What's behind colic?

The news of a pregnancy often is met with excitement and anticipation. Parents wait for nine months to meet the little infant or infants whom they have only gotten glimpses of on ultrasound imagery.

When the time arrives to cuddle a newborn, it's known that certain aspects of life will change from this moment forward. Parents may realize there will be some disruptions and a learning curve when caring for the child, but they may not think they will have to face constant crying and fussiness, which is typically caused by a condition known as colic.

What is colic?

Colic is a condition characterized by frequent, prolonged and intense crying or fussiness in an otherwise healthy infant, advises the Mayo Clinic. Episodes of colic usually peak when the infant is about six weeks old and will eventually fade away by the time the child is three to four months of age.

Colic usually is the diagnosis when the infant's excessive, unexplained crying occurs during the first few months of life for at least three hours per day, more than three days per week, and for at least three weeks.

What causes colic?

Doctors aren't exactly sure what causes colic, but it could be a result of gas production, food sensitivities, overstimulation, a developing nervous system, and an immature digestive system.

Who is at risk for colic?

Any baby can become colicky, regardless of family history.

What are the symptoms of colic?

Although symptoms of colic can differ from child to child, there are some common features. Usually a healthy baby has colic if they cry from 6 p.m. to midnight for no obvious reasons. The crying is more high-pitched and urgent than other bouts of crying. Additional symptoms of colic include:

· Having a tight belly

· Burping often or passing a lot of gas

· Having a bright, flushed red face

· Curling up the legs toward the belly when crying

· Clenching their fists when crying

How is colic treated?

There is no single medicine or treatment to address colic. Parents can try different strategies to help sooth the infant.

· Change the position of the baby.

· Take a walk or car ride, as the motion can help.

· Play a heartbeat recording or a white noise machine to calm the child.

· Many babies are soothed by sucking on a pacifier.

· Try a warm bath, which can be relaxing and comforting, as can gently massaging the baby's tummy in a circular motion.

· Keep track of foods eaten while breastfeeding to see if there's a pattern to colic episodes linked to diet. Trying a different formula for bottle-fed babies also might help.

Colic can induce anxiety in new parents. Learning about colic can provide some answers and make it easier to manage.