A pediatric nurse in an ambulatory care clinic is admitting a neonate for the 2-week office visit. Which comment by the mother should alert the nurse to suspect colic?
“After feedings, my baby pulls his legs up and cries.”
“My baby is quiet and doesn’t cry much.”
“My baby is alert for brief periods of 10 – 20 minutes at a time.”
Number 2 is correct.
Rationale: Signs of colic include pulling the legs up and crying after feedings. To determine if this condition needs further investigation, a diary of symptoms should be compiled by the mother and reviewed by the nurse. A baby who looks yellow may be experiencing hyperbilirubinemia. During their first 3 months of life, babies can cry up to 2 hours per day. A quiet child may be experiencing hypothyroidism. Being alert for brief periods of 10 – 20 minutes at a time is expected of normal babies at 2 weeks of age.
