrients that provide the formation of immunity, which, also, often leads to the fact that a newborn baby has a stomachache.
- Improper care of the newborn. Care for the newborn includes many different procedures. The main thing in the care of an infant is the satisfaction of his physical and psychological needs, as well as the establishment of a close connection with the baby. If the child's needs are not met, then his state of health can rapidly deteriorate. And often a crying child is more prone to the appearance of pain.
How to save a newborn from pain in the tummy?
First of all it is recommended to feed the baby on demand exclusively with the breast. If there are any problems during the lactation, you should seek the help of a breastfeeding consultant.
When the tummy hurts in newborns, you can use the following techniques to save the baby from trouble:
- Keep the baby upright for 5-10 minutes after each feeding;
- massage the tummy of the baby clockwise before eating;
- 20-30 minutes before eating, lay the baby on his tummy.
If the mother does not breastfeed her child, when the pain occurs, the mixture should be replaced. Often, children's adapted mixtures contribute to increased gas production in the child. If the pain is severe, the pediatrician should be informed. Based on the tests taken, the doctor will make a clinical picture and will be able to answer in detail the question of why the tummy is hurting your newborn.