Newborn baby groans

Contents

Why does a newborn baby grunt
What to do if a newborn baby groans
Popular questions and answers

An experienced parent at one glance of his child can understand what he needs. And a young mom and dad are often scared, even when a newborn baby groans. But is it always a harmless manifestation of physiology?

Why does a newborn baby grunt

For people who have no parenting experience or education in pediatrics, babies are something of an alien. They look like adults, but they are different. And they make strange sounds. Some may be surprised even when the baby groans.

Despite the fact that there is no such term in pediatrics, the expert told us what it can mean when a newborn baby grunts.

– If the child only groans, breathes normally, eats and sleeps, gains weight and height, then this is normal. So he can just communicate with his mother or tell her that he wants to go to the toilet or a small fold on his clothes interferes with him, for example, – answers pediatrician, neonatologist, anesthesiologist-resuscitator, blogger, author and expert of the first aid course for children Aelita Biryukova. – If a mother has good contact with a child, she will always understand exactly how he groans when he wants to eat, and how he groans when he pees, for example.

If crying is added to grunting, then this may indicate that the child is hungry or needs attention, that he has a full diaper, or, for example, that he is hot. That is, in this case, it is not necessary that there is cause for alarm.

But often the baby groans, and even already cries when he is tormented by colic.

What to do if a newborn baby groans

Colic is the most common problem in babies in the first months of life. And what to do if this is the reason for the groaning?

– Starting from 2 – 3 weeks and ending at the age of 3 months, children have an active maturation of the gastrointestinal tract. The immaturity of the gastrointestinal tract provokes a slight dysfunction, which may be accompanied by pain in the child’s abdomen, explains Dr. Biryukova. Colic is always due to two causes. The first is the stretching of the intestines with gases – in this case, we see the baby’s tummy inflated, he groans and strains under the influence of these gases. The second is spasms – when there is a peristaltic wave through the intestines. This happens often when there are long periods between feedings, or when the baby is bottle-fed. Therefore, on-demand breastfeeding is the best way to prevent it.

It is not difficult to help a child in both cases – especially since in any pharmacy you will certainly find at least one suitable drug.

– If we are dealing with a spasm, dill water or some herbal preparations, for example, Baby Calm, will come to the rescue. And excess gas formation is removed with simethicone preparations, – says Aelita Biryukova. – Moreover, it is very important, according to the mechanism of action, that the first are given before feeding, and the second during or after.

Popular questions and answers

Do “grandmother’s” remedies help with colic: a warm heating pad on the stomach, stroking, herbal supplements?

Herbal supplements – yes. As I said: the main thing is to understand the cause of the pain and choose the right remedy at the right time. And a heating pad, a warm diaper, mother’s breasts are, of course, one of the most ancient means of combating colic in a baby.

In what cases is groaning a sign of danger to life and health?

If groaning or other sounds are accompanied by a change in the color of the skin. If the child turns pale or blue. And this is not about the nasolabial triangle – such a phenomenon can often occur in children with an immature nervous system. If we see a pronounced pallor or cyanosis, most likely, a critical situation is already taking place, it is urgent to call an ambulance. There is also such a thing as “groaning breath” – when the child, on exhalation, seems to moan or howl, or breathes with a whistle. In this case, there may be retraction of the intercostal spaces, jugular notch, hypochondrium or xiphoid process. Flaring of the wings of the nose. This situation indicates respiratory failure, and in this case, you need to urgently call an ambulance. And in general, if a mother, in the absence of obvious reasons for concern, has internal anxiety, this is a reason to see a doctor. Most often, some little things that the mother does not understand, but they worry her, can prompt an experienced doctor to seriously think about conducting some examinations to identify diseases.

And if a newborn baby does not just grunt, but makes some unusual sounds, should you run to the doctor?

Very often, mothers are frightened when a child begins to make frightening sounds, for example, loudly sucking in air. In fact, this is not always a reason to see a doctor. When a child accidentally makes a new sound that he remembers, he begins to repeat it. This is the training of the articulatory apparatus, the training of sound production, and there is nothing wrong with that.